Current state of seaweed resources in Spain

Commercial seaweeds in Spain are harvested on the north and northwest coasts. They are mainly agarophytes and carrageenophytes (Gelidium spp. and some Irish moss-like species, respectively), although some Phaeophyceae species (Fucus spp. and Laminaria spp.) are also exploited for alginates. No industrial seaweed cultivation is carried out in Spain at present. Spain's total commercial seaweed harvest can be estimated at 6,528 ± 2,076 t dry wt year^–1. Gelidium spp. are by far the most harvested, attaining 5,135 ± 1,761 t dry wt y^–1. To date, Spain's commercial seaweed harvest is low compared with that of other countries, but data on field standing crops and productivities of commercial taxa suggest that harvesting could be increased greatly.     

Culture of Hypnea musciformis (Rhodophyta,Gigartinales) on artificial substrates attached to linear ropes

Hypnea musciformis is the only species so far exploited in Brazil as raw material for the production of k-carrageenan. Due to the erratic production in space and time, increasing harvest and transportation costs, experiments have been performed in order to assess the viability of H. musciformis mariculture.In nature the species occurs as an epiphyte, and so mariculture using artificial substrates that simulated the natural host of the species was tried. These substrates were attached, at regular intervals, to linear ropes. In the sea, these ropes were stretched between cement blocks.Seeding occurs naturally, by means of spores, or detached pieces of H. musciformis scattered in the water column that get entangled on the ropes. The best yields (0.54 wet kg m^–1 month^–1) were obtained with unthreaded rope substrates maintained in a vertical position by small rafts. Production is highest in the first 18 m off the rocky shore (0–2.1 m deep), at the highest substrate density utilized (10 m^–1), 2–3 months after installing the ropes in seawater. The main factor controlling seasonal production is water movement.     

Modelling of Spirulina platensis growth in fresh water using response surface methodology

The influence of nutrient addition on the growth rate of Spirulina platensis in the Mangueira Lagoon water was studied in order to investigate the feasibility of using this water for biomass production. The addition of urea and sodium bicarbonate was studied through surface response methodology, over concentration ranges from 0.0 to 0.01170 M, and 0.0–19.70 gl^–1 respectively. The growth of Spirulina platensis in Mangueira Lagoon water with no addition of nutrients was carried out and compared with the biomass growth after nutrient addition. The results indicated that the optimal level of nutrients was 0.00585 M urea and without the addition of sodium bicarbonate. The biomass concentration was 1.4 gl^–1 in 780 h of cultivation and the doubling time (t _d) was 3.85 days. In 300 h, the biomass concentration in the medium without nutrient addition was 0.9 gl^–1, with a doubling time of 3.80 days.     

Culture ofGelidium sesquipedale (Clem.) Born.et Thur. in a chemostat system. Biomass production and metabolic responses affected by N flow

Gelidium sesquipedale is the most important raw material used for extraction of agar in Spain. Based on chemostats, a system of culture for macroalgae with a continuous flow of culture medium has been developed. A stressed morphotype from the South of Spain was cultured, and the effects of different rates of NO ₃ ^– flow on growth and internal constituents were investigated in the laboratory. Cultivation was successful after optimizing factors affecting growth, such as irradiance level, renewal rate and water movement. Mass production was dependent on N supply. With a flow of 35 mol NO₃ ^– g^–1 DW d^–1, optimal values of growth (2.1% d^–1) and biomass yield were obtained. In these conditions, biomass yield resembled the values observed in natural populations (about 500 g DW m^–2 y^–1). When the flow of N was reduced to 15 mol NO ₃ ^– g^–1 DW d^–1, growth rate and biomass yield were reduced three-fold, and were null when N was supplied as 7 mol NO ₃ ^– g^–1 DW d^–1. C:N ratio was an index of the physiological status of the tissue, remaining low when N was sufficient and raised to critical values when N supply was limited. Phycobiliproteins, kept at a constant irradiance level, were affected by N supply, acting as an internal nitrogen reserve, unlike chlorophylla. An effective phycobiliprotein synthesis took place when the flow of N was sufficient. Agar yield, on dry weight basis, was similar as a function of N flow, whereas agar yield of the culture was higher when N was sufficient as a result of growth not being limited by N.This system of culture, commonly used in microalgal studies, may have an important use in macroalgae as a system to obtain biomass of high quality as well as a good tool for physiological studies in conditions of continuous and controlled flow of nutrients.     

