Distribution, Abundance, and Recent trends of Algae in General

Prepared by:

NOE P. MENDEZCENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY (CMU)

npolomendez@gmail.com

Key Points: Distribution

Abundance

Recent Trends

distribution

Fairly well studied Floristic discontinuities caused by geographical features Algal Collection (US National Herbarium) – 320,500 specimens UK Biodiversity – 20,000 algal species

Hydroclathrus Sargassum Dictyota Spatoglossum

5,000-5,500 species of red algae worldwide (Australian seas) 100 seaweed species (Western coastline of South Africa) 212 species (Kwazulu-South Africa)

Distribution of Kappaphycus spp. in Hawaiian Island

Distribution of algae in Massachusetts Bay

Distribution of Cyanobacteria across the world (2012)

Abundance

Algae are able to live in various conditions It’s abundance varies Known to require specific chemical & physical conditions (Prescott,

1968) Green algae is the most abundant Dominate primarily in production (photosynthetic)

Seabed Substrate Rocks

Recent Trends

Agar – medium for growing bacteria

Alginate – for gelling agents in food, medical, & dressing

Energy source – produce fuel (produce more biomass)

Fertilizer – for aquaculture & soil conditioner

Food (nutrition) – source of food especially in Asia (A, B1, B2, B6, iodine, iron, etc.)

Pigments – used as chemical dyes & coloring agents

Stabilizing substances – Carrageenan (red alga) used for stabilizer in milk products

Agar

Alginate

Medical purposes

Cosmetics

Energy source

Fertilizer

Food

Pigments

Stabilizing substance

THE END.. THANK YOU