Danilo B. Largo University of San Carlos, Cebu City
LANDMARKS OF EVOLUTION 0 - Morphological evolution of metazoans Age of dinosaurs Cambrian Precambrian >500 Million years ago 1 - Origin of Metazoans 20% O Origin of modern eukaryotes Endosymbiosis 2 - Development of ozone shield Oxygenated environment Time before present (billions of years) Origin of oxygenic phototrophs (cyanobacteria) O 2 (% in atm) 3 - Bacteria Archea Nuclear line Microbial diversification ORIGIN OF LIFE 4 - Chemical evolution Prebiotic synthesis of biomolecule Formation of the earth (-4.6 x 109 years before the present) Anoxic conditions
Climate change is arguably one of the biggest issues facing humanity today.
Major global environmental concern Sea level rise Ocean acidification has potentially profound consequences for the marine ecosystems Habitat & Biodiversity loss
CLIMATE CHANGE - SEA LEVEL RISE: Mactan Is., Cebu 0 m + 1 m + 2 m + 3 m + 4 m + 5 m + 6 m + 7 m + 8 m http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=10.3109,123.9302&z=5&m=8
CLIMATE CHANGE - OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ph shift Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
CLIMATE CHANGE HABITAT & BIODIVERSITY LOSS Source: Blue Carbon by Nellemann, C. et al. (2009).
URGENT! significant reductions in GHG emissions - to avoid future dangerous climate change. proper management of habitats that act as critical natural carbon sinks.
Oceans - the largest CO 2 sink past 150 years: absorbing 25-30% of the anthropogenic CO 2, lowering the oceanic surface water ph average by 0.1
If current CO 2 emission trends continue by 2050: oceanic acidification will achieve its highest level in the past million years. over the next several decades: coastal inhabitants dependent on marine resources could experience significant economic losses and social disruptions corals, shellfish, algae and many other marine organisms will be greatly affected
Options to alleviate ocean acidification 1. limitation of fossil-fuel generated CO 2 emissions - the only true mitigation option there is 2. Marine algal cultivation - have great potential to convert oceanic CO 2 into biomass and large scale algal cultivation can sequester or remove up to 1 billion tons of CO 2 from the oceans. 3. Biological CO 2 /HCO 3 sequestration from the sea remains a viable option
Algae, defined: No true roots, no true stems, no true leaves they are thallophytes (body = thallus) Size-wise: a) microalgae: + 1 50 μm (e.g. cyanobacteria, most green algae, etc.) b) macroalgae: up to 60 m in size (kelps) Habitat: FW rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands Marine - seaweeds are macroalgae in the sea Terrestrial - epiphytes in trees, moist places, etc. As symbionts - with corals, some molluscs, lichens seaweeds exploited for food, chemicals and other products
PHL is one of the top 5 seaweedproducing countries in the world with China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. Eucheuma PHL Contributes 0.7 million tons or 6.6% of the world production of 10.5 million tons (ADB Report 2005). Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
World production of algal aquaculture Asia Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
Categories of algal utilization Conventional economic use: - as direct food for humans: - E.g. Caulerpa, Eucheuma/Kappaphycus, Gracilaria, Codium - as source of chemicals with industrial applications - Carrageenan, agar, alginates, plant growth stimulants, etc. Non-conventional use (emerging industries): - Renewable energy (biofuel): e.g. red algae, microalgae - Pulp for paper making: e.g. certain red algae Ecological role: - they are primary producers, serving as food to various marine organisms - serve as life-support system in marine ecosystem - e.g. Sargassum beds - as photosynthetic organisms, they play a role in carbon sequestration in the ocean BLUE CARBON.
Source: The Colors of Carbon Nellemann, C. et al. (2009). Blue Carbon. The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon. UNEP, GRID-Arendal, www.grida.no BROWN carbon - produced by burning of fossil fuels; - released as CO2 into the atmosphere
Source: The Colors of Carbon Nellemann, C. et al. (2009). Blue Carbon. The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon. UNEP, GRID-Arendal, www.grida.no BLACK carbon - produced by wood burning; - released in the form of dust particles and soot which enter the sediment.
Source: The Colors of Carbon Nellemann, C. et al. (2009). Blue Carbon. The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon. UNEP, GRID-Arendal, www.grida.no GREEN carbon - carbon removed by photosynthesis and stored in plants and soil in natural systems; - sequestration ranges from days to weeks to decades to centuries; - released as CO2 upon natural death of plants, or lost by degradation, or utilization as food or as various products, including biofuel
Source: The Colors of Carbon Nellemann, C. et al. (2009). Blue Carbon. The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon. UNEP, GRID-Arendal, www.grida.no BLUE carbon - carbon captured by the world s oceans and stored in marine organisms from carbon dissolved in water; - accounted for by mangroves, seagrasses, marshes - released as CO2 upon natural death, or lost by degradation, or utilization as food or as various products, including biofuel (about 55% of green carbon)
the sequestered carbon
but where is ALGAE in the global marketplace of carbon trading? They are the most neglected, in favor of terrestrial plants! Authored by Nelleman et al. (2009) and published by UNEP, has very little to say about the role of algae in carbon sequestration. They are not included in the definition of Blue Carbon Available: www.grida.no
but WHAT ABOUT ALGAE?
What is being missed here? ALGAE account for at least 50% of the photosynthetic biomass production of our planet They are great sources of biofuels as they can accrue 70% or more of their dry biomass as hydrocarbons
Enabling laws to lessen the impact of climate change in the Philippines: 1. Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) Biofuels Act of 2007 (RA 9367) Related Laws: Clean Air Act of 1999 Clean Water Act of 2004 Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729) signed into law: Oct. 23, 2009 Provides a Framework Strategy on Climate Change under which the National Climate Change Action Plan is formulated.
