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BrainPOP – Educational content about Algae

Algae Education Algae, Brown Algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, euglenoids, Green Algae, Red Algae

Founded in 1999, BrainPOP creates animated, curriculum-based content that engages students, supports educators, and bolsters achievement.

Here is a content about Algae:

What are all those little green plants covering your lake? It’s more than just pond scum, it’s algae! In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby teach you all about algae, including where they fall in the tree of life and what physical characteristics these organisms have. You’ll learn the differences between several categories of algae, including green algae, red algae, brown algae, euglenoids, diatoms, and dinoflagellates. You’ll also find out about algae’s place in the food chain and what uses algae serve for humans. Finally, learn about some environmental problems associated with algae, including their contribution to red tide. It’s time to give algae their proper due!

Watch the Science movie about Algae….

Source: http://www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/algae/preview.weml

Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa ( UK )

Major Microalgal Culture Collections Algae and Protozoa, ccap, Culture Collection, Cyanobacteria, microalgal, protozoa, Red Algae

CCAP currently maintains over 2500 strains of algae and protozoa, comprising:
• a wide range of microalgal taxa, including the cyanobacteria
• small thalloid red algae
• a range of small multicellular seaweeds, including over 300 strains of Ectocarpus
• free-living non-pathogenic protozoa
• a small number of ACDP Class II, potentially pathogenic protozoa (all Acanthamoeba spp.)

Strains are primarily maintained by serial sub-culture although about 30% of the algal strains and 2% of the protozoan strains are cryopreserved. In order to maintain genetic stability most effectively, research is continuing to develop protocols to increase the number and diversity of cryopreserved strains throughout the Collection.

All cultures are freshly prepared to order, so when ordering please allow sufficient time for the cultures to be grown. For orders of one culture of each strain, 4 weeks is usually sufficient, but please allow extra time for multiple cultures of each strain, or for strains which are held at CCAP only under cryopreservation (as indicated in the strain data).

Source: http://www.ccap.ac.uk/cultures/cultures.htm

Algae Control in Aquarium

Aquarium Algae Algae, blue green algae, Brown Algae, Green Algae, Red Algae

I found a small beginner’s guide for those, who decided or have algae in their aquarium and i have also created a new category for this called Aquarium Algae.

Not all algae in the aquarium is necessarily ‘bad’ – a certain amount is inevitable where there is water, light and nutrients. However, some types of algae are certainly a nuisance, if for no other reason than looking unsightly.

The control or prevention of different algae types is primarily about nutrient control, and the amount of light. There are therefore some general guidelines which can be followed to help minimise algae:

Avoid direct sunlight falling on the tank, especially for prolonged periods. Unfortunately, despite the pleasant rippling light effects provided by sunlight, the rich lighting spectrum of the sun is likely to mean a constant battle against algae in most setups.
Do not leave lighting on for more than 10-12 hours a day. Longer periods are likely to favour algal growth, rather than promote plant growth.
Minimise nutrient levels with frequent water changes.

In particular, it may help to keep nitrates, phosphates and silicates low if you have a persistant problem – either by the use of reverse osmosis (RO) or deionised (DI) water, or specific adsorption resins (e.g. API Phos-Zorb). However, note that although high levels of such nutrients may encourage algae, it is not generally possible to completely eliminate algae by attempting to reduce them, as algae can survive at levels below those which can be measured by a hobbyist test kit.

Consider adding algae eating fish if appropriate to the setup. These include: suckermouth catfish (e.g. Ancistrus, Peckoltia and Otocinclus species), the Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) and mollies.
Note that in planted tanks (which is not really the same as tanks with a few plants in!), the most effective way to control algae growth is to plant heavily and promote vigorous plant growth of several different species, to out-compete the algae for nutrients. The management of a planted aquarium is beyond the scope of this article, and will be the subject of a future article, but an important nutrient with regard to plant versus algae growth in a planted tank is Iron, and controlling levels of this nutrient is likely to be important.

The taxonomy of algae and related organisms is complex, but for the purpose of identification in the aquarium, they can be conveniently grouped into the following:

More details you will find here ( Source ): http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm

Rhodophyta: Red algae

Algae Forms Algae, Algae Forms, Chondrus, Coralline algae, Delesseria, Palmaria, Red Algae, Rhodophyta 0 Comment

Examples: Palmaria, Delesseria, Chondrus, Coralline algae

Palmaria palmata Characteristics: The red colour of these algae results from the pigments phycoerythrin and phycocyanin; this masks the other pigments, Chlorophyll a (no Chlorophyll b), beta-carotene and a number of unique xanthophylls. The main reserves are typically floridean starch, and floridoside; true starch like that of higher plants and green algae is absent. The walls are made of cellulose and agars and carrageenans, both long-chained polysaccharide in widespread commercial use. There are some unicellular representatives of diverse origin; more complex thalli are built up of filaments.

A very important group of red algae is the coralline algae, which secrete calcium carbonate onto the surface of their cells. Some of these corallines are articulated (right, Corallina, with flexible erect branches; others are crustose (below). These corallines have been used in bone-replacement therapies. Coralline algae were used in ancient times as vermifuges, thus the binomial Corallina officinalis.

Several red algae are eaten: best known amongst these is dulse (Palmaria palmata above) and Carrageen Moss (Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus).

However, Nori, popularised by the Japanese is the single most valubable marine crop grown by aquaculture with a value in excess of US$1 billion. More information on aquaculture.

The red algae Kappaphycusand Betaphycus are now the most important sources of carrageenan, a commonly used ingredient in food, particuarly yoghurts, chocolate milk and repared puddings. Gracilaria, Gelidium, Pterocladia and other red algae are used in the manufacture of the all-important agar, used widely as a growth medium for microorganisms and for biotechnological applications.

There are about 6000 described species of red algae, the vast majority of which are marine. These are found in the intertidal and in the subtidal to depths of up to 40, or occasionally, 250 m. The main biomass of red algae worldwide is provided by the Corallinaceae and Gigartinaceae.?

Source: http://www.seaweed.ie/algae/rhodophyta.html