Climate change is one of the realities faced by the world in the present century. Although the post-industrial revolution comes with its world-changing benefits, it has been proven astronomically that the increase in the rate of greenhouse gas emissions has adverse effects on the planet. These effects include climate change, sea levels, precipitation, ocean temperature, surface air, coastal areas, human health, forests, agriculture, wildlife, and water resources.

One of the solutions to tackle the effects of greenhouse gas emissions is growing large quantities of algae. These photosynthetic organisms can significantly help with carbon capturing and climate change mitigation. Here we explore how algae can help deal with global climate crises.

What to Know About Algae

Algae are essential organisms found in aquatic environments with several significant benefits. Algae come in different types, including:

1. Green algae (Chlorophyta)
2. Brown algae (Phaeophyta)
3. Yellow-green algae (Xanthophyta)
4. Red algae (Rhodophyta)
5. Fire algae (Pyrrophyta)
6. Golden-brown algae and diatoms (Chrysophyta)
7. Euglenoids (Euglenophyta)

Algae is very important in aquatic ecosystems. They create the energy base of the food network for all aquatic living organisms. Besides, studies show they produce oxygen in large quantities in lakes, rivers, and oceans. Accessibility to CO2, water, phosphate, sunlight, and nitrogen is vital for algae to grow efficiently.

Since there are several algal strains, their compositions are different. And how each is cultivated can also influence the composition. Nevertheless, the algal main composition includes protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and carotenoids, such as fucoxanthin and astaxanthin, lutein, and nucleic acids. Moreover, Algae as photosynthetic organisms are characterised by:

1. The production of quality non-fuel co-products
2. High lipid accumulation
3. Excessive biomass production
4. CO2 sequestration

Sequestering carbon for growth is one of the functions of algae. With this process, they can efficiently mitigate greenhouse gasses that can cause climate change. Algae can produce biomaterials, biofuel, and bioenergy from land biomass.

The Role of Algae in Carbon Capture and Climate Change Mitigation

You should have heard the great extent of how forestation is helping the planet. It does this by slowing down global warming by reducing CO2 in the atmosphere and introducing more O2. As carbon sinks, Trees reduce CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and change it to biomass.

The paragraph above shows one of the benefits of trees to ecosystems. But the trees might not be the sole saviour in saving the earth from the global crisis. This is because forestation has its limitations and consequences. The process can lead to the following, according to a working paper published by World Research Institute (WRI):

1. Technological and scientific difficulties in measurement and monitoring
2. The displacement of farmlands
3. Limited public funding for carbon-beneficial land management

Here, algae show themselves as a saviour – looking to oceans for more effective and scalable way-outs. So, what are the uses of algae that help with carbon capture and climate change mitigation?

Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration refers to the process of efficiently capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. This method helps reduce the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere to reduce climate change. Studies have shown that the process can enhance air quality by increasing O2 concentration and decreasing CO2 levels.

Algae are more efficient than trees400 times when used in bioreactors to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Algae can handle more CO2 than trees due to their quality to cover more surface area and grow more rapidly as they produce more biomass.

How do trees and algae sequester CO2? They both do this naturally. For trees, CO2 is consumed as photosynthesis process. They absorb carbon into their roots and trunks and offer oxygen in return into the air. For algae, the same process is replicated. However, what is done differently is absorbing the carbon in the form of more algae.

Fuel

The second use of algae is for the production of biofuels. These fuels are extracted from living matters directly. With this, algae can offer a more sustainable alternative to liquid fossil fuels like petroleum. Interestingly, algae have offered more than five thousand biofuel gallons from one acre over the years.

What could make algae a remarkable renewable fuel source is its unique energy-storage system. There are algal strains that store energy in a natural oil form. The oil must be extracted to get the raw material to produce fuel for planes, trains, trucks, and cars.

Raw Material

Polymers can be created from algae. And as a replacement for plastic, they are used in 3D printing. It has also been claimed that the local algae polymers can make waste bins, tableware, and shampoo bottles.

Industrial manufacturing processes affect the planet and contribute to global warming. So, using algae can greatly help by subtracting CO2 from the atmosphere– they can help the environment when used as a raw material in a healthy mode of production.

Moreover, several companies are interested in what they can produce using algae fibres. Some produce foam from them. The algae foam can then be used to make products, such as surfboards and shoes, with soles produced from petroleum.