Biofuels Act of 2007 (RA 9367) signed into law: January 12, 2007 Mandates that all liquid fuels used in motors and engines sold in the Philippines shall contain locally-sourced biofuels components: 5% after 2 years, 10% after 5 yrs. Provides for an incentive schemes to encourage investments in the production, distribution and use of locally-produced biofuels, in the form of: Zero tax on local and imported biofuels component Exemption to value-added tax on sale of raw materials used in the production of biofuels
Concept for a Red Algal CO2 Sink CO2 sink must be durable & sustainable Reforestation on land vs. Cultivation of Red Algae on sea Eucalyptus Reforestation Red Algae Cultivation A fixed amount of biomass could be maintained in a certain farm size; therefore the farm could be suitable as a CO2 sink for CDM business Source: Pegasus International
Cultivated seaweeds as Carbon Sink How much carbon is consumed by major seaweed species? Biomass : Carbon ratio 3 : 1?
Country Comparison between CO 2 emissions of selected countries, their current seaweed harvest and potential for carbon sequestration with improved utilization of coastline for seaweed cultivation (Source: Zemke-White and Ohno 1999) Algal harvest (tons dry matter yr -1 Carbon in harvest (tons yr -1 (tons yr -1 ) Annual CO 2 emissions (thousand tons ) Carbon in annual emissions (thousand tons) C in harvest / C in emissions ( %) China 698,529 209,559 5,010,169 1,366,410 0.0153 Korea 137,461 41,238 465,643 126,994 0.0325 Japan 123,074 36,922 1,257,962 343,081 0.0108 Philippines 46,218 13,865 80,511 21,958 0.0631 India 3,003 901 1,342,962 366,262 0.0002 France 616,762 185,029 373,692 101,916 0.1816 Chile 109,308 32,792 62,418 17,023 0.1926 Thailand 200 60 268,082 73,113 0.0001 Indonesia 26,894 8,068 378,250 103,159 0.0078
New paradigm and new era climate bio-engineering PHOTOSYNTHESIS forest phytoplankton seaweeds FW algae www.chooseclimate/cleng/part2/html / Prof. I.K. Chung
New paradigm and new era bio-energy SEAWEED BIOFUEL MAKE SENSE In order for algae biodiesel to completely replace all transportation fuels, it will require about 80 million hectares of land (less than 5%), which sounds achievable (Source: Oilgae, 2011, citing Department of Energy, USA)
Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
Convened under the purview of the Asia Pacific Phycological Assoc. (APPA) Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung
Characteristics of algae that make them attractive for bioenergy: They can be grown in non - arable lands. 1.5 billion hectares of non-forested land available worldwide is not being utilized for agriculture Oil yields from algae are much higher than those from other biodiesel crops. Algae has lipid content varying from 2% 40% depending on strain They are capable of fixing CO2 in the atmosphere, thus facilitating the reduction of increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. Algae biofuel is non-toxic, contains no sulfur, and is highly biodegradable. (Source: Oilgae, 2010, citing Dept. of Energy, USA)
The Philippines can contribute to the world in mitigating carbon by adopting the ALGAE STRATEGIES.
1. Increase cultivation of seaweeds FOR CARRAGEENAN PRODUCTION HARVESTING FARMING A seaweed farm in Palawan http://blogs.panda.org/coral_triangle/2009/05/26/aeri als-slash-burn-seaweed-farming-and-pearl-farmersafter-office-hours/ PROCESSING FINAL PRODUCT
1. Increase cultivation of seaweeds FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION - no more dependence on fossil fuel Approx. 75 companies in the world have so far made significant commitments and investments in the algae oil fields Oilgae, 2010. http://www.ecoseed.org/en/general-green-news/green-politics/green-policies/asia-pacific/5458-philippinescharges-into-renewable-energy-future
2. Diversification of seaweed products towards longer shelf life Gelling agent Gel coat in ham Clarifying agent in beer fire extinguishing foam body lotion Soft candy Seaweed soup Pet food face cream paper soap Textile Paint marbling toothpaste Shampoo & conditioner
New products from seaweeds Source: Pegasus International
3. Promote seaweeds for IMTA use. Caulerpa - absorbs high amount of nutrients (Source: Thierry Chopin, 2006) Eucheuma/ Kappaphycus - strip nutrient-rich wastewater by as much as 70-80% of the total ammonium nitrogen and as much as 50% of phosphate within 15 hrs (Copertino et al. 2009) Ulva Sargassum - high biofiltration capacity, reducing ammonium by as much as 41-66% (Rodrigueza & Montano 2007) - convertible to biofuels, organic fertilizer, and animal feed meal.
4. Promoting brown seaweed bed establishments - provide marine habitat, raw materials and, above all, absorbs CO2 Sargassum the tropical kelp Brown seaweed extract as plant growth promoter
Biggest misconception of the centuries past & present: Seaweeds have more to offer than what the name suggests. They are not weeds, rather they are a desirable group of photosynthetic organisms with important role to play. Kaiso - Japanese for seaweed = kai, sea + so, plant, goods, tree They are part of the BLUE CARBON.
They have great potential to mitigate CO2 and arrest global warming and we need them since yesterday!!
Thank you Asian Network for Using Algae as Carbon Sink the Asia Pacific Phycological Association (APPA)