Brown algae biomass valorisation by fucoidan and alginate separation from fucoxanthin extracted residue and shelf-life assessment of one-year stored biomass

Addressing climate change has become a common issue around the world in the 21st century and equally an important mission in Chinese forestry. Understanding the development of monitoring and assessment of forest biomass and carbon storage in China is important for promoting the evaluation of forest carbon sequestration capacity of China. The author conducts a systematic analysis of domestic publications addressing “monitoring and assessment of forest biomass and carbon storage” in order to understand the development trends, describes the brief history through three stages, and gives the situation of new development. Towards the end of the 20th century, a large number of papers on biomass and productivity of the major forest types in China had been published, covering the exploration and efforts of more than 20 years, while investigations into assessment of forest carbon storage had barely begun. Based on the data of the 7th and 8th National Forest Inventories, forest biomass and carbon storage of the entire country were assessed using individual tree biomass models and carbon conversion factors of major tree species, both previously published and newly developed. Accompanying the implementation of the 8th National Forest Inventory, a program of individual tree biomass modeling for major tree species in China was carried out simultaneously. By means of thematic research on classification of modeling populations, as well as procedures for collecting samples and methodology for biomass modeling, two technical regulations on sample collection and model construction were published as ministerial standards for application. Requests for approval of individual tree biomass models and carbon accounting parameters of major tree species have been issued for approval as ministerial standards. With the improvement of biomass models and carbon accounting parameters, thematic assessment of forest biomass and carbon storage will be gradually changed into a general monitoring of forest biomass and carbon storage, in order to realize their dynamic monitoring in national forest inventories. Strengthening the analysis and assessment of spatial distribution patterns of forest biomass and carbon storage through application of remote sensing techniques and geostatistical approaches will also be one of the major directions of development in the near future.

Brown algae biomass for fucoxanthin, fucoidan and alginate; update review on structure, biosynthesis, biological activities and extraction valorisation

The integration of trees within agricultural systems delivers the opportunity to provide multiple benefits over those afforded by agriculture without trees. The use of windbreaks as a form of agroforestry, in water scarce environments, is primarily used to reduce windspeeds in order to decrease evapotranspiration. Quick growing poplar species such as Populus simonii ((Carrière) Wesm.) are frequently utilised within windbreak structures, but to date, few allometric equations are available to quantify biomass production and to make inferences about carbon storage potential of this species, and none outside the forest. To fill this knowledge gap, we destructively sampled 17 P. simonii growing within a windbreak on a wine estate in the Western Cape Provence, South Africa. Power functions were constructed to explain tree height, whole tree aboveground woody biomass, stem and branch biomass as a function of stem diameter at 1.3 m. Additional functions were developed to predict individual branch length and biomass based on branch stub diameter. The presented models explained each variable with high significance. The models could be used to estimate carbon stock per km of windbreak for the given example. Furthermore, bark percentage predicted by stem sectional diameter was modelled to provide a function that can separate wood and bark fractions as a further outlook for the species’ utilisation.

Algal growth and damselfish (Eupomacentrus planifrons) territories were studied in two reef habitats at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Damselfish territories were contiguous in the reef flat (0 to 2.5 m), where the algal composition and biomass varied from territory to territory. In contrast, on the lower reef terrace (22 m), damselfish territories were often spatially segregated. While the algal composition of the territories was more uniform on the reef terrace, the total algal biomass was lower than in the territories on the reef flat. Damselfish are largely herbivorous, and they defend their territories against most intruding fish, including a number of herbivorous species. Areas of the reef terrace outside of damselfish territories were heavily grazed by herbivorous fishes and contained only small quantities of non-crustose algae. The reef terrace territories were characterized by a multispecific turf of algae (greens, blue-greens, and reds) covering the Acropora cervicornis framework and by the leafy, brown alga, Lobophora variegata. A rapid reduction in the biomass of brown algae and filamentous algae was noted when damselfish were permanently removed from their territories. Only calcified, encrusting algae — plants apparently somewhat undesirable as fish food sources — would be common on the terrace zone of this reef if damselfish territories were absent. Damselfish territoriality may significantly influence the dynamics of some reefs by increasing the biomass of the algal turf thereby increasing; reef productivity. Since blue-green algae, potential nitrogen fixers, occur in these algal turfs, the fish may also be indirectly affecting reef nutrition.

Rapid assessment of algal biomass and pigment contents using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and chemometrics

Mapping seaweed beds using multispectral imagery retrieved by unmanned aerial vehicles

In restored tropical forests, a better understanding of biomass and carbon estimation methods is needed—especially biomass assessment, allometric equation choice, and the influence of local conditions. Understanding these factors is critical given forests' role in sequestering and storing atmospheric carbon. We conducted a systematic review on the state of the art in estimating plant biomass and carbon storage in restored forests within the Atlantic Forest. We examined the biomass measurement methods, the factors influencing biomass productivity, and estimated the time required for restored forests to attain biomass levels observed in conserved forests. For each study, we investigated: (1) how biomass stocks were assessed; (2) the allometric equations used for estimation; (3) and the restoration techniques applied alongside the biotic and abiotic conditions at each site. We also examined whether local climatic conditions, forest age, and the number of planted species influenced biomass accumulation. Despite the limited number of studies assessing carbon stocks in restored Atlantic Forests, publications have increased recently. However, the equations used to estimate carbon stocks were mainly adjusted to young forests (5–17 years). Moreover, studies lack a standardized protocol for converting biomass into carbon, and few assessing root biomass. We found that age is the key factor explaining biomass accumulation. Finally, our projections indicate forests over 25 years of restoration likely exhibit plant biomass similar to conserved forests. Still, different protocols and equations for estimating plant biomass accumulation may lead to under‐ or overestimates compared to the projections presented here.

