With the advent of the internet and the information super highway new digital forms of the encyclopedia formed. Wikipedia.com and Encyclopedia is by far two of the best things to have developed from the internet.
I am partial to Wikipedia because it can be edited and corrected by the public, who contribute its content.
Students now have at their fingertips the largest encyclopedias ever created. Whether on a computer screen, which I prefer, or on a tiny cell phone display, almost any conceivable subject needing a definition can be typed in and instantly receive the answers.
Yesterday I attempted explain to a friend of mine that I was attempting to culture, cultivate and produce my own strains of algae - and after explaining those terms - her question was still a confused WHY???
So here is a short research list I created to try to explain to her and my readers WHY??
- What is Algae?
- What is its function??
- Where can it be found?
- Why is Algae important?
A simple search on Wikipedia will deliver a page filled with not only the definition of Algae by also provides links to a plethora of other definitions of terms and definitions to more terms and definitions. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae
Go ahead and click the all of the links and learn all of the definitions and terminologies.
Surprisingly it would take years to fully understand all of the terms and definitions but once you have you will arrive at the same conclusion that scientists the world over have concluded time and time again.
Algae is most important form of life on this planet. If it did not exist then life itself would not exist.
Google "The Most Important Organism on earth" and you will receive back thousands of resulting pages all stating that Algae is the most importand. An excellent article that I enjoyed reading is actually the first link that comes up in the Google search results.
Here is a short list of why Algae is the most important.
Algae is one of the oldest forms of life on earth, almost all plants with chlorophyll evolved from Algae. See - http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-08-11/news/8703060373_1_blue-green-algae-billion-years-greenhouse-effect
Since algae are the predominant photosynthetic organisms in the aquatic ecosystem, Algae forms the base of the aquatic food chain. All other non-photosynthetic marine life depends on the presence of algae.
- An excellent article from Berkely University introducing Cyanobacterial algae http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanointro.html
- Another great article from University of California, San Diego - https://scripps.ucsd.edu/biblio/algae-worlds-most-important-plants-introduction - The articles Abstract states that - Early in the history of life, algae changed the planet's atmosphere by producing oxygen, thus paving the way for the evolution of eukaryotic organisms. In an era in which the consumption of fossil fuels is a prime topic of concern, few people realize that the oil we currently exploit comes mostly from Cretaceous deposits of marine algae. Moving from ancient times to the present, the algae remain more important than most people realize. Today, the production of oxygen by algae (ca. 50% of all oxygen production) is another reason for saying "our lives depend on algae." Those who love seafood should thank the algae because algae are the primary producers upon which aquatic ecosystems depend. Thanks should come from all who are vegetarians or omnivores, because all land plants derive from a freshwater class of green algae and all land-animals-including the cows that provide the steaks for meat-lovers-depend directly or indirectly on land plants for food and often for shelter as well. As we use up the oil deposits provided by the ancient algae, we are turning to the modern algae for help. Given the photosynthetic abilities of the algae, they are one of the major focuses for sustainable biofuel production and CO2 consumption. Finally, the algae that give us the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the fuel for our cars (past and, perhaps, future), are also a source of active pharmaceutical compounds that can be used against drug-resistant bacterial strains, viruses (including Herpes Simplex and AIDS), and cancers. Roses are pretty and oak trees are impressive, but no other groups of "plants" have done so much, for so long, and, for so many as have the algae!
Algae produces 70 to 80 percent of all oxygen on earth and absorbs more carbon dioxide than all of the trees and other plants on land, combined. Oxford journal -
Algae is the fastest growing organism on earth and can produce more biofuel per acre - Also from the oxford journal link above - Algae are estimated to produce two- to tenfold more biomass per unit land area than the best terrestrial systems (Chisti 2008, Packer 2009, Pienkos and Darzins 2009, Mata et al. 2010, Stephens et al. 2010, Weyer et al. 2010). There are several reasons for the greater biomass yields of algae versus land plants. Generally, algae have higher photosynthetic efficiency than land plants because of greater abilities to capture light and convert it to usable chemical energy (Melis 2009, Weyer et al. 2010). Under ideal growth conditions algae direct most of their energy into cell division (6- to 12-hour cycle), allowing for rapid biomass accumulation.
Algae can potentially end world hunger - Some strains of algae, like spirulina, are super foods - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_(dietary_supplement)
Algae produces more biofuel oil than any other biofuel crop- Oxford journal http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/60/9/722.full - - Various estimates indicate that potential oil and biomass yields from algae ponds range from 2000 to 6000 gallons per acre per year 140 to 420 tons per acre per year, respectively (Weyer et al. 2010).
Algae benefits - http://allaboutalgae.com/benefits/
Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. Algae? Naturally. - http://allaboutalgae.com/
1) Algae Grow Fast
Algae can double their numbers every few hours, can be harvested daily, and have the potential to produce a volume of biomass and biofuel many times greater than that of our most productive crops.
Algae can double their numbers every few hours, can be harvested daily, and have the potential to produce a volume of biomass and biofuel many times greater than that of our most productive crops.
2) Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields
Algae store energy in the form of oils and carbohydrates, which, combined with their high productivity, means they can produce from 2,000 to as many as 5,000 gallons of biofuels per acre per year.
Algae store energy in the form of oils and carbohydrates, which, combined with their high productivity, means they can produce from 2,000 to as many as 5,000 gallons of biofuels per acre per year.
3) Algae Consume CO2
Like any other plant, algae, when grown using sunlight, consume (or absorb) carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, releasing oxygen (O2) for the rest of us to breathe. For high productivity, algae require more CO2, which can be supplied by emissions sources such as power plants, ethanol facilities, and other sources.
Like any other plant, algae, when grown using sunlight, consume (or absorb) carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, releasing oxygen (O2) for the rest of us to breathe. For high productivity, algae require more CO2, which can be supplied by emissions sources such as power plants, ethanol facilities, and other sources.
4) Algae Do Not Compete With Agriculture
Algae cultivation uses both land that in many cases is unsuitable for traditional agriculture, as well as water sources that are not useable for other crops, such as sea-, brackish- and wastewater. As such, algae-based fuels complement biofuels made from traditional agricultural processes.
Algae cultivation uses both land that in many cases is unsuitable for traditional agriculture, as well as water sources that are not useable for other crops, such as sea-, brackish- and wastewater. As such, algae-based fuels complement biofuels made from traditional agricultural processes.
5) Microalgal Biomass Can Be Used for Fuel, Feed and Food
Microalgae can be cultivated to have a high protein and oil content, for example, which can be used to produce either biofuels or animal feeds, or both. In addition, microalgal biomass, which is rich in micronutrients, is already used for dietary supplements to advance human health.
Microalgae can be cultivated to have a high protein and oil content, for example, which can be used to produce either biofuels or animal feeds, or both. In addition, microalgal biomass, which is rich in micronutrients, is already used for dietary supplements to advance human health.
6) Macroalgae Can Be Grown in the Sea
Macroalgae (seaweeds) are grown in the sea, or even on land with seawater, and their sugars can be converted into biofuels and chemicals.
Macroalgae (seaweeds) are grown in the sea, or even on land with seawater, and their sugars can be converted into biofuels and chemicals.
7) Algae Can Purify Wastewaters
Algae thrive in nutrient-rich waters like municipal waste waters (sewage), animal wastes and some industrial effluents, at the same time purifying these wastes while producing a biomass suitable for biofuels production.
Algae thrive in nutrient-rich waters like municipal waste waters (sewage), animal wastes and some industrial effluents, at the same time purifying these wastes while producing a biomass suitable for biofuels production.
8) Algal Biomass Can Be Used as an Energy Source
After oil extraction, the remaining algal biomass can be dried and “pelletized” and used as fuel that is burned in industrial boilers and other power generation sources.
After oil extraction, the remaining algal biomass can be dried and “pelletized” and used as fuel that is burned in industrial boilers and other power generation sources.
9) Algae Can Be Used to Produce Many Useful Products
Algae can be cultivated to produce a variety of products for large to small markets: plastics, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, fertilizers, and even cosmetics. See other products algae is used for here.
Algae can be cultivated to produce a variety of products for large to small markets: plastics, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, fertilizers, and even cosmetics. See other products algae is used for here.
10) The Algae Industry is a Job Creation Engine
Algae can grow in a wide variety of climates in a multitude of production methods, from ponds to photobioreactors to fermenters, and thus will create a wide variety of jobs throughout the United States, from research to engineering, from construction to farming, from marketing to financial services. The Algal Biomass Organizationprojects the potential for creation of 220,000 jobs in this sector by 2020.
Algae can grow in a wide variety of climates in a multitude of production methods, from ponds to photobioreactors to fermenters, and thus will create a wide variety of jobs throughout the United States, from research to engineering, from construction to farming, from marketing to financial services. The Algal Biomass Organizationprojects the potential for creation of 220,000 jobs in this sector by 2020.
Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. Algae? Naturally. - http://allaboutalgae.com/
This list of benefits go on and on and the more I study Algae to more fascinating and complex it gets - Like this article which basically states that Algae are responsible for the occurrences, every 100,000 years, of our planet's Ice Ages!! - http://www.sciencealert.com/we-might-finally-know-the-weird-reason-earth-experiences-an-ice-age-every-100-000-years
But my best answer to her question of why is that the potential for discovery and cultivation of previously unknown species of algae is far greater than any other potential in the history of man. Imagine discovering a new species or strain of algae that could completely improve every aspect of life on earth - https://www.currentresults.com/Environment-Facts/Plants-Animals/number-of-undiscovered-species-living-on-earth.php
But my best answer to her question of why is that the potential for discovery and cultivation of previously unknown species of algae is far greater than any other potential in the history of man. Imagine discovering a new species or strain of algae that could completely improve every aspect of life on earth - https://www.currentresults.com/Environment-Facts/Plants-Animals/number-of-undiscovered-species-living-on-earth.php
In the next several posts I will attempt to begin chronicling my experiments so far in attempt to catch up to the present state of my algae research setup.
....and yes there will be pictures!!
....and yes there will be pictures!!
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