Food

Climate change can, in no small way, affect agriculture and food supplies. They can increase rainfall variability, affecting livestock productivity and crop yields. From this, risks of malnutrition and hunger should be expected.

Algae is one of the solutions to this global climate crisis affecting the agricultural sector. They can offer valuable products. For instance, Arthrospira platensis (spirulina), a filamentous and multicellular blue-green alga, can be a food supplement.

Can food from algae help mitigate climate change? Yes, they can. In fact, they are excellent food supplements, biostimulants, bio fertilisers, biochar feedstocks, and livestock feeds. All these make algae one of the best ways to promote the climate resilience of food production and agricultural livelihoods. Besides, they help mitigate climate change by transforming greenhouse gasses into physical form or reducing their emissions.

Conclusion

Algae should be considered essential organisms within ecosystems, as their roles are invaluable. They are photosynthetic organisms that can help capture and store carbon and combat climate change– algae remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it as biomass. They also put oxygen as a replacement.

Several companies have started to take advantage of these organisms’ benefits. You, as an individual, can also play your little part in helping the movement to keep the planet safe.

Do you ask how? You can plant a tree, help clean the ocean, see algae as a potential food source, buy algae-made products, work for companies that seek to keep the environment healthy for everyone, and so on. Through collective efforts, the problems of the world can be solved.

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Are you a mushroom cultivator or enthusiast? You should be interested in knowing about the fascinating life cycle of these fungi. Your thirst for knowledge and understanding will give you more insights into the role fungi play in the habitats where they are.

Fungi are key players in unleashing elements that are biologically important from decaying matter. These elements include phosphorus and nitrogen. This article explores mushrooms’ role in nutrient cycling and decomposition. Let’s delve into it.

Mushrooms and Their Benefits

As no deposit casino games appeal to casino players, so are fungi to mycologists, hobbyists, or anyone who finds them intriguing. Mushrooms are the reproductive structures made by some fungi. Studies show how they help nature with decomposition and how they can deal with global issues, such as hunger and climate change.

They have several distinct stages when it comes to their life cycle. These include:

1. Spore dispersal
2. Spore germination
3. Mycelium growth
4. Primordia formation
5. Mushroom development
6. Spore production and dissemination

Mushrooms have much to do with carbon and nutrient cycling as they significantly promote carbon sequestration and soil health. They could help in different ways, including:

1. Transformation of nutrients in a usable way for plants.
2. The breakdown of animal and plant debris.
3. Propulsion of phosphorus mobilisation and nitrogen fixation.

The Role of Mushrooms as Nutrient Recyclers and Decomposers

Mushrooms are key players when it comes to nutrient cycling and decomposition. This role, which is a pivot in the balance of the ecosystem, falls in the final stage of their life cycle.

The first significant role of mushrooms is to help with nutrient cycling. They participate in breaking down molecules, such as lignin and cellulose. Mushrooms also offer vital nutrients to the soil to benefit plants and other organisms in the ecosystem. These are carbon, potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

How Mushrooms Contribute to Nutrient Cycling

Mushrooms are strong facilitators of the movement and availability of essential nutrients. They do not only cycle nutrients but also their redistribution. There are different ways mushrooms can help with nutrient cycling.

Firstly, mushrooms help with the decomposition of organic matter that releases nutrients such as carbon, potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. These nutrients are helpful to other organisms.

Secondly, mushrooms help replenish soil nutrient pools by releasing stored nutrients once trapped in complex organic compounds. With the released nutrients, other organisms can experience incredible growth and development.

Thirdly, mushrooms help enhance the efficiency of nutrient uptake. This is done through mycorrhizal associations. Several mushrooms form these mutualistic relationships with plants’ roots to foster nutrient absorption. These nutrients include water, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

The fourth contribution of mushrooms to nutrient cycling is nutrient redistribution. They play a significant role in transporting and distributing nutrients over larger spatial scales in the ecosystem. With this, nutrient balance can be maintained and available across several habitats.

The final contribution to nutrient cycling is serving as a nutrient source for different secondary consumers. These may include small mammals, insects, and other animals. These organisms consume mushrooms to get stored nutrients, thereby helping with nutrient cycling within the ecosystem.

Organic Matter Decomposition

The second significant role of mushrooms is decomposing organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead plant material. Their mycelium makes this possible, which helps with the secretion of enzymes. With this, complex organic compounds are broken down into their simpler forms. And the energy and nutrients therein will be released to benefit other organisms within the ecosystem.

