Biodiversity Of Seaweeds In The Egyptian Marine Waters

The Arab Republic of Egypt enjoys a vital strategic location. Its northern border is the Mediterranean Sea, and its eastern border is the Red Sea, which give it a special significance from the bio-diversity point of view as a coastal zone, and as a sensitively diversified ecosystem. The shoreline of the Arab Republic of Egypt is about 3,000 km long. It is about 1,150 km long on the Mediterranean and about 1,850 km long on the Red Sea, which are connected by the Suez Canal, which is about 193.30 km in length. The three water masses are different ecologically and are experiencing wide range of pressures due to, eutrophication, coastal development, aquaculture and climate change. These conditions resulted in several species of seaweeds that adapt to these pressures and expand their living boundaries while others may fade away. Accordingly, the study of seaweeds biodiversity in the Egyptian marine waters is of great concern globally and constitutes an important element of global change research. The present book entitled Biodiversity of Seaweeds in the Egyptian Marine Waters summarizes our current understanding of the biodiversity of seaweeds in the Egyptian marine waters. It is a timely publication based wholly on primary data which were collected through extensive field studies conducted over the years covering the marine Egyptian waters and culminate the efforts of the Egyptian phycologists. The book contains high-quality images of some species in their existing habitats. This book gains critical importance from the fact that the Egyptian marine environment is witnessing rapid development, which will no doubt have a bearing on the coastal environment – and the baseline data on seaweed biodiversity would be useful to understand changes that may arise from physical changes in the environment as also pollution load and climate change.

India has 7,500 km of coastline with diverse habitats and rich biota. Coastal ecosystems, unfortunately, are experiencing wide range of pressures due to siltation, eutrophication, coastal development, aquaculture and climate change. Those species that adapt to these pressures will expand their living boundaries while others may fade away. Accordingly, the study of coastal biodiversity is of great concern globally and constitutes an important element of global change research. Gujarat has 1,600 km of coastline, reportedly with rich diversity of seaweeds. Previously published accounts on seaweed biodiversity were mainly in the form of checklists, the earliest among these being the checklist of Krishnamurthy and Joshi prepared in the early 1970s. The more recent checklists are based almost entirely on secondary information. The present book entitled Seaweeds of India – The Diversity and Distribution of Seaweeds of Gujarat Coast is a timely publication based wholly on primary data. Data were collected through extensive and systematic ? eld studies conducted by the authors during different seasons over a three year period. The authors collected nearly 200 species of seaweeds belonging to 100 genera of Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta. Twenty-four of the species are new to Gujarat coast and three are new to Indian waters. The book contains high-quality images of the different species in their existing habitats. Brief taxonomical descriptions, together with information on ecology, distribution, seasonality and abundance, are covered for each of the species.

Malaysia has the potential to be a key seaweed production player in the region if proper management and possible interventions take place. Chapter One analyzes the capacity building programs in Malaysia that aim to transform conventional seaweed cultivation techniques to modern seaweed cultivation techniques by applying a scientific approach. Chapter Two studies the marine macroalgae thriving at intertidal rocky shores on the west coast of Portugal, a transition zone where the combined influence of cold waters and warmer waters may favor the development of unique macroalgal communities. In Chapter Three, the authors discuss how problems of environmental deterioration and energy demand could be alleviated by the paradigm shift from fossil to biofuel from marine algae. The chapter elaborates on the unconventional strategies developed for the farming as well as conversion of Ulva rigida to biofuels and biochemicals. Chapter Four discusses the incorporation of macroalgae or macroalgal derived ingredients as a source of both macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients for animal feed production. The biological health benefits of the macroalgal ingredients beyond basic nutrition for the development of functional feed in the aquaculture, the ruminant and the swine sectors are also discussed together with the industrial challenges of its application. To conclude, Chapter Five provides a brief review of seaweed co-culture and its environmental impact on coastal fisheries. First, the current situation and problems facing the coastal fisheries, and the plans to overcome these issues, are discussed. Finally, the positive and negative effects of seaweed culture, role of seaweed co-culture, and the overall environmental impact are addressed.

Seaweeds are known for their rich bioactive compounds, which promote health in human beings and are good for the ecosystem as well. They are also natural resources that are a major source of raw material for different industries. There are still undiscovered and unexploited compounds synthesized by seaweeds that may have potential applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. This book serves as a comprehensive knowledge source for the predominant roles of seaweeds in various sectors, particularly in the areas of health, environment, and agriculture. It explores the diverse biodiversity aspects of seaweeds and their derivatives. The book critically reviews the present industrial challenges to investigate the novel compounds synthesized by seaweeds and their unique characteristics and benefits. The volume covers the various biodiversity attributes of tropical seaweeds, their cultivation and bioactive compounds, and the diverse agricultural and biomedical applications of new seaweed derivatives. The authors also discuss the current challenges, emerging markets, and latest developments in extracting the useful biomolecules from seaweeds as well as the role of seaweeds in food security and environmental mitigation. With chapters written by experts and professionals in the field, this volume, Seaweed Biotechnology: Biodiversity and Biotechnology of Seaweeds and Their Applications, provides a deep understanding of the biodiversity of seaweeds around the world and their industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications.

The term ‘seaweed’ represents an assemblage of a diverse group of photosynthetic aquatic plants that are exceptionally unique in their form, function, structure, and biochemical composition. In Far East Asian countries, seaweeds are popularly utilised in human food preparations, in addition to being used as a source of raw material for the extraction of industrially important phycocolloids and agro-based products. More recently, there has been growing interest in the application of seaweed ingredients in beauty and novelty food products, nutraceuticals, bioplastics, and beverages, among others, as well as its potential as a source for biofuels Seaweed, though it is a primitive plant, has complex morphological structure, meaning species-level identification of an individual seaweed is a difficult task. This volume describes the identification characteristics of 256 seaweed species collected from the south-east coast of India; comprising 71 species of green algae (chlorophyceae), 46 species of brown algae (phaeophyceae) and 139 species of red algae (rhodophyceae). Key taxonomic characteristics detailed here allow the confirmation of identification of different kinds of seaweed. As such, the book forms an excellent field guide for beginners in seaweed research, marine botanists, students, researchers, divers, and anyone who has interest in knowing more about seaweeds.

The book entitled “Biodiversity of Marine Microbes” aims at highlighting the significance of marine microbes as primary producers, their contribution in complex ecological processes and their roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functioning. The book includes five research papers covering the diversity and composition of marine microbial communities representing all three domains of life in various marine environments, including coastal eutrophic areas, ice waters, and lagoons. One paper examines the diversity and succession of bacterial and archaeal communities from coastal waters in mesocosm experiments. The combination of classical tools with novel technological advances implemented in the methods of the papers offered an opportunity to answer fundamental questions and shed light on the complex and diverse life of marine microbes.

A synthesis of concepts and examples of how physiological processes influence seaweed communities worldwide, authored by experts in the field.