Algae

Tamandaré is a municipality on the southern coast of the state of Pernambuco, 110 km from Recife. Macroalgae are photosynthetic organisms that act  mainly to control CO2in one of the main functions of algae  was as a quality bioindicator to evaluate a beach or coastal area that has some activity anthropogenicsuch as tourism, sewage or organic waste. In this way, the purpose of this article was to evaluate the distribution of the fictional individuals locatedin Carneiros Beach (PE-Brazil) during the period of December 2017, observing the possible biological relationships that can be presented at the siteamong the organizations present there. Using in situ collections and laboratory identifications, 32species were detected, separated in Chlorophyta, Phaeophytaand Rhodophyta, and from them it was possible to report that Carneiros Beach is rich in species biodiversity and has a very considerable water quality. CarneirosBeachoffers a wide variety of organisms in which they can be considered bioindicators of environmental qualities, also showing theinteraction of macroalgae with other marine organisms.

The current electricity demand of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is around 55 GW, which is projected to reach up to 120 GW by 2032. This energy is mainly produced from fossil fuels, posing a serious risk to human health and environment. Moving towards a sustainable model, KSA government has initiated a plan called the King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) to utilize the indigenous renewable energy resources to generate a further 54 GW energy from solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal and waste-to-energy (WTE). The arid nature of the KSA increases the importance of water in daily life and makes the country the third-largest per capita water user worldwide. About 12 thousand industries are working in different sectors, which produce large quantities of wastes and waste sludge on a daily basis. It has been estimated that 2.4 and 0.77 billion m3/ year of municipal and industrial wastewater respectively are produced in KSA, totaling to 3.17 billion m3/ year. Therefore, there is a huge potential of producing bioenergy and bioproducts, if this wastewater is treated in algae biorefinery. Algae as a ‘natural chemical factory’ has gained significant attention to produce several energy carriers, including starches for alcohols, lipids for diesel fuel, and bio-hydrogen (H2) for fuel cells and valuable materials and chemicals. Considerable progress has been made in recent years to optimize the production of energy and value-added products by utilizing algae under algae biorefinery concept. The biorefinery is a multi-process and multi-product system, similar to a petroleum refinery. It utilizes various feedstock to produce useful materials, chemicals, and bioenergy in the form of fuel, power, and heat in an integrated system. Algae contain natural oils, carbohydrates, and proteins for the production of biodiesel, ethanol, and H2. The leftover or residues of algae after oil extraction can be digested anaerobically to produce methane (CH4) as an energy carrier. Furthermore, the AD digestate can be a source of animal feed and organic fertilizer. Although, theoretically algae can produce various fuels, an array of valuable materials and capture carbon emissions, but in practice, profitable algal biofuel production has proven to be quite challenging. Most of these challenges lie in algae production methods, including a selection of suitable algae strain, its cultivation, harvesting, and extraction of value-added materials for energy and bioproducts along with their conversion pathways. The aim of this paper is to review the potential of algae biorefinery in KSA for the treatment of wastewater and production of bioenergy and bioproducts.

The alga Trachydiscus minutus, while being a relatively new subject of laboratory research, is not yet involved in a real biotechnological development. The aim of this study was an elaboration of the intensive growth conditions. A new medium specifically designed for the cultivation of the alga was composed, and the reasons were discussed. The use of the new medium leads to at least 10% higher growth than media previously used. The maximal growth rate of the alga remains the same, but the growth is comparatively higher before achieving plateau-phase, which is due to a better composition. The new medium is significantly cheaper per 1 kg algal biomass. Attention was paid to precise light and temperature conditions. The separation of Trachydiscus biomass is discussed as an important part of its biotechnology. The biochemical composition of the alga at these conditions is described. The paper is targeted to micro-enterprises in accordance with their limited resources.

