Many eukaryotes are closely associated with bacteria which enable them to expand their physiological capacities. Associations between algae (photosynthetic eukaryotes) and bacteria have been described for over a hundred years. A wide range of beneficial and detrimental interactions exists between macroalgae (seaweeds) and epi- and endosymbiotic bacteria that reside either on the surface or within the algal cells. While it has been shown that these chemically mediated interactions are based on the exchange of nutrients, minerals, and secondary metabolites, the diversity and specificity of macroalgal–bacterial relationships have not been thoroughly investigated. Some of these alliances have been found to be algal or bacterial species-specific, whereas others are widespread among different symbiotic partners. Reviewing 161 macroalgal–bacterial studies from the last 55 years, a definite bacterial core community, consisting of Gammaproteobacteria, CFB group, Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria species, seems to exist which is specifically (functionally) adapted to an algal host–associated lifestyle. Because seaweed–bacterial associations are appealing from evolutionary and applied perspectives, future studies should integrate the aspects of diverse biological fields
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A New York Times article on the Nile River and water scarcity in Africa.
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New mariculture technologies that use "appropriate" technology or rely on the natural productivity of the oceans to supply feed sources for seafood farming in coastal waters are being developed. These technologies may be feasible for small-scale commercial mariculture projects implemented by fishermen-farmers in developing countries. This article presents research data regarding the economic and social feasibility of the adoption of a new mariculture technology by artisanal fishermen in two small fishing villages in Antigua and the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. The technology involves growing algae on offshore screens and feeding it to Caribbean spider crabs (Mithrax spinosissimus) raised in offshore cages. The research indicates that the adoption of crab mariculture by fishing crews is feasible because they have requisite values, skills, corporate resources, market relationships, and territorial rights. However, fishing crews may lack start-up capital and may require visible evidence of technological feasibility before adoption. If fishermen make a commitment to mariculture, their new activity may conflict with other relationships in their villages and they may catch fewer subsistence fish for local and urban markets.
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This article written for Slate Magazine discusses the role insects and seaweeds will have in feeding the world's people. The author suggests that we must get over our "yuck factor" in order to enjoy protein-rich sustainably grown insects and seaweeds. PDF contains links to other resources, and clicking on the "single page" tab at the bottom right will bring the reader to the full article.
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This article was published in the May/June 2008 edition of Aquaculture Magazine and discusses some of the issues surrounding the production of biodiesel. The author suggests algae as potential, alternative sources for biodiesel production.
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The red algal genus Asparagopsis (Bonnemaisoniaceae) is a significant resource for bioactive natural products. However, prior to domestication for commercial production, we need to understand the potential variation in growth and concentration of natural products between isolates of Asparagopsis and, beyond that, how these traits are affected by environmental conditions. Ten isolates of Asparagopsis taxiformis were collected from tropical and warm-temperate regions in Queensland, Australia, and identified by molecular barcoding of the mitochondrial intergenic spacer (cox2–3 spacer). The isolates were cultured at three temperatures ranging from the minimum of the warm-temperate region to the maximum of the tropical region. Growth rates and the concentration of natural products varied between the region of origin, between isolates within region and between temperatures. Growth differed by up to 50% between isolates, whereas the concentration of natural products differed more than tenfold. Growth rates were highest at the minimum temperature of 20.2°C, irrespective of region of origin, and were lowest at the maximum temperature of 28.1°C. Natural products were threefold higher in tropical isolates, and this variation was not correlated to growth. Consequently, targeting isolates with high concentrations of natural products should be the primary strategy for the domestication of Asparagopsis for biotechnology applications.
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Hong Kong, Guangzhou and New York are the most important markets in the sea cucumber industry. Dried sea cucumbers are brought from all over the world to be bought and sold in Hong Kong. Traders and wholesalers are located along Nam Pak Hong Street in the Sheung Wan area in the north-west of Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, China, have been tightly connected since the birth of Hong Kong in the 19th century. Through this channel, most of the dried marine products imported into Hong Kong are re-exported to Guangdong, from where they are traded throughout China. Wholesalers gather along Yat Tak Lou (Yi De Lu) Street in Guangzhou. This paper will explore the historical development of the sea cucumber market in China, with special reference to regional differences. A recent development in the New York market is also explained in relation to trade of the Galapagos sea cucumber, Isostichopus fuscus. The characteristics of these three intertwined markets indicate that resource management plans should take market preference into consideration.
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This week in Nature Climate Change an international team of scientists have published results of the first ever sub-sea carbon dioxide impact, detection and monitoring experiment relevant to Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) in sub-seabed storage reservoirs. This innovative study was designed to understand how marine life on the seabed and in the water above might react to a real-life leakage, as well as determine methods for detection and monitoring of a small-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) leak event. The research found that, for a leak of this scale, the environmental damage was limited; restricted to a small area and with a quick recovery of both the chemistry and biology.
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At the beginning of 2010, an estimated 27 billion animals were being kept as livestock globally, with 66 billions slaughtered each year around the globe (Schlatzer, 2010). This exceeds the number of human inhabitants on the globe almost by an order of magnitude.
Global meat production has doubled between 1980 and 2007 from 136.7 to 285.7 million tons, egg production rose by 150 percent from 27.4 to 67.8 million tons, and milk production has risen from 465 to 671.3 million tons (FAO, 2009b). Pork accounts for 40 percent of the global meat production, poultry for 30 percent and beef for 22 percent, and 55 percent of the global pig production, 61 percent of the global egg production and 72 percent of the global poultry meat production takes place in industrial systems (FAO, 2009b), where feed production often occurs far away from the livestock facilities.
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The National Seaweed Forum, commissioned by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources in 1999, evaluated the current status of the Irish Seaweed Industry, investigate the potential uses of seaweeds and identify measures to be undertaken for developing the different industrial sectors.
Seaweed aquaculture was identified as a key area for the development of the Irish Seaweed Industry to meet growing market demands and to create attractive and high–skilled jobs in peripheral communities in coastal areas.
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Marine Agronomy Group, CAFNRM, UH-Hilo
200 W. Kawili st., HI 96720, USA
Contact: Marine.Agronomy.Group@gmail.com
Funding for this web portal is provided by the World Wildlife Fund and the University of Hawaii-Hilo.