Photosynthesis and growth rates of Laurencia brongniartii J. Agardh (Rhodophyta, Ceramiales) in preparation for cultivation

Laurencia brongniartii is usually found at depths below 4 m, but can be found in shallow subtidal areas in crevices and on the walls of a coral reef in Amami Oshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, where irradiances were significantly lower than those at similar depths in open water. In preparation for the possible cultivation of this species for its antibiotic compounds, the effects of temperature and irradiance on photosynthesis and growth were measured. Photosynthesis and growth rates of L. brongniartii explants were highest at 26 and 28 °C, which closely corresponded to temperatures found during August to late December when it was most abundant. The estimated maximum photosynthesis rate (P _max) was 4.41 mol photon m^–2 s^–1 at 26 °C and 4.07 mol photon m^–2 s^–1 at 28 °C. Saturating irradiance occurred at 95 mol photon m^–2 s^–1 at 26 °C and 65 mol photon m^–2 s^–1 at 28 °C. In contrast, growth experiments at 41.7 mol photon m^–2 s^–1 caused bleaching of explants and the maximum growth rate observed during the study was 3.02 ± 0.75% day^–1 at 28 °C and 25 mol photon m^–2 s^–1. The difference in the saturating irradiance for photosynthesis and the irradiance that caused bleaching in growth experiments suggests that long-term exposure to high irradiance was detrimental and should be addressed before the initiation of large scale cultivation.     

Agars from Chilean Gelidiaceae

Cystocarpic, tetrasporic and vegetative thalli of Gelidium chilense were extracted with water at 95 °C. The contents of 3,6-anhydro-galactose and sulfate group of the hydrocolloids correspond to those of an agar-type polysaccharide. The percentages of 6-O-methyl-galactose and of pyruvic acid ranged between 5.7–6.2% and 0.42–0.54%, respectively. The gel melting and gelation temperatures of Gelidium chilense, G. rex and G. lingulatum agars were determined. A correlation between 6-O-methylgalactose content and gelation temperatures was not observed. It was found by anion-exchange chromatography that 19.8% of tetrasporic and 4.9% of vegetative G. chilense agars are unsulfated polymers. Structural studies on the neutral fraction from tetrasporic G. chilense agar by partial hydrolysis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy have shown that it is mainly composed of agarose. Methylation analysis, oxidative hydrolysis and partial hydrolysis, followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, have shown that the neutral fraction of the agar from tetrasporic Gelidium rex is agarose. The results obtained in this work are compared with previously reported data on studies of agars from Chilean Gelidium species.     

The Effect of Salt Stress on the Production of Canthaxanthin and Astaxanthin by Chlorella zofingiensis Grown Under Limited Light Intensity

The fresh water green microalga Chlorella zofingiensisis known to accumulate ketocarotenoids – primarily astaxanthin but also canthaxanthin – when grown under stress conditions of high light irradiance and low nitrogen. We found that salt stress can replace light stress with respect to inducing carotenoid production: cells of C. zofingiensis grown under low light irradiance and subjected to salt and low nitrogen stress accumulated higher amounts of total secondary carotenoids than those growing under high light and low nitrogen stress. Furthermore, C. zofingiensis growing under conditions of salt stress and low light accumulated higher amounts of canthaxanthin than astaxanthin. It is suggested that for canthaxanthin accumulation under salt stress, light is not a limiting factor, but for astaxanthin accumulation high light irradiance is mandatory. These results may be applied in the future for the commercial production of canthaxanthin by C. zofingiensis in systems in which light availability is poor.     