The gut contents of juvenile tuskfishes Choerodon schoenleinii and C.anchorago changed in fish with a size of ≥25 mm total length (TL) in shallow waters of Ishigaki Island, southwestern Japan. Epiphytic copepods were an important food source for individuals of <25 mm TL for both species. The taxonomic compositions of copepods differed between the two species, and this difference may be related to differences in the biomass of brown algae during different seasons of recruitment. C.schoenleinii were recruited in shallow waters during March and April, when there is a substantial biomass of brown algae bearing an abundance of epiphytic harpacticoids. Brown algae serve as a feeding habitat as well as a shelter for C.schoenleinii. C.anchorago first appeared in May and June after most of the brown algal biomass had been shed, and they fed on calanoids as well as harpacticoids epiphytically associated with seagrasses. In two Choerodon species of ≥25 mm TL, food habits grew more diverse and included larger animals such as gammarids, isopods, cumaceans, decapods, and molluscs. These results indicate that brown algae are important providers of food items for early-stage juveniles of C.schoenleinii.

Biosorption of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution by biomass of brown algae Laminaria japonica.

Sustainable production of bioethanol from renewable brown algae biomass

The assessment of forest biomass has been a focus of research, aiming to understand matter–energy relationships in forest ecosystems and address forestry practice issues. In recent decades there has been increased societal interest in rational forest resource exploitation, necessitating accurate biomass estimation. In Greece there has been limited efforts in estimating forest biomass, and the current study focuses on habitat type 9340, “Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests,” located in the protected areas “GR1420004–Karla–Mavrovouni–Kefalovryso Velestinou–Neochori” and “GR1430001–Oros Pilio and Paraktia Thalassia Zoni (Mount Pilion and Coastal Sea Zone)” in the Natura 2000 network. The habitat falls within the thermo-Mediterranean zone and the study aims to estimate the biomass and carbon storage to contribute to sustainable EU forest strategies. Due to resource limitations, a generalized allometric equation was proposed as an alternative to traditional biomass estimation methods. The above-ground biomass per hectare was estimated, ranging from 16.10 to 205.27 Mg ha−1 (mean 61.91 Mg ha−1). Furthermore, two approaches were used to estimate the total biomass in the habitat: regional averages based on spatial distribution and spatial interpolation using a geographic information system. The total estimated biomass for habitat 9340 is 183,505 Mg, with the carbon storage in standing dry biomass amounting to 83,725.25 Mg. Despite the absence of sampled biomass specimens, this study combines robust statistical techniques with published empirical values to provide a solid framework for estimating assimilated CO2. Sequestered CO2 in the study area is estimated at 306,992.58 Mg. Therefore, the significant role of Quercus ilex L. in carbon storage in Mediterranean forest ecosystems is highlighted by sequestering a substantial amount of CO2.

The world’s energy demand is rising dramatically with increasing human population and economy. The fossil fuels that comprise crude oil, natural gas and coal are the major energy sources required for the transport and industries. The burning of fossil fuels not only emits greenhouse gases but also produces some persistent organic matter into the atmosphere such as carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds that creates serious environmental and human health issues. In addition, vast growth of industrial activities in the last few decades has led to making of an enormous amount of industrial wastewater. Fossil fuels and freshwater are limited nonrenewable resources that will deplete in the next few years; hence the world has been forced to look for new renewable and sustainable energy sources. Microalgae have been recently recognized as one of the promising feedstocks for biodiesel production. Since microalgae have the capability to grow in wastewater as well as remediate nutrients, which translate it an environment friendly and economically viable biofuel feedstock. The present chapter emphasizes on the possibility of utilizing dairy wastewater as nutrients for microalgae cultivation and subsequent nutrient remediation, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. In the end, limitations and economic assessment of dairy wastewater-derived microalgal biomass and biofuel have been assessed. The study compiled in the present chapter indicates that the algae grown on dairy wastewater have been a prospective source of low-cost biomass/lipid for production of biofuels.

The results of measurements of trace element contents in brown algae of the families Laminariales and Fucales of different origins are presented, along with supplementary data from the literature. Aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc concentrations in the biomass of brown algae were found to be affected primarily by the technogenic factor, while strontium concentrations are affected by the geographic latitude of the region in which they grew. In the case of arsenic, no relationship was found between accumulation in algae and the level of pollution or the geographic region in which the algae were collected. Arsenic was found to accumulate better in Laminariales, while aluminum, iron, copper, and manganese in brown algae of the family Fucales. As regards cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, zinc, chromium, and strontium, differences in accumulation in members of the two families were comparable with differences between species within a single family. We conclude that there is a need to develop additional criteria for standardization of brown algae.

Use of image analysis to determine algal and bacterial biomass in a high rate algal pond following Percoll® fractionation

The current investigation focuses on a systematic study of application of two dried algal biomass (i.e., Nostoc sp. and Turbinaria vulgaris) in removal of Cr(VI) from synthetic solution as well as tannery industrial wastewater. The optimized conditions for Cr(VI) removal are nearly same for the both the biosorbents (i.e., pH 2.8, initial Cr(VI) concentration 100 mg L-1, biomass dosage of 1.2g L-1, contact time 120 and 110 min). Nostoc sp. (qmax=23.94mg g-1) was observed to possess a superior removal capability when compared to Turbinaria vulgaris (qmax=21.8mg g-1). Desorption studies were performed with four different desorbing agents. Application study was conducted using tannery wastewater with Nostoc sp. and 94.20% removal of Cr(VI) was obtained. Hence, this study revealed that Nostoc sp. and T. vulgaris both have great potential to be an environment friendly and economic biosorbent for removal of Cr(VI) containing industrial effluent.