Write an essay on "The role of algae in nature and human life."
Answers
Algae is considered as photosynthetic and oxygenic organism of the kingdom “Protista”; although it lacks necessary complex factors (roots, leaves), algae undergo one of the most important and well-known biochemical reaction “photosynthesis”, where it convert inorganic molecules to organic molecules that is used to feed other organisms as animals by the use of sunlight (light energy).
Algae is a micro-organism, that can produce its own food through the process of photosynthesis. This makes them organism consisting of high levels of chlorophyll. As eukaryotes (an organism whose cells contain complex structures inside the membranes). they undergo photosynthesis through its chloroplasts. As part of the algae, Cyanobacteria have similar feature to the algae except that they have a prokaryotic cell (are a group of organisms that lack a cell nucleus , or any other membrane-bound organelles)structure.
Algae are available around the world with a presence in the sea, in freshwater and in wastewater. Algae is considered by some biologists to be a plant like organisms which are photosynthetic (Plants and algea that use ‘photons’ from the Sun and chlorophyl (the green stuff in plants) to ‘synthesize’ or to make their food, (sugars) )and aquatic that don’t have true roots, stems, leaves, vascular tissue and have simple reproductive structures. Majority of the Algae are microscopic which could exist in large sizes. Algae exist in two different forms, the unicellular in the figure of microalgae and the multicellular in the form of macroalgae.
Microalgae are small microscopic aquatic photosynthetic plants that require the aid of a microscope to be seen. The Microalgae figure of algae constitutes of a varied group of photosynthetic and heterotrophic (An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent on complex organic substances for nutrition) organisms that have the potential to act as a cultivate energy crop. This means that such kind of algae could be refined in complex agro-climatic conditions which enable it to generate byproducts as result such as fats, oils, sugars and functional bioactive compounds.
On the other hand, the macroalgae are considered to be large aquatic photosynthetic plants that can be seen without the aid of a microscope. They exist in many different forms and colors. They either grow tall or in mat form. They come in green, red, brown and blue. Examples of some macroalgae include Green (Chlorophyta), Red (Rhodophyta), and Brown-Kelps (Phaeophyta).
Scientists classified organisms to be named under algae based on their ability to undergo photosynthesis regardless the shape, mobility, size, cell type and the presence of defined-nucleus. As well as based on the present of primary characteristic “pigmentation”, type of storage products and the nature of the cell covering. This allowed scientists from years to change the classification of blue-green microorganism from bacteria to algae.
Algae also provides the major source of oxygen to other organisms. During the growing season, algae can absorb and synthesize nutrients and trace metals. Algae form organic food molecules from carbon dioxide and water through the process of photosynthesis, in which they capture energy from sunlight. Algae produce an estimated 30 to 50 percent of the net global oxygen available to humans and other terrestrial animals for respiration.
People have used algae as food fertilizer for hundreds of years. More recent uses of algae include biodiesel fuel, thickening agent for food, bacterial growth medium, and pollution control. Algaculture is a form of aquaculture involving the farming of species of algae for different uses. Instead of increasing the amount of toxic chemicals to aid in the removal of sludge and poisonous organic molecules from our water resource, they use algae! Algae is quick to grow and helps control pollution by consuming carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that may be pumped into a water tank or pond.
It helps in maintaining the health of the marine ecosystem because algae are naturally absorbent of carbon dioxide and also provide oxygen to the water. 4. Fertilizer: Algae are rich in minerals and vitamins. So they also used as liquid fertilizer which helps in the repairing level of nitrogen present in the soil.
The algae produce sugars that they pass to the corals, providing 90 per cent of their energy needs, while the corals provide nitrogen and shelter to the algae. Without this symbiosis, we would not have corals reefs, which are highly valuable to mankind. Seventeen percent of the world's protein comes from reefs.