Articles tagged with Algae
Researchers at University of Guam identify new coral reef-associated alga, Rhipilia coppejansii, in Guam waters. The discovery highlights the island's underestimated marine algal diversity and its cultural significance.
A recent study found that climate change can exacerbate the negative effects of losing sensitive species, and that high biodiversity may be weaker than expected. This is particularly true for eelgrass meadows in shallow inlets, where a loss of cod and other predators can lead to an overgrowth of filamentous algae.
Researchers found a unique partnership between tiny algae and specialized bacteria that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, supporting the oceans' fertilization and contributing to global carbon cycles. The discovery provides insights into an early stage in photosynthesis evolution, analogous to chloroplasts in plants.
Researchers at Oregon State University found that overgrown algae can bring unwanted pathogens, choke off oxygen, and disrupt helpful bacteria on coral reefs. The study reveals a 'slippery slope to slime' where increased algae growth leads to decreased coral growth rates and altered bacterial communities.
Researchers have developed a novel method to attach chemical probes to proteins, allowing them to study the biochemistry of naturally formed proteins. The technique enables scientists to understand the mechanisms behind creating better antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, biofuels, and other natural products.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Research have made significant breakthroughs in producing oil from algae, a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The team aims to combine the slow-growing traits of Botryococcus braunii with faster-growing alga species to create a high-yielding oil producer.
Research finds that coral reefs' ability to adapt to environmental changes is linked to the number and variety of single-celled algae they host. Inflexible corals, which host a single type of algae, are more resistant to stress than flexible corals, which host multiple types.
Research found that nutrient imbalance in reef waters increases bleaching susceptibility of corals. Balancing nutrient input in coastal waters could mitigate effects of warming oceans on coral reefs.
A Wayne State University researcher has found that ProAlgaZyme, an algae extract, increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in animal models. This increase is associated with improved lipid profiles and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research overturns the dogma that algae growth and oil production are mutually exclusive by showing that feeding more carbon increases oil production. This discovery may lead to new ways to turn photosynthetic green algae into tiny 'green factories' for producing raw materials for alternative fuels.
The airline industry is poised to adopt biobased jet fuel, derived from waste cooking oil and algae, due to rising costs for conventional fuels. Biobased fuels are blended with traditional Jet A-1 fuel and have shown promising results in test flights.
Researchers found a key protein, CBA1, that enables marine algae to capture vitamin B12 from seawater. This discovery has significant implications for the marine food web and climate, as well as potential industrial and therapeutic applications.
Biologists at UC San Diego have engineered algae to produce potential candidates for a malaria vaccine. The use of algae can lead to a cheaper and more accessible vaccine, as it can be grown in ponds or bathtubs anywhere in the world.
Researchers have engineered algae to produce potential candidates for a vaccine that prevents malaria transmission. The use of algae to produce malaria proteins that elicited antibodies in laboratory mice and prevented transmission was published in PLoS ONE.
A team of researchers found that seaweeds employ two distinct strategies to reduce drag: 'shape changers' fold and collapse, while 'area reducers' compress their fronds through branch reorientation. This study sheds light on the complex relationship between flexibility, size, and shape changes in seaweeds.
A new study finds that many species of reef-building corals can adapt to warming waters by relying on multiple algal symbionts. This ability may help corals survive future losses due to ocean temperatures increases.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have assembled the draft genome of marine algae Nannochloropis gaditana to discover optimal species for producing biodiesel fuel. Genetic modification reveals the algae's potential for industrial-scale biofuel production, a game-changer in fuel research and production.
Lake Christina's transformation from clear waters to murky state has impacted migrating ducks and fish. Extensive modern records and sediment analysis reveal a 200-year history of management, leading scientists to propose bottom-up landscape management to restore the lake's ecosystem.
A study on Kenyan reefs found that the loss of predatory fish leads to an explosion in sea urchin populations, damaging the reef structure and reducing crustose coralline algae growth. This reduces coral recruitment by lowering juvenile coral densities on fished reefs.
Researchers, led by Canada Excellence Research Chair Marcel Babin, are studying Arctic micro-organisms to better understand their response to environmental changes. The findings suggest that phytoplankton blooms are occurring earlier and more frequently, which could impact the entire food chain.
