ALGAE AND IT'S NUMEROUS IMPORTANCE

Long underwater exposure of a mountain stream with green alga

All algae species make up the kingdom algae under the domain eukaryota. This kingdom of photosynthetic organisms are found in both aquatic habitats (such as swarms and also on aquatic organism like crustaceans etc) and terrestrial habitats (such as farms, rocks, soil etc). The kingdom algae consists of about 7 phyla namely;Chlorophyta (7,000 species), Phaephyta (1,500 species), Rhodophyta (4,000 species), Bacillariophyta (11,500 species), Dinoflagella (1,100 species), Cryophyta(850 species) and Euglenophyta(1,000 species)

picture of a typical algae

Algae has been found to produce more oxygen than plants and asides this it's economic importance also includes the following :

FOR MEAL PREPARATION
In countries such as Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, China, Japan etc algae has been used as human food for centuries. Due to the fact that various algae species are good sources of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, Vitamins A, B, C and E people have incorporated algae in various meals. Some people cook it with meat or as salad in fact it is also used as flavor with various dishes. The species commonly used for this purpose belongs to the phylum Chlorophyta. Japan uses about 155,000 acres of land to cultivate algae.
ANIMAL FEED
In places like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, America, China etc the sea weed(a name used to describe large algae) has been used as fodder. Factories all around different places has found ways of adding algae to meals of chicken and cattle. It was discovered that the eggs and milk of chickens and cattle nourished with algae have higher nutritional value than the ones without algae supplements.

Picture of a seaweed
FISH REARING AND NUTRITION
Fishes are also nourished with algae. Plankton, phytoplankton and zooplankton are all sources of food for fishes. Asides from that algae growing in aquatic habitats also serve as the producers in the ecosystem.Algae also helps in making the habitat hospitable for aquatic organisms. It utilizes the dissolved carbon dioxide in the water and releases more oxygen into the water body.

picture of an alga used as food
**FERTILIZERS **
Brown and Red algae are used as fertilizers. The greatest importance algae has to farmers is in its ability to fix nitrogen into the soil. Cyanophycaea enriches the soil greatly by fixing nitrogen. A species of alga known as Aulosira fertilissimabis is used in India to fix nitrogen in rice farms. This species also help increase the organic matter content of the soil. So apart from helping the farmer in production of improved products it also nourishes the soil.

an alga( Gutweed enteromopha)
RECLAMATION OF USAR LAND
An usar land is highly alkaline in nature and this makes it unsuitable for cultivation of crops.
To make the usar land suitable for planting the following conditions must be met;Reduction of the land's alkalinity, increase of the land's organic matter, increased water holding capacity of the land and the exchangeable calcium.
All this conditions can be met by the Blue green algae. Reclaiming an usar land requires some processes and this has been successful carried out in India.

picture of India Usar land
BINDING OF SOIL PARTICLES
Algae is also useful in binding soil particles together. Members of Cyanophycaea are colony forming and thus helps in soil formation.
AGAR_AGAR
Species of algae such as Gracilaria lichenoides is used to obtain Agar-agar.The Agar-agar is gotten by bleaching and extracting mucilaginous matter from the algae collected. Agar is used in the preparation of culture media in the field of microbiology. It is also used in cosmetics industries, silk industries, ice cream production, baking etc.
CARRAGEENIN
This is also an extract from algae. It is mostly extracted from Red seaweed. Carrageenin is used in textile industries, paper industries, dairy industries etc. It is also used in shoe polishes, hand lotion and tooth pastes.

a source of carrageenin extract
MEDICINAL PURPOSES
Different algae are used for different medicinal purposes ;Alaria(for improving appetite after sickness), Fucoidin(for anticoagulation of blood) and all other diverse utilities medically.
ANTIBIOTICS
Chlorellin is an antibacterial product and it is gotten from the alga Chlorella. Other forms of alga have been said to possibly have antibacterial or antifungal effects.
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE
Algae is also used in the biological treatment of sewage thus it helps reduce the amount of diseases that can be possibly spread by sewage disposal agencies.
DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Also known as Kielselghur. These are fossils of Diatoms that accumulated into deposits. It is used in brewing, wine making, insulation, sugar refining etc.
LICHENS
Algae interacts with some fungi species to form a new organism known as lichens. Lichens grow slowly and they can inhabit harsh environments. Some of them also have medicinal importance.

a picture showing different forms of lichen

Algae has been of great importance to both humans and other animals. It helps in many areas from supply of nutrients to supply of oxygen and other vital products used around the globe. The need for communities and countries to begin cultivating algae is even rising more as there is a higher oxygen demand due to the global warming. Algae is therefore an organism countries ought to pay attention to due to its various economic importance.

picture of a green alga (Fadenalgen algenmatten species)

References