This paper presents a new record for a heterotypic synonym of Pithophora roettleri (P. oedogonia) for the São Franscisco River basin. Pithophora are green filamentous algae, branched, with intercallary akinetes of variable (P. roettleri) or invariable (P. oedogonia) forms in the same individual. The species was found in a temporary pond, which has high electrical conductivity and temperature, and is localized in a semiarid area (Caatinga biome). The soil has median natural fertility and high concentration of dissolved salts. A short diagnosis with illustrations and two models of the potential geographic distribution for the species are included.

There are various methods published about DNA extraction from marine algae. These methods are the modifications of several DNA extraction methods from other organisms. Extraction of DNA from seaweeds are difficult processes because of the polysaccharide and polyphenole compounds of their thallus. In this study, DNA is extracted from a brown alga (Scytosiphon lomentaria and Cystoseira sp., Ectocarpus sp. ) collected from the Bay of Izmir by using modified CTAB (cetiltrimethylamonium bromide) protocol and used in PCR analysis. This modified method was also found efficient and applicaple for other molecular purposes.

Evidence is reviewed which supports the hypothesis that prokaryotes and eukaryotes may have colonized Mars. One source of Martian life, is Earth. A variety of species remain viable after long term exposure to the radiation intense environment of space, and may survive ejection from Earth following meteor strikes, ejection from the stratosphere and mesosphere via solar winds, and sterilization of Mars-bound spacecraft; whereas simulations studies have shown that prokaryotes, fungi and lichens survive in simulated Martian environments-findings which support the hypothesis life may have been repeatedly transferred from Earth to Mars. Four independent investigators have reported what appears to be fungi and lichens on the Martian surface, whereas a fifth investigator reported what may be cyanobacteria. In another study, a statistically significant majority of 70 experts, after examining Martian specimens photographed by NASA, identified and agreed fungi, basidiomycota ("puffballs"), and lichens may have colonized Mars. Fifteen specimens resembling and identified as "puffballs" were photographed emerging from the ground over a three day period. It is possible these latter specimens are hematite and what appears to be "growth" is due to a strong wind which uncovered these specimens-an explanation which cannot account for before and after photos of what appears to be masses of fungi growing atop and within the Mars rovers. Terrestrial hematite is in part fashioned and cemented together by prokaryotes and fungi, and thus Martian hematite may also be evidence of biology. Three independent research teams have identified sediments on Mars resembling stromatolites and outcroppings having micro meso and macro characteristics typical of terrestrial microbialites constructed by cyanobacteria. Quantitative morphological analysis determined these latter specimens are statistically and physically similar to terrestrial stromatolites. Reports of water, biological residue discovered in Martian meteor ALH84001, the seasonal waning and waxing of atmospheric and ground level Martian methane which on Earth is 90% due to biology and plant growth and decay, and results from the 1976 Mars Viking Labeled Release Experiments indicating biological activity, also support the hypothesis that Mars was, and is, a living planet. Nevertheless, much of the evidence remains circumstantial and unverified, and the possibility of life on Mars remains an open question.

This paper deals with the algal assemblage described from lower-middle Ilerdian sediments in the Kışlatepe section, Seyitgazi Region, Central Turkey. Eocene Dasycladalean flora from this region prevailingly contains species of the tribus Thyrsoporelleae, with genera Belzungia, Anatolia (type area) and Thyrsoporella. It is a unique area, a rich, diversified population of Belzungia occurs in a foraminifera limestone containing Alveolina, Nummulites, Orbitolites. Belzungia barattoloi spec. nov. is introduced. The list of the genus Belzungia in the Kışlatepe section, as in the Sarıbayır and Kozyaka sections, includes B. terquemi Morellet, B. silvestrii (Pfender), B. pfenderae Radoičić & Özgen-Erdem, B. barattoloi sp. nov. and some undetermined Belzungia specimens.

The paper provides a brief generalization on algal toxins as risk factors for national security and defense with special attention to Bulgaria. With the changing environmental conditions, globalization and increased human migration the abundance and distribution of toxin producing species increases.