Acacia karroo invasion of grassland: environmental and biotic effects influencing seedling emergence and establishment

Acacia karroo Hayne is the most important woody invader of grassland in South Africa, and can greatly reduce the productivity of grassland. A field experiment was conducted to test the hypotheses that emergence, growth and the 1st year's survival of Acacia karroo would be enhanced by (1) defoliation of the grass sward, (2) increased irradiance, (3) increased moisture availability and (4) its germination within cattle dung pats. The study was conducted on one site above and one below the natural altitudinal treeline of this species in grassland of the eastern Cape, South Africa. Not one seedling emerged from dung pats. Neither location nor the other treatments affected the density of emerging seedlings, although only 40.4 seedlings m^–2 emerged of the 200 seeds m^–2 planted. Shading dramatically increased the density of surviving seedlings. In the open, only 3 and 1.5 seedlings m^–2 remained respectively at the end of the growing season or the beginning of the next, compared to 23.3 and 19.5 seedlings m^–2 under shading for these respective times. This was attributed to the effect of shade on moisture availability in a season which received only 54% of average rainfall. Seedling survival until the end of the growing season was enhanced (30%) by shade at both sites, but also by supplemental water (24%) and defoliation of the sward (7%) at the site above the treeline. Across sites and treatments, seedling survival was related to moisture availability, with no or poor survival for < 500 mm rainfall, indicating this species can only establish in certain rainfall years. Seedling survival over winter was not influenced by treatment, but was greater for larger seedlings. Treatments affected seedling size, in particular seedlings growing under shade and within a dense grass canopy were etiolated. A. karroo seedlings are capable of establishing and surviving within a dense grass sward for at least a year, tolerant of low irradiance and of interference, which, because most seeds do not persist for much longer than a year, suggests this species forms predominantly a seedling bank. This has implications for the invasion of grassland by woody species.     

A closed solar photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae under supra-high irradiance: basic design and performance

An account is given of the setting up and use of a novel type of closed tubular photobioreactor at the Academic and University Centre in Nove Hrady, Czech Republic. This "penthouse-roof" photobioreactor was based on solar concentrators (linear Fresnel lenses) mounted in a climate-controlled greenhouse on top of the laboratory complex combining features of indoor and outdoor cultivation units. The dual-purpose system was designed for algal biomass production in temperate climate zone under well-controlled cultivation conditions and with surplus solar energy being used for heating service water. The system was used to study the strategy of microalgal acclimation to supra-high solar irradiance, with values as much as 3.5 times the ambient value, making the approach unique. The cultivation system proved to be fully functional with sufficient mixing and cooling, efficient oxygen stripping and light tracking. Experimental results (measurement of the maximum photochemical yield of PSII and non-photochemical quenching) showed that the cyanobacterium Spirulina (= Arthrospira) platensis cultivated under sufficient turbulence and biomass density was able to acclimate to irradiance values as high as 7 mmol photon m^–2 s^–1. The optimal biomass concentration of Spirulina cultures in September ranged between 1.2 to 2.2 g L^–1, which resulted in a net productivity of about 0.5 g L^–1 d^–1 corresponding to a biomass yield of 32.5 g m^–2 d^–1 (based on the minimum illuminated surface area of the photobioreactor).     

Gelidium pristoides in South Africa

Gelidium pristoides has been harvested commercially from the eastern Cape, South Africa, since 1951, with 40–80 t y^–1 (dry wt) collected in recent years. This species has been intensively studied since 1983, and we briefly review knowledge of its biology in relation to harvesting. We describe a new study of intertidal epiphytic animals, showing that none is specific to G. pristoides, and that only 2.8% of these animals (numbers) inhabit this agarophyte, while the rest are found in other intertidal algal communities: harvesting is considered to have negligible effects on epifauna. Over the past 3 y, we have monitored, at two sites, the effects of the harvesting of G. pristoides on other benthic algae and animals. In only two of the seven main components analysed, did we find any difference between harvested and control plots. At one site only, the number of limpets and percentage cover of Gelidium was higher in harvested plots. These results show that harvesting has no significant biological effect. Regulations governing seaweed exploitation in South Africa were amended in 1988, to encourage local processing of products, and these changes are discussed in relation to the local Gelidium industry. Despite experimental results predicting a higher yield per unit effort if harvesting is limited to summer, harvesting continues throughout the year for practical reasons.     

