This book introduces the reader to algal diversity as currently understood and then traces the photosynthetic structures and mechanisms that contribute so much to making the algae unique. Indeed the field is now so large that no one expert can hope to cover it all. The 19 articles are each written by experts in their area; ranging over all the essential aspects and making for a comprehensive coverage of the whole field. Important developments in molecular biology, especially transformation mutants in Chlamydomonas, are dealt with, as well as areas important to global climate change, carbon dioxide exchange, light harvesting, energy transduction, biotechnology and many others. The book is intended for use by graduate students and beginning researchers in the areas of molecular and cell biology, integrative biology, plant biology, biochemistry and biophysics, biotechnology, global ecology, and phycology.

Algae, including cyanobacteria, are in the spotlight today for a number of reasons; firstly it has become abundantly clear over recent years that algae have been neglected in terms of basic research and that knowledge gap is being rapidly closed with the establishment of some surprising discoveries, such as the presence of Near-Infra-Red-Absorbing cyanobacteria and a wealth of natural products; secondly molecular approaches have provided a wealth of approaches to genetically modify algae and produce value-added products; thirdly it has become clear just how important, marine phytoplankton is to global carbon capture and the production of food globally; and fourthly, it has also become clear that algae present unparalleled opportunities to generate biofuels in a sustainable and non-polluting way. This volume presents 15 chapters by world experts on their subjects, ranging from reviews of algal diversity and genetics to in-depth reviews of special algal groups such as diatoms (which account for over 30% of marine carbon capture). Other chapters chart the ways in which this carbon capture occurs or how there are a multiplicity of ways in which algae intercept sun light and deploy this energy for carbon capture. A fascinating aspect here is the way in which sun light is harvested. A special chapter is devoted to the very recent and exciting possibility that algae use coherent light energy transformation to enhance the efficiency of light capture, an aspect of quantum physics that has implications for future developments at several levels and a variety of industries. Just how and why algae use Chlorophyll a as the major light capture pigment is discussed in several chapters. However, attention is also given to those cyanobacteria, which have been found to use the special Near-Infra Red absorbing chlorophylls mentioned above. And attention is also given to those algae that employ phycobiliproteins to fill in the “green window”, i.e., the spectral region from 400 – 650 nm, which is not efficiently covered by chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments. Photoinhibition and photoprotection is the subject area of several chapters and one which it is essential to understand a we work towards greater efficiency of algal photosynthesis. A final chapter is devoted to understanding the molecular basis for coral bleaching, a much-neglected area that is essential in trying to come up with solutions to this very worrying phenomenon, caused by global warming and ocean acidification. This is a book for research scientists, environmentalists, planners in a range of areas including those of marine resources, nutrient control and pollution of water bodies and that growing body of concerned citizens interested in controlling carbon emissions and global warming. Special attention has been given to generating a set of articles that will be read by university students, informed laymen and all those whose wish to understand the rapid changes that have come about in our knowledge of algae over the past decade.

Algae, generally held as the principal primary producers of aquatic systems, inhabit all conceivable habitats. They have great ability to cope with a harsh environment, e.g. extremely high and low temperatures, suboptimal and supraoptimal light intensities, low availability of essential nutrients and other resources, and high concentrations of toxic chemicals, etc. A multitude of physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies enable them to survive and grow in stressful habitats. This book presents a critical account of various mechanisms of stress tolerance in algae, many of which may occur in microbes and plants as well.

The algae are a diverse group of organisms with forms that range in size from less than a micron in diameter to over ten meters in length. Small {laquo} 1 JLm diam) unicellular forms dominate the open waters of the oceans and large lakes. Large multicellular forms often form a large component of the autotrophic biomass of shallow waters at the periphery of lakes and oceans but have also been found on seamounts in clear open ocean waters at depths up to several hundred meters (Littler and Littler, 1985). Phytoplankton in the sea probably account for more than 50% of global photosynthesis, although there is considerable uncertainty about this estimate. In addition, many symbiotic associations between unicellu lar algae and heterotrophic or autotrophic organisms have been identi fied, and algae can be found in a diverse range of terrestrial environ ments, ranging from polar to desert regions. The most important common biochemical attribute that unites the algae is their ability to split water, producing molecular oxygen during photosynthesis and concomi tantly assimilating carbon dioxide. This attribute is shared with the terres trial plants, cyanobacteria and chloroxybacteria. Although vascular plants are excluded from this review, we employ a broad definition of algae that includes the photosynthetic, oxygenic procaryotes. Measurements of gas exchange are fundamental to most biochemical, physiological and ecological investigations of the algae.

This book covers the expression of photosynthesis related genes including regulation both at transcriptional and translational levels. It reviews biogenesis, turnover, and senescence of thylakoid pigment protein complexes and highlights some crucial regulatory steps in carbon metabolism.

The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes collectively known as ocean acidification. The long term consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean reviews the current state of knowledge, explores gaps in understanding, and identifies several key findings. Like climate change, ocean acidification is a growing global problem that will intensify with continued CO2 emissions and has the potential to change marine ecosystems and affect benefits to society. The federal government has taken positive initial steps by developing a national ocean acidification program, but more information is needed to fully understand and address the threat that ocean acidification may pose to marine ecosystems and the services they provide. In addition, a global observation network of chemical and biological sensors is needed to monitor changes in ocean conditions attributable to acidification.