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