Key Factors That Influence the Rates of Mushroom Decomposition

Several factors influence the decomposition rates of mushrooms. The first factor is the fungi species. There are variations in mushroom decomposition rates since the fungi exist in different species. Some mushroom species decompose slowly, while others rapidly. Here, what influences the decomposition process include:

1. The structural characteristics of the fungi
2. Their enzymes
3. Their fruiting body’s chemical composition

Environmental Conditions

Environmental factors, such as aeration, moisture, humidity, and temperature, can influence decomposition rates. All these have a lot to do with how decomposers, including fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates, act regarding decomposition. If the environmental conditions are perfect, the decomposition rates can be accelerated.

Microbial Communities

Mushrooms and other microorganisms, such as bacteria, are key players in breaking down organic matter. The diversity and the composition of the microbial communities can determine the speed of decomposition. These and how the communities interact with the substrate and the mushroom.

Substrate Availability and Nature

There are several organic materials that fungi can decompose. These include animal remains, wood, and dead plant matter. The rate at which these materials can be broken down and decomposed is influenced by substrate accessibility, structure, and chemical composition.

Ecosystem’s Successional Stage

You may expect a higher decomposition rate at the early successional stage of the ecosystem. This can be attributed to pioneer decomposers’ activity and the availability of fresh organic matter. Nevertheless, the decomposition rate may be slower in mature ecosystems due to the decreased availability of easily decomposable material.

Interactions Between Mushrooms

If mushrooms interact with bacteria, fungi, worms, or insects, it can either cause the decomposition rate to be slow or rapid. It can be rapid when the organisms consume and break down the mushrooms. But it may be slow if predators or competing microbial communities inhibit or consume the decomposer organisms.

Chemical Composition

Mushrooms have several compounds, including secondary metabolites, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The decomposition rate can accelerate with easily degradable compounds. But it can slow down if there are complex compounds, such as antimicrobial substances or lignin.

Human impact can also impact the rates of mushroom decomposition. Several unhealthy human activities within the ecosystem can affect the speed of decomposition—the common ones include disturbance, pollution, and land use changes. When microbial communities, nutrient levels, and substrate availability are altered, the implication can negatively affect decomposition.

Other Roles of Mushrooms as Nutrient Recyclers and Decomposers

Check below for further ways mushrooms can immensely assist the ecosystem.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, the roles of mushrooms as recyclers and decomposers are essential for the health of the ecosystems, the maintenance of ecological balance, and the recycling of trapped nutrients. The article explored how mushrooms significantly contribute to ecosystem processes by breaking down organic matter, releasing nutrients, and more.

So, as a hobbyist, mycologist, or someone intrigued by the ecological vitality of mushrooms, you should know that these fungi have a lot to offer the ecosystems, influencing how diverse ecosystems function and are preserved.

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From Gazi Bay in Kenya and Maputo Bay in Mozambique to Dale Bay in Wales, projects to restore algae are gaining momentum.

Emerged over 70 million years ago from terrestrial grasses, seaweed is one of the most diverse and valuable marine ecosystems on the planet. They have a critical role in combating climate change, food security, shoreline protection, biodiversity enrichment, disease control and water filtration.

Underwater algae meadows – expanses of green, grass-like shoots and flowers – are an extremely effective “natural solution” to climate change. They cover only 0.1 percent of the world’s ocean floor, while storing about 18 percent of the ocean’s carbon. They are also home to fish stocks, which not only provide food and livelihoods for coastal residents, but also help increase ocean biodiversity.

According to a study by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), algae habitats are in serious danger. They have been in decline since 1930, and today 7 percent of seaweed habitat is lost each year, the equivalent of an area the size of a soccer field disappearing every 30 minutes.

Climate change, as well as increasing coastal populations, deepening of the seabed and ocean floor, and uncontrolled fishing have all contributed to this decline.

Algae-covered areas are among a growing number of ecosystems, including forests, savannahs and mountains, under pressure from human activities. Every year the world loses so many trees that they could fill the Republic of Korea, and since 1970, 30 percent of natural freshwater ecosystems have disappeared.

As the world prepares to enter the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement to revive natural areas and reverse the destruction of algae will require international efforts, experts say. Algae are found in coastal regions of 159 countries on six continents and cover about 300,000 km2.

The increase and expansion of coastal populations, pollution, dredging and fishing make us aware of the impact of these activities on the planet’s ecosystems.

