Marta Pikosz

Biomass of freshwater Cladophora as a raw material for agriculture and the cosmetic industry

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine mineral content, amino acid and fatty acid composition of the freshwater macroalga – Cladophora glomerata. The studies were based on the content comparison in algal biomass collected from a lake and cultured in a laboratory. To determine the ability of copper cumulating by macroalgae, Cladophora was cultured in the medium supplemented with Cu ions. This study indicated that the relative abundance of metals in filaments decreased in the following order: Ca > K > Mg > Na > Fe > Cu > Zn > Pb > As > Ni > Cd > Mn > Cr > Co. Total protein content ranged from 14.45% in Cladophora from a lake to 26.55% in Cladophora from a laboratory. The main amino acids analyzed were aspartic and glutamic acid. The fatty acid content in the dry matter of the extract varied depending on the extraction method used: ethylene alcohol (19.0%), acetone (34.5%) or supercritical fluid extraction (62.5%). Freshwater C. glomerata due to the macrominerals, trace elements, amino and fatty acids composition in the extracts can be a valuable resource for nutritional and cosmetic applications. Graphical Abstract

Composition and seasonal changes in filamentous algae in floating mats

Abstract The occurrence of algal-cyanobacterial metaphyton mats in field (Konojad village) and artificial ponds (Poznań city) was investigated in the Wielkopolska region. The surface area of algal mats ranged between ca. 45% (natural pond) and 10% (artificial pond) of the total water surface, and the mats occurred from the water surface to the bottom; the algal diversity was similar in both types of ponds, i.e. about 10 taxa. The most frequently recorded and dominant taxa in small water bodies were: Spirogyra spp., Cladophora fracta in the artificial pond and Oedogonium spp., Cladophora rivularis in the natural pond. The dynamics of macroalgae demonstrated a pattern comprising different phases of taxa dominance. For example, April regarded as the first phase was characterized by a small amount of metaphyton, represented by Tribonema and Ulothrix taxa. In May, these species disappeared and were replaced by: Oedogonium spp. and Cladophora spp. which formed large aggregations in the field pond, and Spirogyra spp. which abundantly proliferated in the artificial pond. From June, however, Oedogonium and/or Cladophora significantly dominated in the mat structure and at the same time covered a large area of the water surface. The algal community was dominated by common algal taxa, among which single filaments of other taxa could also occur.

Characteristics of Cladophora and coexisting filamentous algae in relation to environmental factors in freshwater ecosystems in Poland

Abstract Potential factors affecting the occurrence of filamentous algae include the morphometry of water bodies, the type of substrate and physicochemical conditions of the habitat. This study attempts to describe the individual filamentous algae species recorded in Poland, taking into account the trophic and ecological characteristics based on our own research and available literature data. Filamentous algae attached to the substrate as well as those forming free-floating patches (loose or dense mats) and crusts occur in all types of water bodies. Among the representatives of filamentous algae species, Cladophora have the greatest time-spatial range for they grow abundantly in all types of water bodies. In other parts of Poland, Cladophora species are most common in rivers and shallow lakes. In the typical filamentous algae community, Cladophora, Spirogyra and Oedogonium occur with the highest frequency; Zygnema, Mougeotia, Microspora and Rhizoclonium are also present, but with smaller frequency. According to our studies, distribution of filamentous algae species is correlated with the eutrophic index (PO43 -, N-NO3 -, Chl a), chlorides of anthropogenic origin and TDS.

Ulva flexuosa subsp. pilifera (Chlorophyta, Ulvophyceae) from the Wielkopolska region (West Poland): a new observation on the ultrastructure of vegetative cells

Ulva flexuosa subsp. pilifera previously known from northern Poland, from the channel near Szczecin and ponds near Łódź, has recently been found in the Malta Reservoir in the Wielkopolska (West Poland) region. Specimens collected in the Wielkopolska region were examined in detail, also under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The morphometric analysis of Ulva thalli (both young and mature specimens) was performed in order to study the differences in the ultrastructure of vegetative cells. Rectangular cells in young thalli measured from 32.21–55.81 μm to 20.24–35.12 μm, and they formed clear longitudinal rows, while cells in the mature specimens ranged from 25.09–47.66 μm to 18.90–31.56 μm. This study indicates that vegetative cells of the mature thalli show tendency towards distortions of both the longitudinal and transverse cells arrangement. This distortion is determined by the development of possible carbonate calcium crystals on the thalli surface. The ultrastructural analysis (TEM) confirmed that the structure and placement of thylakoids is genus/species specific.

Effects of organic compounds on the macroalgae culture of Aegagropila linnaei

Abstract The effects of the impact of four organic compounds (ascorbic acid, biotin, glucose and sucrose) on ash, protein, fiber, fat and amino acid contents in the freshwater Aegagropila linnaei biomass were examined in 7 and 14 days of cultivations in high concentrations of tested compounds (100 mg L-1). The presence of examined organic compounds had a negligible effect on the development of algae and their biomass composition. There were no significant differences in the amino acids composition in the biomass in the presence of organic compounds compared to the test system. However, the increase in ash content was observed irrespective of the cultivation time in the case of all used organic compounds. Only slight differences in crude fat concentration were observed in the case of 7 days cultivation with ascorbic acid, biotin and sucrose, while the highest increase of ash content was observed after 14 days of supplementation with glucose. None of the compounds affected changes in amino acid content in the Aegagropila linnaei biomass. The results suggest that an environment enriched with the test organic compounds had only minimal, or at most short-term, effects on the algal biomass composition. Graphical Abstract

Spring phytoplankton and periphyton composition: case study from a thermally abnormal lakes in Western Poland.

Abstract Getting to know the response of different groups of aquatic organisms tested in altered thermal environments to environmental conditions makes it possible to understand processes of adaptation and limitation factors such as temperature and light. Field sites were located in three thermally abnormal lakes (cooling system of power plants), in eastern part of Wielkopolska region (western Poland): Pątnowskie, Wąsosko-Mikorzyńskie and Licheńskie. Water temperatures of these lakes do not fall below 10°C throughout the year, and the surface water temperature in spring is about 20˚C. In this study, we investigated the species structure of the spring phytoplankton community in a temperature gradient and analyzed diversity of periphyton collected from alien species (Vallisneria spiralis) and stones. 94 taxa belonging to 56 genera of algae (including phytoplankton and periphyton) were determined. The highest number of algae species were observed among Chlorophyta (49), Bacillariophyceae (34) and Cyanobacteria (6). In spite of important differences in temperature in the investigated lakes, taxonomic composition of phytoplankton was comparable. Thermophilic species: Glochidinium penardiforme and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii were found in the species structure (blooms were not observed). The obtained data also showed that the biotic surface of Vallisneria spiralis was a better substrate for Bacillariophyceae colonization than stones. The examination in the spring season of these thermally altered lakes, indicated the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton typical for eutrophic reservoirs (not heated). There was no replacement of any phytoplankton groups which are characteristic for spring conditions, even if there were changes in the competition dynamics.

Biology of Freshwater Macroalgae and Their Distribution

Cosmopolitan taxa of freshwater macroalgae occurring in inland waters in mass are described with respect to their biology. One of their components is autecology, which concerns the relations of individual organisms to the various factors of their environment. The factors influencing the fluctuations of macroalgal populations (e.g., Cladophora, Oedogonium) and the formations of their life strategies as primary producers can inform us about the possibility of their use in various branches of industry.