Danilo B. LargoUniversity of San Carlos,

Cebu City

Age of dinosaurs

Morphological evolution of metazoans

Cambrian_________________

Precambrian>500 Million years ago

Origin of Metazoans

Origin of modern eukaryotes

Endosymbiosis

Development of ozone shield

Oxygenated environment

Origin of oxygenic phototrophs

(cyanobacteria)

BacteriaArchea

Nuclear lineMicrobial

diversification

ORIGIN OF LIFE

Chemical evolution Prebiotic synthesis of biomolecule

Formation of the earth

(-4.6 x 109 years before the present)

0 -

1 -

2 -

3 -

4 -Anoxic conditions

20% O

Time before present(billions of years) O2 (% in atm)

LANDMARKS OF EVOLUTION

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

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 - SEA LEVEL RISE: Mactan Is., Cebu

pH shift

CLIMATE CHANGE - OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

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 CO2 sink

past 150 years: absorbing 25-30% of the

anthropogenic CO2, lowering the oceanic surface water pH average by 0.1

If current CO2 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 CO2emissions - the only true mitigation option there is

2. Marine algal cultivation - have great potential to convert oceanic CO2 into biomass and large scale algal cultivation can sequester or remove up to 1 billion tons of CO2 from the oceans.

3. Biological CO2/HCO3– 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 seaweed-producing countries in the world with China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia.

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

Eucheuma

World production of algal aquaculture

Courtesy: Prof. Ik Kyu Chung

Asia

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.

The Colors of CarbonSource: 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

The Colors of CarbonSource: 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.

The Colors of CarbonSource: 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

The Colors of CarbonSource: 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!

They are not included in the definition of

“Blue Carbon”

Authored by Nelleman et al. (2009) and published by UNEP, has very little to say about the role of algae in carbon sequestration.

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 biofuelscomponents: 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

Source: Pegasus International

• 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

Cultivated seaweeds as Carbon Sink

How much carbon is consumed by major seaweed species?

Biomass : Carbon ratio

3 : 1 ?

Comparison between CO2 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)

Country Algal harvest

(tons dry matter

yr-1

Carbon in

harvest (tons yr-1

(tons yr-1)

Annual CO2

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

phytoplanktonseaweeds

FW algae

forest

www.chooseclimate/cleng/part2/html / Prof. I.K. Chung

SEAWEED BIOFUEL

MAKE SENSE

New paradigm and new era

bio-energy

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.

A seaweed farm in Palawanhttp://blogs.panda.org/coral_triangle/2009/05/26/aerials-slash-burn-seaweed-farming-and-pearl-farmers-after-office-hours/

1. Increase cultivation of seaweeds

FOR CARRAGEENAN PRODUCTION

FARMING

HARVESTING

PROCESSING

FINAL PRODUCT

FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

- no more dependence on fossil fuel

http://www.ecoseed.org/en/general-green-news/green-politics/green-policies/asia-pacific/5458-Philippines-charges-into-renewable-energy-future

1. Increase cultivation of seaweeds

Approx. 75 companies in the world have so far made significant commitments and investments in the algae oil fields – Oilgae, 2010.

face cream

soap

Shampoo & conditioner

toothpaste

body lotion

Textile

Paint marbling

Pet food

2. Diversification of seaweed products – towards longer shelf life

Clarifying agent in beerGel coat in ham

Gelling agent

Soft candy

Seaweed soup

paper

fire extinguishing foam

New products from seaweeds

Source: Pegasus International

3. Promote seaweeds for IMTA use.

(Source: Thierry Chopin, 2006)

Eucheuma/Kappaphycus

- high biofiltration capacity, reducing ammonium by as much as 41-66% (Rodrigueza & Montano 2007)

Caulerpa- absorbs high amount of nutrients

Sargassum

- convertible to biofuels, organic fertilizer, and animal feed meal.

Ulva- 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)

4. Promoting brown seaweed bed establishments - provide marine habitat, raw materials and, above all, absorbs CO2

Brown seaweed extract as plant growth promoter

Sargassum – the tropical kelp

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 !!

Asian Network for Using Algae as Carbon Sink the Asia Pacific Phycological Association (APPA)

Thank you