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Algae in the Ecosystem

Algae has an important role in its ecosystem, but this role can either result in a positive or negative impact on the environment. The proper amount of algae can be beneficial and a lack thereof can even be harmful to the ecosystem. But when algae grows out of control, it can be devastating for the system.

Oxygen Production
- Without the oxygen produced by algae, the worldwide ecosystem would not be able to support as much life.
  
  Algae are small, microscopic plants that contain chlorophyll and are capable of photosynthesis. When there is too little oxygen in the water, it can result in the death of the plants and animals that live there. Algae has been estimated to produce between 70 and 80 percent of the planet's available oxygen. More than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is water, the breeding ground for algae. This means algae can be found in massive quantities across the planet, whether it is floating in the sea in small groups invisible to the naked eye or clustered together in colonies that resemble seaweed. As algae can also live in freshwater environments with some of the more than 7,000 species living on land, algae produces such large amounts of oxygen just by value of sheer numbers.
Food Source
- Countless marine organisms feed directly on algae.
  
  Algae is one of the most basic producers. It supplies the world with oxygen and is one of the major food sources for all marine life. The different types of algae are known as autotrophs, which take sunlight and nutrients and turn them into things usable by other species, such as oxygen. This also means they are one of the most basic sources of food for other, almost equally tiny organisms.
  
  Zooplankton are one of the primary consumers of algae. When there is an excess of algae -- a phenomenon which usually occurs in the spring and early summer months of areas that see drastic seasonal changes in climate -- the result is an increase in zooplankton. This zooplankton is then in turn a major food source for animals from small fish and crustaceans to whales.
Algae Blooms
- Complete coverings of algae can damage the ecosystem.
  
  Algae blooms occur when there is a sudden increase in the nutrient content of the water. Nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, are needed to sustain all plant life, but when there are higher amounts than necessary in the water, it is possible for the algae to begin to multiply out of control and what are usually normal, tiny organisms band together in the slime commonly seen covering the surface of still waters. This can occur naturally for brief periods of time, during which consumers are provided with extra food; this can be beneficial during spring months when the ecosystem is coming out of hibernation. When these blooms occur at other times of the year or for prolonged periods of time, brought on by human activities, such as the improper application of fertilizer to fields, the heavy covering of algae can prevent the sunlight from getting to underwater plants and begin to strangle the ecosystem.
Toxic Algae
- Otters that ingest toxic algae can quickly fall victim to the poison.
  
  Algae blooms can be doubly dangerous when the algae travels from one area to another. Algae blooms that develop in freshwater rivers can be transported to bay and coastline regions. This new algae can contain chemicals that is toxic to wildlife. This has been a developing problem on the California coast. California agricultural areas apply large amounts of fertilizers, which can run off into surrounding freshwater areas. When this water -- and the algae that is growing in it -- is washed to the ocean, it is introduced to the delicate ecosystem of the sea otters. The algae contains a toxin called microcystin, which is lethal to the otters that ingest the seafood that, in turn, survives on in the algae.

Nature