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    Ecological and Economic Importance of Algae

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    Ceya Jose
    Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are ecologically and economically important. Ecologically, algae are a primary food source, produce over 30% of the world's oxygen, and indicate climate change and pollution levels. They also provide habitat. Economically, algae are used to produce hydrocolloids, fertilizers, antibiotics, and help purify waste water. They also support research in space travel and sewage disposal. Algae indicate pollution and can help clean waterways through companies like Algix and Bloom that convert algae into products like plastic foam.

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    Ecological and Economic Importance of Algae

    Uploaded by

    Ceya Jose
    298 views12 pages
    Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are ecologically and economically important. Ecologically, algae are a primary food source, produce over 30% of the world's oxygen, and indicate climate change and pollution levels. They also provide habitat. Economically, algae are used to produce hydrocolloids, fertilizers, antibiotics, and help purify waste water. They also support research in space travel and sewage disposal. Algae indicate pollution and can help clean waterways through companies like Algix and Bloom that convert algae into products like plastic foam.

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    Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are ecologically and economically important. Ecologically, algae are a primary food source, produce over 30% of the world's oxygen, and indicate climate change and pollution levels. They also provide habitat. Economically, algae are used to produce hydrocolloids, fertilizers, antibiotics, and help purify waste water. They also support research in space travel and sewage disposal. Algae indicate pollution and can help clean waterways through companies like Algix and Bloom that convert algae into products like plastic foam.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    298 views12 pages

    Ecological and Economic Importance of Algae

    Uploaded by

    Ceya Jose
    Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that are ecologically and economically important. Ecologically, algae are a primary food source, produce over 30% of the world's oxygen, and indicate climate change and pollution levels. They also provide habitat. Economically, algae are used to produce hydrocolloids, fertilizers, antibiotics, and help purify waste water. They also support research in space travel and sewage disposal. Algae indicate pollution and can help clean waterways through companies like Algix and Bloom that convert algae into products like plastic foam.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 12

    Ecological and Economic Importance of Algae

    Ceya Jose
    1st Year
    B.Sc. Botany and Biotechnology
    CONTENT

     What are Algae?


    i. Characteristics
    ii. Types of Algae
     Ecological importance of algae
    i. Source of food
    ii. Source of oxygen
    iii. Climate change and Pollution indicators
    Lichen
    Eutrophication and algal blooms
    iv. Habitat Providers
     Economic importance of algae
    i. Hydrocolloids
    ii. Production of fertilisers
    iii. Source of antibiotics and medicines
    iv. Sewage disposal and water purification (Ryan Hunt – Bloom)
    v. For research purposes and space travel
    vi. Role of BGA in nitrogen economy of Indian agriculture
     References
    i. NCERT Biology textbook for class XI
    ii. Algae by O.P Sharma
    iii. https://www.britannica.com/science/algae/Ecological-and-
    commercial-importance
    iv. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-16144-7_4
    v. A Textbook on Algae H.D Kumar and H.N Singh
    vi. https://www.bloomtreadwell.com/the-bloom-story/
    vii. https://byjus.com/chemistry/eutrophication/
    viii. Phycology by Robert Edward Lee
    ix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq7kjC3jzyE
    x. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/
    photobioreactor-better-life-support
    xi.
    WHAT ARE ALGAE?

    Algae is a large and diverse group of eukaryotic organisms (mostly aquatic)


    showing little differentiation of tissues.
    Phycology is the biological study of algae.
    Algae is found in all three kingdoms. Its classification depends on what kind of
    algae it is. Blue green algae also called Cyanobacteria that falls under Kingdom
    Monera (as Archaebacteria). All eukaryotic unicellular algae despite being
    photosynthetic is placed under Kingdom Protista. E.g., Euglena, Diatoms etc
    All multicellular eukaryotic algae are placed under the Kingdom Plantae. E.g.,
    Chlorophyceae (Green algae), Rhodophyceae (Red algae) etc.

    Algae is classified into 11 classes by F.E. Fritsch in 1935.


