Algae Presentation
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Transcript of Algae Presentation
Tonight’s objectives:
• Understand the importance of algae
• Learn how the Cambridge Water Department is monitoring algae
• Discover some common genera of algae and learn identifying features
What are algae?
Algae is a BROAD term, from diatoms to kelp: Some resemble plants… Others bacteria… Still others protists…
A group of aquatic, photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms ranging from unicellular to multicellular and generally possessing chlorophyll but lacking true roots, stems, or leaves.
Algae, Defined:
Classification:
• Cell wall composition
• Motile or non-motile
• Colonial or individual
• Pigmentation
Plankton
“Plankton” from the Greek word planktos Haloplankton-always present as plankton Meroplankton-have resting stages in the sediment
Habitat
• Freshwater ecosystems
• Saltwater ecosystems
• Soils
• Hot springs
• Moss/Lichens
• Turtle carapaces, fur of the 3-toed sloth
•Size as defense •Resource sharing •Cell differentiation: reproduction •Improved mobility/reduced sinking
Colonial Algae:
Importance of Algae: Fisheries
In 2011:
$200 billion generated
$433 million in Massachusetts
1.7 million jobs
Phytoplankton as primary producers!
Diatoms
• Golden-brown algae
• Cell walls made up of Silica
– Strong influence on function
• 25% Global Net Primary Productivity
Diatomite
Silica deposits from diatoms used in:
• Filtration for beer/wine, pools
• Industrial absorbents
• Grit in toothpaste
• Road paint
Blue-green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
Photosynthesizing bacteria
• Pioneered photosynthesis, sexual reproduction, urea cycles
• Vertical regulation: gas vacuoles and metabolism (stratification)
Why We Care About Algae:
Water Quality
Indication of watershed health
Community baseline
( and they’re really fun to look at...)
Preventing Algal Blooms
Causes:
Nutrient loading (N,P)
Eutrophication
Temperature (growth rate)
Effects:
Shading/competition
Oxygen depletion
Presence of Cyanotoxins
CWD Algae Monitoring Program
• Volunteer monitoring in Black’s Nook and Little Fresh Pond since 2003
• Chl-a samples from reservoirs
12/18/2004, LFP
Phytoplankton Zooplankton
Asterionella Copepods
Pediastrum Cladocerans
Dinobryon Ostracods
Staurastrum
CWD Algae Program Goals
Weekly reservoir monitoring
– Identify and quantify populations
Continue reservation monitoring
–Analyze historical data for trends
Black’s Nook 11/24/2014
Ceratium: golden algae, dinoflagellate, protozoan
Closterium, green algae
Centronella: Diatom
Dinobryon: golden- algae, diatom
Additional Resources
Glossary of algal terms: http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/glossary
Algae pictures for ID: http://www.keweenawalgae.mtu.edu/
Detailed species descriptions: http://algaebase.org/search/genus/
Credits: Kelp-http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/events/department-news/983/paper-by-libe-washburn-selected-as-an-agu-research-spotlight/
Sloth-https://animalartsdesignstudio.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/biomimicry-and-the-sloth/
Diatomite-http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3044/fs-2006-3044.pdf, http://elkorose.schopine.com/vivian.html
Black duck-http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/481/galleries/photos/RNB_American-Black-Duck-0007
Coyote-http://featheredphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/coyote-8829-ron-dudley.jpg O2 production-https://scripps.ucsd.edu/biblio/algae-worlds-most-important-plants-introduction
Tree of life http://www.encognitive.com/node/10795
Cycle-Microbial control of the dark end of the biological pump, Herndl, G; Reinthaler,T
Herring: "Clupea harengus Gervais.flipped" by Gervais et Boulart, 1877 - flipped version of File:Clupea harengus Gervais.jpg - Les poissons Gervais, H.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clupea_harengus_Gervais.flipped.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Clupea_harengus_Gervais.flipped.jpg
Bloom-http://www.clf.org/blog/tag/nutrient-pollution/
Algae age-http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/cyanofr.html
Algal maps:http://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/plankton, world ocean atlas via wikipedia