Economic Importance of Algae | Notes on Algae

1. As Food

• Ulva in Europe is called sea lettuce.

• Porphyra tenera, edible sea weed in Japan.
• Chlorella is richer in proteins, lipids and vitamins.
• Spirulina is rich in proteins, vit B complex and minerals.

2. As Fodder

• Sargassum and Macrocystis are used as fodder.
• Besides Fucus, Laminaria are also used.

3. In Industry

• Agar is extracted from certain species of red algae like Gelidium, Gracillaria, Gigartina.
• Alginate obtained from brown algae like Fucus, Lamaria etc.
• Carrageenin is extracted from Chondrus crispus.

4. In Medicine

• Chlorellin, an antibiotic is obtained from Chlorella
• Nitella used in control of malaria.
• Lyngbya, Cladophora are used to kill strains of Pseudomonas and Mycobacterium.

5. In Agriculture

• Nostoc, Anabaena etc are used to fix atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds.

6. As source of Iodine and Bromine

• Laminaria is the source of iodine.
• Bromine is obtained from red algae like Rhodomela and Polysiphonia.

7. In biological Research

• Acetabularia, to study nucleo cytoplasmic interactions.
• Chlorella is used to study photosynthesis.

Harmful activities of Algae:

• Water bloom: Microcystis, Chrococcus, Oscillatoris etc cause water bloom. These deplete the oxygen level in water hence aquatic animals are killed.

• Disease: Parasitic algae-like Cephaleuros virescens (green algae) causes red rust of coffee.

Learn more : 

• MCQ on Economic Importance of Algae
• Quiz on Algae