The proximate composition, fatty acids, minerals and chlorophyll-a content of three groups of seaweed [Green (Ulva lactuca, Enthromorpha intestinalis); Brown (Sargassum illicifolium, Colpomenia sinuosa) and Red (Hypnea valentiea, and Gracilaria corticata)] collected from the Persian Gulf in Iran, for the first time, was investigated. Results showed that seaweeds were relatively high in carbohydrate [31.0% (H. valentiea)-59.0% (U. lactuca)] and ash [12.2% (U. lactuca)-29.9% (S. illicifolium)], but low in lipid [1.5% (C. sinuosa)-3.6% (U. lactuca)]. Moreover, the lipid content in the green algae was significantly higher than both in the red and brown algae (P<0.05). Similarly, the protein content of both red and green algae were significantly higher than the brown algae (P<0.05), and ranged from 18.3% (G. corticata) to 9.0% (C. sinuosa). Of twenty fatty acids identified; Palmitic acid (37.9-59.8%), oleic acid (3.5-28.6%), myristic acid (4.5-12.4%) and linolenic acid (0.3-8.4%) were the predominant fatty acids. Besides, the red and green algae had the highest proportion of SFAs, and brown and red algae had highest proportion of MUFAs and PUFAs respectively. The minerals composition were found in the sequence of K>Mg>Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Co.
Keywords: seaweed, proximate composition, fatty acids, minerals, Persian Gulf
1. Introduction
The use of seaweeds as a food source not only is very rare in Iran but extensive culture of seaweeds also has not started. Considering the great potential for the extensive culture of seaweeds along the coastal waters of the Persian Gulf, it seems that assay of biochemical composition of seaweeds is necessary to survey their potential use as food sources for animals and industrial applications. The predominan...
... middle of paper ...
... corticata (J. Agardh) J. Agardh and Hypnea valentiea (Turner) Montagne] were collected from the northern coast of the Persian Gulf in Iran for the analyses in the present study. Immediately after collection, the samples were preparatory cleaned and washed with seawater to remove sand, debris, epiphytes and other extraneous matter attached to the thalli and then transported to the laboratory. At the same time, in the laboratory the samples were sorted and then cleaned and thoroughly rinsed with distilled water several times to remove all unpleasant materials from the surface of the sample. Then, the samples were dried completely with freeze dryer (ZirBus, VaCo 5; GERMANY), and ground into a fine powder for 5 min using a coffee grinder and finally passed through a 0.5 mm sieve and stored in dark labeled glass jars in a refrigerator at 4 °C until biochemical analysis.
The crustacean Daphnia magna, maintained in water at room temperature, was obtained. The chemical compound used are five (5) fold dilution of one (1) molar aqueous nicotine, five (5) fold dilution of one (1) molar aqueous caffeine, 10 fold dilution of one (1) molar aqueous nicotine, five (5) fold dilution of one (1) molar aqueous caffeine, water and 100% alcohol.
Protein extractions from unidentified fish samples were separated according to the molecular weights by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Since some of these proteins are shared between fishes, phylogenetic evaluation was reached. Western blot analysis was used to identify four unknown species of aquatic animals via comparison of actin/myosin bands. According to the results of this assay, the best estimate is that the unidentified aquatic animals are specimens of salmon, tilapia, cod, and shrimp, respectively.
Once that step is determined, scientists will assign that group of species to a trophic level; to either the primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, or the tertiary consumers. The bottom of the chain and the trophic level that depends upon by all others is the primary producers. These primary producers consist of autotrophs, which are capable of deriving their food and energy source without consuming organisms or substances taken from other organisms. In the Arctic lake of Alaska, one of it’s primary producers consists of aquatic plants and algae. These aquatic and algae contain chlorophyll, which means that they can use light energy from the sun to synthesize glucose and other organic compounds, that they can use for cellular respiration and building material for growth.
With carbon dioxide levels continuing to rise over the past few decades (fig. 1) and now into the future, concern has been brought to what is happening to the carbonate chemistry of the oceans. Because of these changes in chemistry, the ocean is becoming more acidic. Along with climate change, ocean acidification may be one of the greatest threats to our planet. The higher the ocean’s acidity level goes, the lower the calcium carbonate levels will drop. Even though this is a big scale issue, my goal is to focus on and underline what these changes will mean for the marine life that depend on the calcium carbonate in seawater. I will go in depth with specific regards to a study regarding pteropods or sea butterflies.
In absence of calcium carbonate, coral and shellfish can’t survive. The ecosystem of ocean depends on these organisms because they offer a large source of food at the bottom of the food chain. They need to be abundant in order t...