Overall assessment of Monodus subterraneus cultivation and EPA production in outdoor helical and bubble column reactors

The outdoor production of Monodus subterraneus wasstudied in bubble column and helical reactors, mainly analysing the influenceofdilution rate, air flow rate and solar irradiance on growth rate andbiochemicalcomposition. Photoinhibition and photo-oxidation phenomena were also analysed.The cultures were stressed at high solar irradiance and dissolved oxygenconcentrations. A clear relationship between stress of the cultures and thefluorescence from PSII measurements was observed, the Fv/Fm ratio being lowerinthe helical reactor than in the bubble column. Growth rate and biomassproductivity were both a function of the average irradiance and the Fv/Fmratio;maximum values of 0.040 h^–1 and 0.54 gL^–1 d^–1 were measured. The influenceofphotoinhibition and average irradiance was modelled, the model also fitting theexperimental data reported by another author. The chlorophyll contenthyperbolically decreased, whereas the carotenoid content decreased linearlywiththe average irradiance. The higher the dilution rate the higher the protein andcarbohydrate content of the biomass, and the lower the lipid content. Theeicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content ranged from 2.3 to 3.2% d.wt, the higherthe dilution rate, the lower EPA content, although the higher the EPAproportion. Maximum EPA productivity was only 9 mg L^–1d^–1, due to the stress to which the cultures wereexposed.     

The functional morphology of juvenile plants tolerant of strong summer drought in shaded forest understories in southern Spain

It has been hypothesized that plants cannot tolerate combined shade and drought, as a result of morphological trade-offs. However, numerous plant species are reportedly widespread in shaded forest understories that face drought, whether seasonal or occasional. We studied juveniles of six plant species that cope with strong summer drought in the understoreys of mixed Quercus forests in southern Spain: the tall-shrubs Phillyrea latifolia and Viburnum tinus, the perennial herb Rubia peregrina, the small shrub Ruscus aculeatus, and climbers Hedera helix and Smilax aspera. All of these species persist in evergreen shade (c. 3% daylight). Two other species were studied as comparators, Ruscus hypoglossum, less tolerant of drought, and Ceratonia siliqua, less tolerant of shade. Morphological and chemical variables relevant to shade and drought tolerance were measured for juveniles in a range of sizes, and also for the leaves of mature plants. The species converge in features that confer tolerance of shade plus drought by reducing demand for resources. Demand for water is reduced through a moderate to high below-ground mass fraction and low to moderate specific leaf area (respectively 0.22–0.52 and 112–172 cm² g^–1 at 1.00 g total dry mass). Demand for both irradiance and water is reduced through a low to moderate foliar nitrogen concentration and long-lived, physically protected leaves (2 yr). The species also converge in features that confer tolerance of either low irradiance or drought through specialized capture of resource, without precluding the other tolerance. These features include deep roots relative to shoot size, moderately higher specific leaf area in shade (1.2–2.0 × that in sun) and higher chlorophyll:nitrogen ratio in shade. Foliar chlorophyll per unit mass was higher in shade, but chlorophyll was not necessarily synthesized in greater amounts; rather, it was higher apparently due to shade effects on structural features linked with specific leaf area. In contrast, N per unit mass was higher in sun leaves independently of specific leaf area. Despite these convergences, the species diverge considerably in their root mass allocation and architecture, leaf saturated water content, density of stomata and guard cell size. No single narrowly defined functional type is needed for tolerance of shade plus drought.     

Differential reattachment capacity of isomorphic life history phases of Gelidium sesquipedale

Vegetative reproduction is an important phenomenon in the propagation of Gelidium species, having significant implications for its ecology and commercial cultivation. This work is an experimental study of one of five sequential processes included in the vegetative propagation of Gelidium sesquipedale: the reattachment of rhizoidal filaments differentiated from apical fragments.Two different factors: light (25 µmol m^–2 s^–1 and long-day conditions, and 50 µmol m^–2 s^–1 and short-day conditions) and life history phases (female gametophytes and tetrasporophytes) were combined in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment. Reattachment of apical portions was induced in the laboratory under spray cultivation conditions and occurs mainly at the first stage of development when in contact with the substratum. Light conditions in these experiments (photoperiod + instantaneous photon flux densities) had no effect on the percentage of reattached neofilaments per fragment. Significant differences between percentages corresponding to both phases suggest, however, a probable competitive advantage of sporophytic fronds.     

Differential Photosynthetic Acclimation Pattern to Limiting Growth-Irradiance in Two Types of C4 Plants

Photosynthetic acclimation to reduced growth irradiances (650 and 200 µmol m^–2 s^–1) in Eleusine coracana (L.) Garten, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-malic enzyme (NAD-ME) C₄ species and Gomphrena globosa L., a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) C₄ species were investigated. E. coracana plants acclimated in 4 and 8 d to 650 and 200 µmol m^–2 s^–1, respectively, whereas G. globosa plants took 8 and 10 d, respectively, to acclimate to the same irradiances. The acclimation to reduced irradiance was achieved in both species by greater partitioning of chlorophyll towards the light-harvesting antennae at the expense of functional components. However, magnitude of increase in the light-harvesting antenna was higher in E. coracana as compared to G. globosa. Superior photosynthetic acclimation to reduced irradiance in G. globosa was due to the smaller change in functions of the cytochrome b ₆/f complex, photosystem (PS) 1 and PS2 leading to the higher carbon fixation rates compared to E. coracana.     

Influence of nitrogen species (NH4 + and NO3 −) on the dynamics of P in water–sediment–Salvinia herzogii systems

Water – Salvinia herzogii – sediment systems were exposed to different phosphorus and nitrogen combinations in outdoor experiments. The aim was to estimate the amounts of P immobilized in macrophytes and sediments, as well as to elucidate whether or not the presence of N affects the retention of P. The following components were added: o-P, o-P + NH₄ ⁺, o-P + NO₃ ^– + NH₄ ⁺, o-P + NO₃ ^–. The concentration of nutrients was periodically determined throughout the experiment (28 days). The concentrations of P and N in plant tissues and sediments were determined at the beginning and the end of the experiment. Sequential extractions of P-fractions in sediment were performed using the EDTA method (Golterman, 1996). The removal efficiency of P in water was 95–99%. The removal of NH₄ ⁺ (97–98%) was more effective than that of NO₃ ^– (44–86%). The presence of nitrogen species increased the removal velocity of o-P from water, NH₄ ⁺ was the most effective species. Sediments not only had higher P removal rates than macrophytes but, in the control treatment without macrophytes, they reached the values obtained by macrophytes plus sediments in the other treatments. The adsorption of P takes place at the surface layer of the sediment (1 cm). Most of the P incorporated into the sediment during the experiment was sorbed by the fraction Fe(OOH)P. The addition of nutrients to water modified the leaves/lacinias weight ratio.     

Light and ethylene effects on assimilate distribution,acid invertase activity and keeping quality of begonia

Flowering plants of Begonia × cheimantha cv Emma and Begonia x hiemalis cv Schwabenland Red were exposed to different light levels (0, 40, 80 M m^–2S^–1) and to ethylene (150 nl 1^–1) in growth cabinets. Increasing irradiance level increased the number of flower buds in both begonia species. The amount of ¹⁴C-assimilates translocated to flower buds and the acid invertase activity in flower buds and flowers also increased with increasing irradiance level. Conversely, treatment with ethylene decreased the accumulation of ¹⁴C in flowers and flower buds, but did not affect acid invertase activity. Ethylene accelerated abscission of flowers and flower buds and increased the number of cup shaped and small flowers.     

Biomass production by alders on four abandoned agricultural soils in Québec

The production of aboveground tissue of three alder species (Alnus crispa (Ait.) Pursh,A. rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng. andA. glutinosa (L) Gaertn.) on four sites ranged from 0.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1 to 4.0 t ha^–1 yr^–1 after four growing seasons. Large differences were observed among the four sites studied and among species. Soil nutrient levels affected the biomass production and foliar symptoms of P and Mg deficiency occurred withA. crispa andA. rugosa. Because of their poor aboveground biomass production (0.4–1.4 t ha^–1 yr^–1),A. crispa andA. rugosa should be used mainly as nurse trees. For its higher potential for biomass production (up to 4.0 t ha^–1 yr^–1), and its apparent higher ability to use P and Mg on deficient sites,A. glutinosa should be used preferably toA. crispa andA. rugosa for the production of biomass.     