The project is funded in part by the sale of “carbon credits” and demonstrates how collaboration between local, national and international organizations can lead to successful ecosystem restoration.

The income from the project supports the further development of the ecosystem and the local community. The Mikoko Pamoja project helped dig wells and provide drinking water for 3,500 people, and provided 700 children with educational materials. In addition, local schools were repaired and improved. The project was so successful that it was awarded the Equator Initiative for addressing climate change at the community level. This activity evolved into the development of the larger Vanga Blue Forest project, mainly focused on the restoration and protection of mangrove forests. The project received seed funding from the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation.

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Seaweeds, green, red or brown, grow by clinging to rocks or pebbles or by floating in the water. In recent years, some 250 species have spread heavily along European shores, causing alarm.

Brown algae, Sargassum, a large floating algae, arrived on European shores after the introduction of Japanese oysters in France in 1969. Up to 10 meters long, this plant is often introduced by the sea into oyster tubs or damages fishermen’s nets.

In addition, about 70 species of algae release toxins that can penetrate through the shells of clams, causing gastroenteritis (inflammation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines) in humans.

Green algae: Their numbers have increased greatly since the early 1970s due to the pollution of waters with nitrates used in agriculture. However, these preparations contain nitrogen, which is exactly what these plants feed on. The growth of these algae causes real “green tides,” covering entire beaches: for example, one beach on the coast of northern France collects 20,000 cubic meters of algae per year.

Red algae: some red algae common in Asia, such as gracilaria asiatica, have taken over the waters off the coast of Sweden since 2003 and are spreading along the coasts of Norway and Denmark, threatening other algae species living there with extinction. Of particular concern is the fact that it is not known how they were introduced into these waters.

Ways to use algae

Rich in vitamins A, B12, C, iodine, and magnesium, seaweed has a special place in Asian cuisine. Seaweed (nori), one of the most popular edible algae. It is used to wrap lumps of rice or to enhance the taste of meat or fish dishes. Red seaweed is the base ingredient of the most popular Japanese dish, sushi. Brown algae, such as fucus bubbly, harvested on the shore, are used as a fertilizer. Algin, an algae extract, is used as a gel-forming agent; it is used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries, as well as in plastic and paint production. Agar agar, a jelly-like substance extracted from agar, a common algae in the waters of India as well as the White Sea, is used for microbial cultures.

Variety of plant life
Thousands of species of plants, flowering and non-flowering, lichens (plants composed of algae and fungus), and mosses inhabit the oceans. Some plants, such as posidonia, are threatened with extinction because of the encroachment of other species. While common in the Mediterranean Sea, it is disappearing under the onslaught of caulerpa, a green algae of tropical origin, nicknamed “killer algae,” accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea.

If individual species disappear, in the long term, the entire balance of marine ecosystems is threatened.

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At this point, scientists know of the existence of 30,000 species of algae. They are not full-fledged plants – rather, they are lower plants. Scientifically speaking, they are unicellular or multicellular organisms, most of which can only be seen under a microscope. Some algae are edible and many peoples make different dishes from them. But there are also poisonous algae that have been causing a lot of problems to humans and animals for a couple of years in a row. In different parts of our planet there have been dozens of cases of algae poisoning, some of which proved fatal. Not to mention that more than a hundred elephants have recently died in Africa. But why are there more and more toxic algae and how not to run into them? Let’s get to the bottom of it.

What kind of algae are there?
Scientists believe that algae are among the earliest members of the plant kingdom. Numerous studies have proven that they appeared about 2.5 billion years ago, long before the first dinosaurs. They are still alive and actively reproducing because they know how to adapt to any conditions. Among thousands of species of algae there are those that can safely live in any water: fresh, salty, dirty, clean – makes no difference. Depending on the species, algae attach themselves to underwater surfaces or float freely in the water. They can be colored green, red, blue, purple and other colors. The hue may change depending on the surrounding conditions.

Externally, algae may look like fluffy balls, carpets spread across the water surface or like slime. Their structure may be flat, branched, filamentous or composed of several layers. Most of the algae can only be seen with a microscope, but in nature there are species that reach several meters in length. The largest algae probably grows on the U.S. coast on the Pacific side. Macrocystis pear-shaped (Macrocystis pyrifera) grows there and is up to 200 meters long. And the smallest algae was found in Japan – it consists of only four meters, so its width is 10 micrometers. Such data, at least in 2013, was shared by the news agency TASS.

