Microalgae in the Southwest Coast of India

Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Role of trace element of the growth and Physiology of selected microalgae

The main objective of the study is primarily to determine the magnitude of selected trace elements, the concentrations of which would possibly accelerate growth resulting in larger biomass and sustained period of exponential phase for economically viable harvest. The study on the effect of three trace elements namely Cu, Mn and Zn on two species of algae,ISOChrySiS galbana Parke and Synechocystib salina Wislouch under different conditions of salinity, PH and temperature involves several combinations for each metal, from which the relative set of conditions has been adduced. The scheme of the experiments was statistically designed for interpretation of data and factors were assessed and graded according to relative importance. The methodology adopted for data interpretation is analysis of variance by split-plot design method. The thesis has been divided into five chapters. The introductory chapter explains the relevance of the research work undertaken. Chapter 11 gives a review on the work pertaining to the above mentioned three trace elements in relation to nutrition as well as on the toxic aspects about which there is an abundance of literature. Chapter Ill presents a detailed description of the material and specialised methods followed for the study. The results and conclusions of the various experiments on effect of metals on growth and other physiological activities are discussed in Chapters IV and V.

Marine Microalgae in the EEZ of India

As the title of the thesis indicates, a detailed analysis of microalgae, the major primary producers and the first link in aquatic food chains, was carried out during this study. Microalgae are either planktonic or benthic. The studies on these microscopic autotrophs are having an upsurge of interest recently due to their variations, adaptations, short generation time and various utilitarian aspects, including food, fodder and fuel. The surface water samples collected during the cruises (cruise nos. 189, 193, 195, 196, 203, 204, 205, 207 and 209) of Fisheries and Oceanographic Research Vessel (FORV) Sagar Sampada (Fig.2.2), conducted during the period from November 2000 to November 2002, are used as samples for microalgal estimation in the EEZ of India. The present research work includes the identification and distributional pattern of planktonic microalgae in the EEZ of India. The blooms encountered during the above mentioned cruises of FORV Sagar Sampada and the blooms of Kerala coast during the period from 2001-2005 are also studied

Impact Assessment Of Biocides On Microalgae - A Study In Vitro

The present study was undertaken to make a detailed investigation for_ the assessment of specific impact of commonly used biocides at the lower trophic level of food chain i.e., microalgae by using batch culture techniques in the laboratory. Microalgal representatives from three habitats i.e., fresh water, estuarine and marine were investigated. The different biocides selected are of common use in the agricultural practices. Because of the importance of microalgae as live feed for larval and postlarval stages of different aquatic organisms, the fluctuations in algal populations as a result of biocide treatment will surely affect the food chain. These studies are also of significance in setting the criteria and standards for water quality management by suggesting threshold values of different biocides tested, beyond which they affect the ecosystem adversely. The thesis has been divided into six chapters

Contribution of size fractions of planktonic algae to primary organic productivity in the coastal waters of Cochin- south west coast of lndia

This thesis entitled “Contribution of size fractions of planktonic algae to primary organic productivity in the coastal waters of cochin,south west coast of india”. Marine ecosystems planktonic algae are the most important primary producers on wliich considerable attention is being given on account of their supreme status in the marine food chain.The study of primary production in the Indian Ocean started With DANA (I928-30),, John Murray t I933-34). Discovery ( I934) and Albatross (I947-48) expeditions which tried to evaluate productivity from nutrients and standing crop of phytoplankton .The bioproductivity of the marine environment is dependent on various primary producers. ranging in size from picoplankton to larger macro phytoplankton. The quantity and quality of various size fractions of planktonic algae at any locality depend mainly on the hydrographic conditions of the area .In the coastal waters of Cochin- south west coast of lndia. Planktonic algal community is composed mainly of the diatoms, the dinoflagellates, the blue-green algae and the silicoflagellates, the former two contributing the major flora and found distributed in the all size fractions. The maximum number of species of diatoms at station 1 and station 2 was found in the pre-monsoon season.. The size groups of planktonic algae greater than 53 um are dominated by filamentous- chain forming and colonial diatoms. The coastal waters of Cochin. planktonic algae less than 53 um in size contribute significantly to primary productivity and the biodiversity of the microflora, indicating the presence of rich fishery resources in the south west coast of india.The study of different size fractions of planktonic algae and their relative contribution to the primary organic production is a useful tool for the estimation of the quantity and quality of fisheries.A deeper investigation on the occurrence of these microalgae and proper identification of their species would be of immense help for the assessment of the specificity and magnitude of fishery resources.

Evaluation of cyanobacteria for biomass production and effluent treatment

The microalgae gained importance as food and feed as well as source of fine chemicals since the l960’s. Spirulina became the trend setter due to its easily culturable properties as well as nutritional composition. A rapid expansion of microalgal industry occurred in the Asia-Pacific region as microalgae came to stay as a health food supplement. Microalgae have been an integral component of oxidation ponds usually incorporated with wastewater treatment. Over the last few decades, efforts have been made to apply intensive microalgal cultures to perform biological tertiary treatment of secondary effluents. Given the limited number of species still available for commercial exploitation, it is imperative to isolate and cultivate those photosynthetic organisms with high growth rate and biomass accumulation, which could play the dual role of cleaning the wastewater and also providing useful biomass. This has been the objective of this study ie. 0 To develop pure cultures of local isolates of Cyanobacteria for extraction of biochemicals of commercial value 0 To couple biomass production with effluent treatment

Studies on Larval Nutrition in The Pearl Oyster Pinctada Pucata (Gould)

The present study has yielded a great deal of information on nutrition of pearl oyster larvae. T he formulae presented may be used effectively and with advantage in improving the larval rearing system with specific reference to nutritional aspects. It is also hoped that this is the first comprehensive study on pearl oyster larval nutrition would stimulate further detailed investigations on many of the other finer aspects of tropical bivalve larval nutrition.

Growth enhancement of micro algae, Chaetoceros calcitrans and Nannochloropsis oculata, using selected bacterial strains

In natural systems phytoplankton interact with planktonic (free living) and attached epiphytic bacteria both synergistically and antagonistically. The specificity of the association with micro algae and bacteria differs in terms of adhesion mechanisms and metabolic cooperation. Present research was carried out to study the effect of bacterial isolates namely Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. from algal culture systems on the growth of micro algae such as Chaetoceros calcitrans and Nannochloropsis oculata. C. calcitrans (F= 15.34; P<0.05) and N. oculata (F=12.52; P<0.05) showed significantly higher growth, in treatments with Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp when compared to control.

Algal Blooms and Associated Bacteria along the Southwest Coast of India

It is essential to understand how the distribution and composition of microalgae as well as dynamics of HABs in economically important shelf seas relate to the particular physico-chemical and biological properties of the water column in which they live. In view of the importance of southwest coast of India, which is considered as one of the most biologically productive areas in the world, regular monitoring of distribution and abundance of microalgae is important. The present work is concentrated on the estuarine and coastal open sea stations along the southwest coast of India. In order to get further insights into the abiotic factors governing bloom dynamics, the physicochemical parameters that regulated three particular bloom events during this period were studied. Bearing in mind the role of bacterial fauna associated with algal blooms as a biological factor in regulating its dynamics, isolation of bacteria associated with the algal blooms, their identification, enumeration, and ability to produce extracellular enzymes have been duly incorporated into this study