Kelp can reduce climate change. According to scientist Tim Flannery, “seaweed grows 30 to 60 times the rate of land based plants.” As plants grow they absorb carbon dioxide. Since seaweed grows so fast it is able to take in and hold more carbon dioxide than land based plants. This is important because carbon dioxide is one of the main causes of climate change (2). In addition to being able to reduce climate change, some species of seaweed are super stable and don’t break down easily. This is important because if seaweed doesn't break down easily it has more potential for long term carbon storage than any other land based plant (1). Because of its rapid growth
Atlantic cod has played and continues to play an important role in human society; however, the species’ survival is dependent upon the maintenance of seagrass. A main issue related to the massive decline in this species is attributed to the disappearance of large areas of Zostera marina (Z. marina) seagrass (30 000 km2 in twenty years). The meadow provides an abundance of nutrients annually and contributes many liters of oxygen daily; the area can even take in ten times the amount of carbon dioxide as a section of Amazon rainforest of equivalent size.
Nelson, A.N. 1971. Effects of oil on marine plants and animals. London: Institute of Petroleum.
In the first study examined, “Effect of Different Salinities on the Survival and Growth of Artemina Spp,” researchers Soundaraparian and Saravanakumar designed an experiment to ascertain the ideal conditions for the growth of brine shrimp, or Artemina. In the Introduction, the scientists note the growing significance of Artemina, as it is now used as live feed for over 85 percent of cultured species around the world. Thus, a demand to grow huge quantities of Artemia has arisen, making this study incredibly relevant.
Unfortunately, our fish supply is becoming more and more contaminated with pollutants and toxins like mercury, PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals and radioactive poisons. A solution to consider is getting your animal-based Omega-3 fats from krill oil or krill oil supplements, not only because of the superior efficacy, oxidation protection and absorption, but also because krill is a completely sustainable and environmentally friendly resource.
The consumable shellfish contain glycogen, lipids, protein, vitamins, particularly A, B, and D and a few fundamental minerals. Many species of mollusks are commercially exploited for human consumption (for example mussels, clams, oysters, squids). Compared to the meat of other animals, the food prepared from mollusks has high nutritious value, as it contains high protein content and many amino acids, and they are relatively in low fat content.
Sushi is filled with fresh ingredients such as fish, vegetables, and fiber-filled rice which are loaded with nutrients which are a very healthy meal choice. Also, traditional rolls made with these fresh ingredients are low in calories. For example, the shrimp roll is only about 200 calories with no trace of fat. When you eat these rolls, you are ingesting many nutrients such as vitamin A, B-6 and C. Sushi also provides the important nutrient known as Iodine which is lacking in America. Iodine is an essential for good thyroid health which comes from the seaweed that the sushi rolls are wrapped in. Additionally, a 2011 review published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" concluded that the proteins in the seaweed could reduce blood pressure and improve heart health (Collins). The fish or seafood in the rolls also has nutritional
What if the world could find a way to dispose of sewage, produce food, and purify bodies of water at the same time? The Aztecs have proven that this idea is possible. Lake Texcoco flowed near the Aztec civilization. The Aztecs disposed of their waste in the lake. The human waste added nitrogen to the water. The nitrogen helped algae to grow, and then the algae performed photosynthesis. Photosynthesis gives off oxygen, and oxygen purifies polluted water. The Aztec's also abstracted the algae from the lake and used it for food. Certain types of algae like red and green algae are edible. Many cultures have eaten seaweed for centuries. Wendy O'Leary Dunn states, "They think of seaweed as a vegetable and eat it as we eat broccoli or spinach" (18). Therefore, when humans dispose of their waste in bodies of water, they help algae grow. Then, the algae cleans the water and they can eat the algae.
Different pollutants cause different things to happen to plants. Sometimes, water pollution causes an explosion of new plant growth by providing necessary nutrients and food. If there is too much of one species, this can harm or kill plants by changing their growing conditions, such as raising or lowering the environment’s acidity. Plants must take in nutrients from the surrounding environment in order to grow. Nitrogen and phosphorus, in particular, help a plant’s growth because they are important in photosynthesis. This is why they are common ingredients in plant fertilizers. When runoff from farms pollute waterways with nitrogen and fertilizers rich with phosphorus, the water enriched with nutrients often have stunts of growth. Sometimes too much growth can be harmful, as when plant-like algae bloom in polluted waters and create oxygen-depleted dead zones. One solution to this issue is planting seaweed farms in areas that get alot of runoff from farms. This is because seaweed can soak up the excess nutrients and be harvested for people to eat. Marine debris is garbage that ends up in the ocean. Plastic debris that builds up at or near the water’s surface blocks sunlight from fully reaching plants that rely on sunlight to move along the photosynthesis process. By blocking sunlight, marine debris prevent plants from creating glucose at full capacity, which stunts their growth. When chemical pollutants
Seagrass is not just a food source for micro species, but also macro species such as manatees, turtles, dolphins and dugongs (Yamada and Kumagai 2012). These marine organisms are all supported directly and indirectly by seagrasses, with some entirely dependent on it. Seagrass is often underestimated in its significance as the vast role that it plays in the oceans ecosystem is not fully understood. ...