Edible algae
Most edible algae grow in the sea, they need salt water. Algae growing in fresh water, on the other hand, are mostly poisonous. Edible algae are grown on many coasts of our planet, especially well developed in Japan. In the course of numerous studies it has been proved that the digestive system of the Japanese is adapted to digest algae more than that of other peoples. Algae are also actively consumed by the people of China and Korea. In the western hemisphere, Norway, France, and England are considered the largest producers of algae products. Restaurants in the United States often serve “crunchy seaweed,” but it is usually common cabbage.

The benefits of seaweed are due to its high dietary fiber and iodine content. Iodine is considered one of the most important trace elements within our bodies. It is important for the thyroid gland, which is responsible for metabolism, functioning and development of the brain and other organs of the human body. Many seaweed tastes salty, but there is not much sodium chloride in it. Some people add seaweed to their diet to replace regular salt. But it is important to note that the benefits of algae depend directly on the water in which they grew. If the conditions were dirty, the algae can harbor heavy metals that are very harmful to the human body.

Poisonous Algae
Poisonous algae are better known scientifically as cyanobacteria or blue-green algae. At their core, they are microscopic creatures that can absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. Cyanobacteria get their name because they combine characteristics of both bacteria and plants. When the air temperature gets high, blue-green algae begin to “bloom”. Initially, the algae are colored green, a clear sign of their ability to convert sunlight into energy. As the algae “blooms”, it turns other colors. Because of this, entire lakes can change their appearance – just like the Lonar meteorite lake I mentioned above.

Blue-green algae are everywhere on our planet. They do best in calm, nutrient-rich waters. Their vitality is amazing – if they lack moisture, they begin to secrete mucus, which holds water and protects them from radiation. Many species of cyanobacteria secrete substances that are dangerous to human and animal life. When any living organism drinks water “captured” by cyanobacteria or bathes in it, poisonous substances immediately make themselves heard.

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Algae are mostly referred to as plants that grow in water, but the group of living organisms is much larger and includes single-celled life forms, some of which are no larger than microns in size. They can live:

• In the water column, without being attached to any object or inhabitant of the underwater world;
• near the seafloor, being attached to it and to other algae by a stratum;
• in the upper layers of the soil;
• on trees, hedges, walls of houses, etc.

Types of Algae.
Algae are distinguished by the number of cells:

• unicellular;
• Multi-cellular (mostly filamentous);
• colonial; non-cellular;
• Non-cellular.

There is also a difference in the cell structure and pigment composition of algae. In this regard, a distinction is made between:

• green (with a green tone of color and slight flecks of yellow);
• blue-green (with pigments of green, blue, red and yellow tint);
• brown (with green and brown pigments);
• red (with pigments of different shades of red);
• yellow-green (with coloring of corresponding shades, as well as two flagella of different structure and length);
• golden-colored (with pigments forming a golden color, and cells without shell or enclosed in a dense shell)
• diatoms (with a strong shell consisting of two halves and a reddish coloration);
• pyrrophytes (brownish-yellow with naked or carapace-covered cells);
• and euglena algae (unicellular, glabrous, with one or two flagella).

Algae reproduce in several ways:

vegetative (simple division of the body cells of an organism);
Sexually (fusion of the sex cells of a plant to form a zygote);
Asexual (zoospores).

Depending on the algae species and how favorable the environmental conditions are, the number of generations in just a few years can exceed 1000.

Influence of algae on the environment
All algae species form oxygen due to the presence of chlorophyll in their cells. It makes up 30 to 50% of the oxygen produced by plants on Earth. Producing oxygen, algae absorb carbon dioxide, the percentage of which in the atmosphere today is quite high.

Algae are also a source of food for many other living creatures. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans, different kinds of fish. Their high adaptability to harsh conditions provides plants and animals high in the mountains, in the polar regions, etc. with quality food.

If there are too many algae in water bodies, the water begins to bloom. Some of them, such as blue-green algae, actively secrete a toxic substance during this period. Its concentration is particularly high near the water surface. Gradually it leads to the death of aquatic life and significant deterioration of water quality, up to waterlogging.

The significance of algae for people
Algae benefit not only flora and fauna. Mankind also actively uses them. The life activity of organisms in the past has become a source of minerals for the modern generation, the list of which includes oil shale and limestone.

Algae that are edible for humans are consumed as food. They enrich organism with useful microelements and are the source of iodine.

A number of algae are actively used for water purification in artificial closed systems, such as aquariums.

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