Seaweeds

Subject – Environment

Context – Goa’s pilot seaweed farm explores viability of these climate-smart algae

Concept –

“Seaweed” is the common name for countless species of marine plants and algae that grow in the ocean as well as in rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.
Some seaweeds are microscopic, such as the phytoplankton that live suspended in the water column and provide the base for most marine food chains.
- Some are enormous, like the giant kelp that grow in abundant “forests” and tower like underwater redwoods from their roots at the bottom of the sea.
- Most are medium-sized, come in colors of red, green, brown, and black, and randomly wash up on beaches and shorelines just about everywhere.
They are the primitive, marine non-flowering marine algae without root, stem and leaves, play a major role in marine ecosystems.
Seaweeds, found mostly in the intertidal region, in shallow and deep waters of the sea and also in estuaries and backwaters.
The southern Gulf of Mannar’s rocky intertidal and lower intertidal regions have rich populations of several seaweed species.
Seaweeds exhibit highest photosynthesis efficiency due to moist conditions.
They contribute to about 50% of all photosynthesis in the world.

Benefits of seaweed –

Applications of seaweed–

Seaweed in India –

Health risks

Rotting seaweed is a potent source of hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic gas, and has been implicated in some incidents of apparent hydrogen-sulphide poisoning. It can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The so-called “stinging seaweed” Microcoleuslyngbyaceus is a filamentous cyanobacteria which contains toxins including lyngbyatoxin-a and debromoaplysiatoxin.
Direct skin contact can cause seaweed dermatitis characterized by painful, burning lesions that last for days.