Algae and Its Economic Significance

The algae are no longer classified as plants. It is because they have different methods of reproduction. Algae are numerous, eukaryotic, micro or macroscopic, plantlike organisms. Because this organism have the ability to perform photosynthesis, they as also classified as autotrophic protists. An algae has a body (thalus). They come in different types. It might be unicellular, colonial, filamentous or thalloid.

The unicellular algae serves as foods for a number of aquatic organisms. This kind of algae are mostly aquatic. They form in the water surface and are called as phytoplankton. Unicellular algae also produces great amount of oxygen.

The colonial algae moves and functions as a unit. Members of this unit performs their own functions as they have divisions of labor among their members. This characteristic allows the colonial algae to move, to feed and reproduce efficiently.

The filamentous algae was arranged in a linear formation. One of the characteristic of the filamentous algae is their capability to anchor to the ocean bottom because of their special structure.

The thalloid algae are commonly called as seaweeds. The cells of this algae has the characteristic of dividing in many direction creating a multi-cellular form. The algae can become more complex and resembles parts that looks like roots, stems or leaf.

Economic Significance of Algae

Algae provides us with many economic significance. Phytoplankton from algae is a vast food source for most aquatic organisms such as the fishes. They also produced a huge supply of oxygen in the environment. Another group of unicellular algae called the “desmids” provides us with information regarding the degree of water pollution in a particular body of fresh water. The presence of desmids in the water indicates water pollution.

Phytoplankton Blooms In the South Atlantic Ocean

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The brown algae also contains an alginic acid on their cell walls. This alginic acid are good source of alginites, a polysaccharides that used to make gels as food.

A sticky polysaccharides called carrageenan can also be found on the algae’s cell walls. This polysaccharides are often used to produced cosmetics, gelatin capsules, and cheese.

Calcium carbonate can also be found in the cell walls of corraline algae. Calcium carbonates are important components of the coral reefs.

Coral Reefs

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The cell walls of diatoms, a golden brown algae, contains silicon dioxide. Because of the silicon dioxide diatoms will not decompose, instead, they sink in the bottom when they die. These diatoms then forms a layer called diatomaceous earth.

Diatoms In A Microscope

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Electron Micrographs Of Diatoms

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These remains are good sources of fertilizers, detergents, paint removers, insultants and other commercial products.

Diatoms are also known for their photosynthetic value. They share a large percentage in the worlds photosynthetic process.

Harmful Effect

When there is a huge increase in the algae (dinoflagellates) population, there will be what we called “red tide“. It is characterized by the discoloration of some parts of the ocean. The water will be covered with red pigments that come from the algae. Gonyaulax is a common type of dinoflagellates which produce toxins. The toxins produced by Gonyaulax can bring respiratory paralysis in vertebrates. Shelled organisms, mussels, clams and others that are expose on dinoflagellates are poisonous due to the toxins that affect the neurosytem. This could be dangerous to humans.