View allAll Photos Tagged algae
"Algal and cyanobacterial blooms can grow in fresh water, salt water, and brackish water (a mixture of fresh and salt water) around the world, including in water people use for drinking or recreation. Harmful blooms tend to form in warm water with high levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus."
This was adjoining a farmyard where these chemical concentrates probably leaked from.
Guarlford, Malvern, Worcs
Over winter break my family and I visited one of the most amazing states in the country, Hawaii. As we toured around the island of O’ahu we came across a crater known as Hanauma Bay. The tour guide, “Cousin Paul”, explained to us that this beautiful place was covered in coral reefs, thus making it one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. With three million tourists visiting the bay per year and the use of dynamite in 1956 to clear portions of the reef for telephone poles, it is beginning to deteriorate. Due to suffering from much overuse and abuse, tourists looking to snorkel around the reef are given rules and regulations that they must follow in order to help preserve it. “Cousin Paul” told us that many tourists don’t follow the rules and pointed to snorkelers who were standing on the reef and trying to touch different organisms.
In the movie “Home” it is mentioned that, “corals are born from the marriage of algae and shells. Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor but they provide a habitat for thousands of species of fish, mollusks, and algae. The equilibrium of every ocean depends on it.” Coral reefs are also mentioned in chapter 12 of the textbook Essential Environment not only for showing biodiversity but also as a shoreline protector and a photosynthesis performer. It goes into detail about how important coral reefs are for the environment and how they are experiencing an alarming decline worldwide mainly through “coral bleaching”, partially due to ultraviolet radiation, and “ocean acidification”. Delicate reefs require lots of light and oxygen along with clear water, low nutrients, and a stable salt content. Unfortunately, due to all these needs, human activities such as deforestation, fishing, pollution, careless recreation and nutrient runoff.
With deforestation, rainwater runs off into the ocean carrying various natural elements and different kinds of toxins that adds to the sediment forming in the ocean. Fertilizer runs off into the water bringing more nutrients into the ocean. The fertilizer increases the growth of certain plants due to high levels of nitrogen. The plants that grow with the high levels of nitrogen cause a reduction of diversity. This can lead to algal blooms that can smother parts of coral reefs. Algae block the sunlight required for the coral to complete photosynthesis. This problem is occurring in the Caribbean, Florida Keys, Thailand, and Australia. The coral reefs of Hawaii have not seen this problem yet, but if they aren’t in human’s minds during particular activities the reefs will bare more destruction.
This evaporation pond was recently drained and refilled. I was there two weeks ago when the pumps were running. The water itself is pretty clear and you can see through it to the pond bottom. However, the surface is carrying a large bloom of algae.
The Coyote Hills are visble toward the east near the horizon.
Algae - Trentepohlia aurea v. polycarpa. This microscopic alga thrives on ocean salt spray and forms dense colonies on Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) along the Pacific coast. Despite its color, the species is actually a green alga. The chlorophyll pigment is masked by high levels of beta-carotene, the orange pigment found in carrots. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Moss Beach, San Mateo Co., Calif.
A family of swans that Mrs Odd Bod and I fed during a visit to a local park in Birmingham. We have been going back weekly to see the swans ever since we first noticed mother swan looking after eggs.
Mother swan is just below the babies in this scene but I decided to cut her out since I wanted the little uns to be the focus with the green background.
Did it work?
Summer Picture A Day Number : 23/92.
Algae in Silfra is not plentiful but gives a spash of color on the desolate rocks between the Teutonic plates.
The marine algae in the growth chamber, checked by Battelle research Daniel B. Anderson, has a high fatty acid content. These polyunsaturated fats can be used for cooking oils, drying oils for paint, and for medical applications as well.
Terms of Use: Our images are freely and publicly available for use with the credit line, "Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory"; Please use provided caption information for use in appropriate context.
O.k., maybe not "creating" oxygen, but certainly converting CO2 to oxygen for the benefit of animals everywhere...
On the bottom of a mud puddle.
Algae gripping to the rocks at Clachan Sands North Uist - taken on the 14th May 2010.
I've experimented in Photoshop by converting the image to monochrome whilst retaining the vivid green lustre of the algae for maximum effect. I'm sure it's an aquired taste but I actually quite like it :-P
Clachan Sands - or more specifically, Traigh Lingeigh beach, is found just below the Berneray causeway and consists of miles of sand. The area is framed by machair, has crystal clear waters and also has a great view of the mountains of Harris in the background.