Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, Ltd

The National Institute of Oceanography

A view of basic and applied research of

seaweeds from the Israeli seas

Alvaro Israel

Sde Boker, September 2013

Marine Macroalgae (Seaweeds)

Divisions

1) Chlorophyta (“green”,15,000 spp.)

2) Rhodophyta (“red”, 4,500 spp.)

3) Phaeophyta (“brown”, 1,500 spp.)

*representatives of cyanophyta

Chlorophyta

Ulva sp.

Rhodophyta

Halymenia sp.

Pterocladiella sp.

Chondrachantus sp.

Phaeophyta

Padina sp.

Macrocystis sp.

Laminaria sp. at low-tide

What has been done to understand seaweed biology in Israeli shores?

Barbro Lundberg

Yaacov Lipkin

Rachel Einav

Sven Beer

Michael Friedlander

Amir Neori

But others…….

I. Levy

E. Ramon

T. Rayss

T. Edelstein

C. Nemlich

Z. Danin

Z. Dubinzky

R. Hoffman

……and most probably that’s about. Therefore, there is an

urgent need for a new generation of phycologists!!!

From 1960

Seaweeds: what are they good for?

• More than 20,000 species, ca. 500 exploited or cultivated worldwide

(multibillion dollar enterprise)

• Uses: food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, agriculture, medicine (ancient)

Source of iodine, protein, vitamins, minerals, essential elements

Polysaccharides (gels and gums): agar, carrageenan and alginates

used in the food industry as thickening agents adding gel strength

and stability

“Filling” properties (soft cell walls), high carbohydrates and low

fat contents - dieting properties

• Total marine primary production, ca. 10%

Algal Products

PorphyraPorphyra –– Nutritive valueNutritive value(100gr dry)(100gr dry)

C ** 112.5Orange - 50

Iodine 4.3Energy (Kcal) 330Soybean - 360

B6 * 1.04Liver – 0.7

Potassium * 2400Alfalfa - 2000

Ash 8

B3 * 11Meat - 6

Selenium * 0.08Wheat Sprouts – 0.12

Carbohydrates 2Fiber

B2 ** 3.8Liver – 3.5

Iron ** >28Liver - 10

Carbohydrates 44Nonfibrious (Porphyran)

B12 15* 0.05Liver – 0.025

Zinc *- 10Soybean - 9

Lipid 2-3EPA 20:5 (Omega 3)

A *** 16000IUCarrot – 10000IU

Calcium 440Almonds - 260

Proteins *- 43-47Soybean - 35

Vitamins(mg)

Minerals(mg)

Major

components (gr)

* Daily Recommended Dosage

Applied (cultivation and biotechnology)

Laminaria sp. at low-tide……. this will never occur in

Israel!!

……land-based cultivation

Tanks and ponds experimental site,

Haifa, Israel (since 1985)

Integrated Aquaculture (= Integrated Multi-

trophic Aquaculture – IMTA = Polyculture)

abalone, sea-urchins

fish, shrimps

seaweeds (Ulva and Gracilaria)

Seawater

reservoir

settling ponds

Bio-adhesive

Agar

Alginates

SAKURA, Ltd

Ulva tumble cultivation,

sold fresh (salted) or dry

pellets

Porphyra cultivation pond (300 m2)

Two-compartments circular ponds (1000 m2)

1000 m2 Gracilaria paddle-wheel pond

Seaweed production for abalone feed

Bioethanol from seaweeds? (Min of Science & Technology, Israel

Annual growth pattern in seaweeds

Carbohydrates

Growth

Reserve N

30

Environment, ecology and climate change

(A. Ganin and Y. Shaked) Eilat Monitoring Program

(B. Lundberg) taxonomy-Seaweed collection

2005-2013

Codium gepiorum

(invasive and new

for the Mediterranean)

Haifa, November 2007

Effects of Global Changes (CO2, UV, Temp.

nutrients) enhanced photosynthesis/growth?

Long-term growth rates Ulva rigida under CO2 enrichment

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Months(2002-3)

Figure 2

Electric company – Hedera flue gas (CO2)

high temp seawater

Sea level

Temps

Acidification

Eastern Mediterranean (Levant) eco-region. Extreme conditions

•Highest salinity

•Highest temperatures

•Lowest primary productivity

Gil Rilov, Marine Ecology Laboratory

TidbiT

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Tem

pe

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°C)

Air Platform Water

Temperature time-series

Spp. richness and rock surface level

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Sp

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-10 cm

-20- -50 cm

-20 cm

0 cm

Until recently

Ecosystem extinction?

now

20 cm rise and loss of protection

Calcareous substrate Ocean acidification

100 years

500 years

Seaweed herbarium

Seaweed barcoding

Seaweed monitoring