An Overview On The Nature Of Algae

From small ponds to lucrative commercial fisheries

, harmful algal bloom or HABs may plague the water systems and massively affect the economy due to job loss, destruction of coastal waters or commercial fisheries, and various illnesses. The ubiquity of algae in any water features is a sign of imminent dangers in the waters environment and its marine life.

Other than the unsightly features, algae are detestable because of their serious threat to the environment. They are one of the toxic killers of fish and water systems that can contribute to huge destruction of marine life and its surrounding environment.

Algae are some of the most unique organisms on earth. They are often referred as plants because of their photosynthetic features, and they live and grow like most plants do. Algae are microscopic organisms with multifaceted reproductive system. They can be either unicellular or multi-cellular in forms that live in both marine and freshwater environment. They can multiply on their own and grow rapidly that could envelop an entire ocean floor. Algae are also classified as forms of bacteria that grow in almost all environments where enough sunlight and moisture can be found.

According to researchers, there are over a million species of algae in the world. The U.S. Algal Collection in Smithsonian Museum of Natural history has collected approximately 300,000 species of algae that have been categorized accordingly. Algae are classified based on their colour, life cycle and cellular structure.

Most types of algae are known as abominable water creatures. There are various effects of algae. When algae growth becomes rampant in a water system, the water can become polluted and harmful to fish and other aquatic animals. In fact, several states in U.S and Australia had been affected by the excessive growth of algae which inflict deficit, job loss, and food shortage. In similar cases, the consumption of algae can lead to severe diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle pain, fever, and headache; while the direct contact with algae (e.g. swimming) may cause skin allergies and irritations in the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. People and animals that are highly susceptible to diseases may get infection once they inhaled any algae infested water.

Although algae are prominent for their dangerous effects, they are rarely known for the benefits they give in the field of algae biotechnology. Different strains of algae have been found as potential source of fuel. The United States Department of Energys Office of Fuels Development conducted extensive research on the production of fuel from algae. There were over 3,000 species of algae found in western part of United States that had been cultured an tested, but only 300 species were found feasible for fuel production. In 2007, a Colorado-based researcher, Kim Sears, led the production of fuel from algae. His company, Solix Biofuels, is one of the leading bio-fuel companies that harness the powers of these unicellular algae. The thought of using algae came out from the idea that algae produce oil that can be harvested and used as bio diesel, while the carbohydrate content can be converted to ethanol.

by: Lara Davidson

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