    1. Chlorophyceae: volvox, Ulothrix
    2. Xanthophyceae: Botrydium, vaucheria
    3. Chrysophyceae: Chrysocapsa, Chrysamoeba
    4. Bacillariophyceae: Cyclotella, navicula
    5. Cryptophyceae: rhinomonas, teleaulax
    6. Dinophyceae: gonyaulax, dinophysis
    7. Chloromonadineae: vacuolaria
    8. Euglenineae: euglena
    9. Phaeophyceae: laminaria, sargassum
    10.Rhodophyceae: vacuolaria, batrachospermum
    11.Myxophyceae: nostoc,oscillatoria
    (Pics)
    Ecological Importance of Algae

    1. SOURCE OF FOOD
    Algae are primary producers in aquatic environment because of their
    photosynthetic activity. Phyto planktons form the base of aquatic food
    chain. Algae are used as food in different parts of the world because of
    the presence of minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins. Many
    species of porphyra, laminaria, sargassum are among the 70 species of
    marine algae that are edible. Chlorella, Enteromorpha, alaria are
    among others used as food. Porphyra, called nori in Japan, is used in
    making sushi. Gracilaria, gelidium and Irish Moss are used to make
    jellies and ice-creams.

    2. SOURCE OF OXYGEN
    Algae produces more than 30% of the oxygen that land animals
    consume. The main reason for the world’s high level of oxygen
    production is the abundance of algae in the oceans. the oceans produce
    50-80 percent of the oxygen, with most of it coming from oceanic
    plankton, which includes plants and algae with the ability to
    photosynthesize. As a result, they also help in carbon dioxide fixation.
    3. CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION INDICATORS
    Algae are used as environmental indicators. As the algae grows, carbon
    dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by converting it to oxygen by
    photosynthesis. Chemicals also play an important role in extending the
    life of algae. Farm chemicals, for example, contain a high concentration
    of phosphorous and nitrogen, which aid algae growth. As a result, as a
    source of pollution indicator, algae is crucial to the environment.
    LICHEN
    Lichen is a symbiotic association between algae and fungi. The
    phycobiont prepares food for fungi and the mycobiont provides shelter
    and absorbs nutrients, water and minerals for algae. They do not grow in
    polluted areas (SO2 destroys them) thereby are pollution indicators.

    EUTROPHICATION AND ALGAL BLOOMS


    Eutrophication is the process in which a water body becomes overly
    enriched with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), leading to plentiful
    growth of simple plant life. The excessive growth (or bloom) of algae
    and plankton in a water body are indicators of this process.
    Eutrophication is considered to be a serious environmental concern since
    it results in the deterioration of water quality and the depletion of
    dissolved oxygen in water bodies. Eutrophic waters can eventually
    become “dead zones” that are incapable of supporting life.
    Red tides are a phenomenon caused by algal blooms, in which algae
    proliferate to the point of discolouring coastal waters (hence the name
    "red tide"). The algal bloom may also deplete oxygen levels in the water
    and/or release toxins that can make humans and other animals sick.

    (Lake Erie pics)


    4. HABITAT PROVIDERS
    Algae promotes the growth and spread of aquatic life by providing
    habitat for a variety of species. Although algae overgrowth can disrupt
    the ocean’s ecosystem, the spread of algae in both fresh and saltwater
    supports a diverse population of fish and other aquatic lives.
    Zooxanthellae provide colour to corals. Kelp forests are examples of
    large species of algae that provide habitat to numerous
    organisms.  Animals that may be located within kelp forests include
    nudibranchs, snails, skeleton shrimp, and sea urchins among others.
    Diatomaceous earth consists of the fossilized remains of diatoms. It is
    used as a filtration aid, mild abrasive in products including metal
    polishes and toothpaste, mechanical insecticide, absorbent for liquids,
    matting agent for coatings, reinforcing filler in plastics and rubber, anti-
    block in plastic films, porous support for chemical catalysts, litter boxes,
    activator in coagulation studies, a stabilizing component of dynamite, a
    thermal insulator, and a soil for potted plants and trees as in the art of
    bonsai.

    (Pics of kelp forests, zooxanthellae in corals)


    Economic Importance of Algae

    1. HYDROCOLLOIDS
    It is a colloid system wherein the colloid particles are
    hydrophilic polymers dispersed in water. Agar,
    carrageenin, alginates, xanthates etc are hydrocolloids
    from natural sources. Hydrocolloids are employed in
    food mainly to influence texture or viscosity (e.g., a
    sauce or jellies). Hydrocolloid-based medical
    dressings are used for skin and wound treatment.
    Agar is used as a base for different culture media and
    are derived from gelidium and gracilaria. agarose is
    used in gel electrophoresis. It is also employed in
    packing canned food, as laxative, in cosmetic and
    textile industry and also in medical fields.
    Carrageenin is obtained mostly from red algae. It is
    used in the preparation of tooth-pastes, cosmetics,
    paints, and in leather finishing, textile, brewing and
    pharmaceutical industries. Physicians also used
    carrageenin as a blood coagulant. It is also used as a
    clearing agent in juices, liquors, beet sugar, etc.
    Carrageenin is also used in the food industry as an
    emulsifier, particularly in dairy products.
    Alginates are used in rubber tyre-industry, paints, ice-
    creams and also in the preparation of flame-proof
    fabrics and plastic articles.