A team from the University of Sheffield has developed a cheap way to produce microbubbles that can float algae particles to the surface of water, making it easier and cheaper for companies to harvest and process the oil for biofuel. This breakthrough could be a significant step towards more efficient and sustainable biofuel production.
The International Botanical Congress approves new rules allowing electronic publication and English translations for plant species names, facilitating faster discovery and conservation. This change aims to accelerate the process of documenting biological diversity before it is lost due to environmental issues.
Researchers found that male guppies' coloration has remained stable despite long periods of evolution, due to females preferring a specific orange hue. The study reveals that genetic changes counteract environmental variations in pigment ratios, maintaining the consistent color.
Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered a genetic method to boost algae biomass by 50-80 percent, enabling the production of more efficient biofuels. The breakthrough involves expressing two genes that increase photosynthesis in the plant, leading to increased organic matter production.
A team of Australian scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery about the mechanism behind coral bleaching, a devastating event caused by rising water temperatures. Corals are able to respond to stress by killing off some cells while strengthening others in an attempt to recover after the hot water has moved on.
The UK and India will collaborate on bioenergy research to develop sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, with a focus on plant and algae processing. The joint call aims to tackle global challenges in this area, leveraging expertise from both nations.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute identify novel Rubisco activase in red algae that repairs useless proteins by opening active centers like a shoe string. This discovery could aid in designing more efficient plants and microorganisms that convert CO2 into valuable biomass.
Green algae exposed to carbon nanotubes exhibit reduced growth rates and photosynthetic activity, primarily caused by increased shadowing and agglomeration. However, the absence of absorption by the plants indicates that CNTs do not pose a direct toxic threat.
New research suggests that simple life, such as photosynthetic algae, could have survived the extreme conditions of a 'snowball Earth' event. A long, narrow body of water like the Red Sea would create enough resistance to glacial ice, allowing open water and light to coexist.
The XVIII International Botanical Congress approved sweeping changes to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, allowing e-publication and using Latin or English descriptions. These changes will take effect on January 1, 2012, and are being disseminated in five languages through leading academic journals.
The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants is set to undergo significant changes allowing scientists to publish new species discoveries entirely online. This shift aims to increase the efficiency and accessibility of scientific research in the digital age.
Researchers at King's College London have found a way to produce natural sunscreen compounds from coral, which could be used in humans and crops. The study aims to recreate these compounds synthetically for sun protection.
A new study reveals that extreme cold temperatures can have a devastating impact on coral reefs, causing widespread death and destruction. The research found that corals depend on symbiotic algae for nutrition, which is inhibited by cold temperatures, leading to a potential net loss of carbon transferred from the algae to the coral.
The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants will allow electronic publication of new taxa names, making the process more efficient and rapidly available for all.
A Baylor University study found that sunlight reduces the toxicity of golden algae, which kills millions of fish every year. The research suggests that longer exposure to natural sunlight decreases the algal toxin's effect on fish and other aquatic organisms.
Algal turf scrubbers use sunlight to extract excess nutrients from polluted waters, restoring oxygen levels and producing nutrient-rich fertilizer and biofuel. The technology has commercial potential and could help address global phosphorus supplies concerns.
Researchers have developed a method to boost algal hydrogen production by 400% using bioengineered proteins, demonstrating the competition between sugar and hydrogen production in algae. This discovery paves the way for large-scale hydrogen fuel manufacturing using water and sunlight.
Researchers found that Antarctic icebergs enrich the Southern Ocean with iron-rich sediment, fertilizing microscopic algae that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process transfers carbon into the deep sea, potentially impacting global climate models.
Researchers have discovered a new way to understand the interactions between cells and their environment using single-cell marine organisms. By sequencing the genomes of these tiny microbes, scientists can gain insights into diverse questions such as cancer cell growth rates and the impact of climate change on ecosystems.
New research reveals that conjugating green algae, such as Spirogyra, are the closest living relatives to land plants, contrary to the previously accepted theory. The study analyzed genetic divergence in 129 genes from 40 different green plant taxa and found significant evidence supporting this new finding.
