MICROALGAE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Recently, a new study suggests that microalgae have developed a unique strategy to adapt to global warming while playing a critical role in the ocean's food chain and capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

• As climate change reduces the availability of nutrients in the sea, marine microalgae or eukaryotic phytoplankton fire up a protein called rhodopsin.
• It is related to the protein in the human eye responsible for vision in dim light.

Microalgae

• Microalgae are organisms that can grow in aquatic environments and use light and carbon dioxide (CO2) to create biomass. 
• It contains lipids and fatty acids as membrane components, storage products, metabolites, and sources of energy.
• They are excellent at converting CO2 and sunlight into oil-rich biomass, especially when compared to land-based crop plants like soy.
• The potentials of algae as the alternative biofuel sources have been widely reviewed.
• Microalgae cultivation provides tremendous opportunity in the field of agriculture as a source of biofertilizers.
• Example: Chlorella and Spirulina.