    (pics)

    2. PRODUCTION OF FERTILISERS
    Because of the presence of phosphorus, potassium and
    some trace elements, the seaweeds in many coastal
    regions of the world are used as fertilizer. They are
    either mixed with some other organic materials or are
    allowed to rot in the field as such. Genera like
    Lithophyllum, Lithothamnion and Chara are used in
    the deficiency of calcium in the field. Algae is a
    renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly fertilizer.
    Because of their organic nature, algal fertilizers are
    safer and greener than chemical fertilizers.

    (pics)

    3. SOURCE OF ANTIBIOTICS AND MEDICINES


    An antibiotic, chlorellin, is obtained from Chlorella.
    Fucoidin and sodium laminarin sulphate, obtained
    from some brown algae, are used as anticoagulant of
    blood. Extracts of Laminaria and Sargassum inhibit
    the growth of sarcoma and leukaemia cells in mice,
    according to Yamamoto et al. (1982). The saxitoxins
    produced by some dinoflagellates are used in some
    neurological disorders and neurobiological
    researches .

    (pics)

    4. SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND WASTE WATER


    PURIFICATION
    Sewage consists mainly of domestic and industrial
    wastes. The disposal of this sewage is mainly an
    aerobic process, and this oxygenation is facilitated
    mainly by some algae, e.g., Chlamydomonas,
    Chlorella, Euglena, Scenedesmus, etc. Algae are also
    able to accumulate highly toxic substances such as
    selenium, zinc and arsenic in their cells and/or bodies
    thus eliminating such substances from aquatic
    environments.

    (pics)

    ALGIX - BLOOM – RYAN HUNT


    Bloom is a tech start-up by Ryan Hunt that can turn
    harmful algae into plastic foam, which could help
    clean up waterways and reduce demand for plastic.
    Mixing algae into plastic also traps carbon inside the
    products, which could be an important tool for
    fighting climate change.

    (pics)

    5. RESEARCH PURPOSES AND SPACE TRAVEL


    The cultures of Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Anacystis,
    etc. are widely used in many physiological researches,
    especially in the investigation of photosynthesis.
    Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is important in genetic
    researches due to its adaptability. Astronauts on future
    long-duration spaceflight missions to the Moon and
    Mars could rely on microalgae to supply essentials
    including food, water and oxygen. A new
    investigation aboard the International Space Station
    tests using the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris as a
    biological component of a hybrid life support system
    (LSS).

    (pics)
    6. ROLE OF BGA IN NITROGEN ECONOMY OF
    INDIAN AGRICULTURE
    The economic importance of blue green algae (BGA),
    also known as cyanobacteria primarily lies in their
    agronomic importance as Biofertilizers due to their
    N2-fixing ability that helps them to grow successfully
    in habitats with low or no combined nitrogen. They
    are naturally found in most paddy soils and improve
    the fertility and texture of the soil.
    Some of the predominant Nitrogen fixing genera are
    Anabaena, Nostoc, Aulosira, Calothrix, Tolypothrix,
    Aphanothece and Gloeotrichia.

    In India, a general predominance of BGA such as


    Anabaena, Nostoc and Calothrix were found to be
    widely distributed throughout rice growing tracts
    except in acidic soils of Kerala, Assam and parts of
    Tamil Nadu. Other forms like Cylindrosporum,
    Tolypothrix, Scytonema and Aulosira had localised
    distribution.
    A systematic approach was undertaken at IARI and an
    algal bio fertilizer technology was developed.
    According to this, BGA were allowed to grow with
    soil as carrier and then applied at l0kg/ha dry soil-
    based inoculum in rice fields.
    In 1972 at IARI, New Delhi the first ever production
    of Cyanobacterial Bio fertilizer in India was reported.

    (pics)
    REFERENCES

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