Effect of UVB radiation on the survival, feeding, and egg production of the brackish-water copepod, Sinocalanus tenellus, with notes on photoreactivation

We examined the effects of UVB radiation on hatching success of eggs, survival of various naupliar and copepodite stages, and feeding and egg production of adult females of the brackish-water copepod, Sinocalanus tenellus, by exposure to varying doses of UVB irradiance in the laboratory. Artificial UVB radiation resulted in an increased mortality of eggs, nauplii and copepodites with increasing UVB doses. UVB induced damage was stage-specific with eggs being most susceptible (LD₅₀= 4.1 kJ m^–2 ) and adult females being least susceptible (LD₅₀= 16.7 kJ m^–2). Effects on feeding and egg production of adult females were significantly evident at UVB doses higher than 11.0 kJ m^–2 and 7.0 kJ m^–2, respectively. We also examined the photorepair response of eggs and various developmental stages in simultaneous irradiation of UVB and enhanced PAR. With enhanced PAR there was a considerable recovery against UVB damage, being higher for younger animals than older ones. In nature, however, solar UVB radiation may rarely cause appreciable damage to S. tenellus population due to optically high attenuation properties of their habitat waters.     

Water flux and energy use in wild house mice (Mus domesticus) and the impact of seasonal aridity on breeding and population levels

Summary Water turnover rate (WTR), urine concentration and field metabolic rate (FMR) were examined in house mice, Mus domesticus, permanently inhabiting roadside verge areas and seasonally invading crops in semi-arid wheatlands in South Australia. FMR was approximately proportional to body mass^0.5 and mean values varied from 4.8 ml CO₂ g^–1h^–1 (2.9 kJ g^–1d^–1) in autumn and winter, to 7.0 ml CO₂ g^–1h^–1 (4.2 kJ g^–1d^–1) in maturing crops during spring. WTR was independent of body mass, indicating that larger mice were selecting a diet containing moister foods. WTR was low in summer and high in winter, and in mice from crops varied from 165 ml l^–1 body water d^–1 (122 ml kg^–1d^–1) to 1000 ml l^–1d^–1 (725 ml kg^–1d^–1). Seasonal changes in WTR were less extreme on the roadside, where a greater diversity of food was available. In the crops, breeding occurred throughout summer during two of three years, but the population increased only in the one summer when mice had marginally higher WTR. On the roadside breeding and population growth were continuous during summer, except in a drought year. Avcrage urine concentration was inversely related to WTR, and varied from 2.0 to 4.8 Osm l^–1. The data indicate that the water conserving abilities of mice equal those of many desert rodents. The water conserving abilities of mice living in crops during summer were fully extended, and in some years aridity limited breeding success and population levels. The degree of moisture stress to which mice are exposed during summer appears to depend not only on rainfall but also on other factors such as availability of food and shelter, and the level of weed infestation in crops.     

Evaluation of Gracilaria caudata J. Agardh for bioremediation of nutrients from shrimp farming wastewater

The accelerated development of shrimp farming in Brazil in recent decades has caused negative impacts to the environment. The most evident effects resulting from this activity is the increase in organic material, the reduction in oxygen and the excessive rise in water nutrients. Thus, there is a need for finding alternative solutions that can mitigate the negative impacts caused by this activity. A potentially viable solution is the use of macroalgae to remove nutrients from the cultivation systems. This study examined in situ (shrimp pond), the growth and storage of nitrogen and phosphorous from the macroalga Gracilaria caudata. A short-term measurement experiment was also conducted to evaluate the bioremediation potential this species. These results showed positive values for biomass and growth during the study period, except at day 45 for the tubular nets and day 75 for the cages, when they reached lower values than those of the initial weight. The results obtained indicate that G. caudata may reach annual production of 59.16 ton ha⁻¹ of wet weight, which corresponds to 11.83 ton dry weight. Nitrogen and phosphorous content in the algal tissues increased with time. The mean for the period was 2.61 ± 0.26% and 0.20 ± 0.03% for the nitrogen and phosphorous, respectively. An estimate of the data showed that 1 ha of cultivated algae has the potential to remove 0.309 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of nitrogen and 0.024 ton ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of phosphorous. The study of the biofiltration capacity of G. caudata showed a significant reduction in nutrients. The removal of NH₄–N was around 59.5%, NO₃–N 49.6% and PO₄–P 12.3% in 4 h. These results suggest that although G. caudata showed relatively modest growth rates, they can be cultivated together with shrimp and can contribute to the removal of nitrogen and phosphorous from the pond. Moreover, the capacity to efficiently remove nutrients demonstrated in laboratory experiments encourages the use of this alga as a bioremediation agent.