A new study verifies that biodiversity helps remove excess levels of nutrients from streams, degrading water quality. The study reveals how biodiversity increases the removal of pollutants through a process called niche partitioning, where each species occupies a unique habitat and removes specific forms of pollution.
A study by Kansas State University researchers found that producing eco-friendly diesel fuel from algae is technically feasible but economically unviable. The team's analysis revealed that scaling up algae production to meet demand would require a massive investment, surpassing the laws of physics and economics.
Scientists have discovered algae living inside the cells of developing spotted salamanders, marking the first known example of a eukaryotic algae endosymbiont in vertebrates. This finding highlights the complexity of animal-algae interactions and raises questions about the evolutionary origins of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
Researchers use Closterium moniliferum algae to remove strontium, a major component of nuclear waste, by sequestering it in solid crystals. The algae's ability to differentiate between strontium and calcium can help isolate highly radioactive 'high-level' waste from 'low-level' waste.
Tiny single-celled algae and bacteria rebounded quickly after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, consuming oxygen and slowing larger organisms' recovery. This process was driven by volcanic activity and resulting ocean acidification, which fueled explosive algae blooms.
Researchers found that algal secretions can increase ice salinity and create channels in ice, allowing algae to live and grow. This adaptation may help sea-ice algae thrive in a warmer climate.
Scientists have discovered unrecognised substances released by algae blooms that can interfere with reproductive hormones, leading to potential harm to humans and aquatic animals. The researchers used zebrafish as a test subject and found that these substances can cause endocrine disrupting effects.
The world's phosphorous stocks are depleting rapidly, posing a risk of global shortages within the next 20 years. Excess phosphorous from fertilizer use is causing widespread eutrophication of freshwater ecosystems, threatening aquatic life and human water quality.
Scientists have identified a 24-hour internal clock in red blood cells, which works independently of DNA and gene activity. This discovery sheds light on the ancient mechanism that controls daily and seasonal activities across all living organisms.
A study by Wildlife Conservation Society and University of California at Santa Cruz found that overfished reef systems have fewer sea urchins, leading to higher coral growth rates and more structure. Reefs with complete fish communities outperform those without predators, which allows coralline algae to thrive.
Researchers reconstruct carbon dioxide levels during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, a 400,000-year period of extreme global warming. They found that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels doubled, leading to temperature increases of 4-6 degrees Celsius.
Researchers found that 71% of examined black coral species contain algae, even at depths over 400m. The discovery highlights the diverse habitat preferences and environmental ranges of symbiotic algae.
Toxic blue-green algae, like Aphanizomenon ovalisporum, dominate freshwater ecosystems by inducing phosphate-limitation responses in other microorganisms. This 'enslavement' mechanism enables the algae to gain a nutrient advantage and proliferate dangerously in freshwater bodies.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found that carbon dioxide-induced global warming is killing off a major coral species in the Red Sea. Coral growth has declined by 30% and may cease altogether by 2070 due to summer sea surface temperatures remaining 1.5 degrees Celsius above ambient.
A team of American scientists from the University of Nevada, Reno, is working to find solutions to Guatemala's Lake Atitlan's algae bloom problem. They are building on research started in the 1970s and have collected data and samples from the lake, including sediment cores and near-shore sampling.
Researchers discovered damselfish selectively weed algal gardens to promote Polysiphonia growth, reducing competition from other algae. This 'gardening' behavior leads to a mutualistic association between the fish and Polysiphonia, showcasing cultivation mutualism in non-terrestrial habitats.
Researchers developed an algae-based system to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from livestock manure runoff, reducing agricultural pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay. The system recovered 60-90% of nitrogen and 70-100% of phosphorus, with costs comparable to other manure management practices.
Small algae consume more bacteria than specialized predators, gaining a competitive survival edge in the open ocean. This finding supports the idea that bacteria are a crucial nutrient source for these microorganisms.
Researchers have observed dynamic behavior of allophycocyanin protein for over one second, a significant increase from previous methods, revealing new insights into its shape-changing dynamics.
A study published in Plant Biotechnology Journal found that algae can produce human therapeutic proteins such as VEGF, HMGB1, and fibronectin at levels comparable to mammalian cell cultures. This could significantly reduce the cost of expensive treatments for diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes.