The growth of motile algae: from plankton blooms to biofuel production
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Plant Sciences
Abstract
Microscopic algae are fascinating unicellular microorganisms ubiquitous on Earth. They play vital roles in global ecology and biotechnology. Like plants microalgae are photosynthetic, fixing atmospheric carbon from carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. Microalgae thus participate in the global carbon cycle and play a critical role in climate regulation. The photosynthetic ability of microalgae, together with the capacity of some species to produce oily compounds, also means they can be used as an alternative to plants as a feedstock for biofuels, which are urgently required to reduce carbon emissions and limit climate change.
In spite of recent advances, much about the growth of algal populations remains to be discovered, which limits our ability to control their growth. Indeed, microalgal populations in the environment can grow explosively into blooms, which colour their environment: from the vivid greens of ponds to the spectacular blue-greens or reds of plankton blooms in the ocean (some so extensive that they are visible from space!). Many of these blooms are benign, providing a bounty for organisms that feed on microalgae (from fish larvae to whales). However, some microalgal species form `harmful algal blooms' (HAB), noxious because of the toxins they produce, or because their growth starves or suffocates other species. Each year HABs kill significant numbers of fish, but also marine animals and people, with substantial economic impact. A better understanding of algal growth could help predict and prevent HABs. It could also help the production of microalgal biofuels. Oily plants are currently used for biofuel production, e.g. rapeseed is a common feedstock to make biodiesel. Competition with food crops, however, makes plants problematic biofuel candidates. Microalgae, on the other hand, grow almost anywhere, faster than plants, using only sunlight and recycled industrial/agricultural waste nutrients, gases and water. However, no biofuel is currently manufactured industrially from microalgae due to high production costs.
Many microalgal species have evolved the ability to swim and bias their swimming to better navigate in water and source food. Symbiosis with bacteria also provides nutritional benefits, such as essential vitamins. Recent advances in physics of biased swimming microalgae and the biology of symbiotic nutrition have not yet applied to the study of growth of swimming microalgal populations. We propose to carry out the first systematic study of the growing populations of swimming microalgae to consider both the physics of swimming and the role of symbiotic bacteria. In particular, using a combination of mathematical modelling and experiments we aim to quantify the growth of biased swimming microalgal populations. The results of our investigation will allow a more complete understanding of algal growth, which will in turn provide possible solutions to control HABs and to improve the economics of microalgal biofuel production.
In spite of recent advances, much about the growth of algal populations remains to be discovered, which limits our ability to control their growth. Indeed, microalgal populations in the environment can grow explosively into blooms, which colour their environment: from the vivid greens of ponds to the spectacular blue-greens or reds of plankton blooms in the ocean (some so extensive that they are visible from space!). Many of these blooms are benign, providing a bounty for organisms that feed on microalgae (from fish larvae to whales). However, some microalgal species form `harmful algal blooms' (HAB), noxious because of the toxins they produce, or because their growth starves or suffocates other species. Each year HABs kill significant numbers of fish, but also marine animals and people, with substantial economic impact. A better understanding of algal growth could help predict and prevent HABs. It could also help the production of microalgal biofuels. Oily plants are currently used for biofuel production, e.g. rapeseed is a common feedstock to make biodiesel. Competition with food crops, however, makes plants problematic biofuel candidates. Microalgae, on the other hand, grow almost anywhere, faster than plants, using only sunlight and recycled industrial/agricultural waste nutrients, gases and water. However, no biofuel is currently manufactured industrially from microalgae due to high production costs.
Many microalgal species have evolved the ability to swim and bias their swimming to better navigate in water and source food. Symbiosis with bacteria also provides nutritional benefits, such as essential vitamins. Recent advances in physics of biased swimming microalgae and the biology of symbiotic nutrition have not yet applied to the study of growth of swimming microalgal populations. We propose to carry out the first systematic study of the growing populations of swimming microalgae to consider both the physics of swimming and the role of symbiotic bacteria. In particular, using a combination of mathematical modelling and experiments we aim to quantify the growth of biased swimming microalgal populations. The results of our investigation will allow a more complete understanding of algal growth, which will in turn provide possible solutions to control HABs and to improve the economics of microalgal biofuel production.
Planned Impact
Academic beneficiaries (direct)
The proposed work is strongly multidisciplinary and will benefit academics across different fields, particularly: applied mathematics, physics, algal biology, marine ecology, engineering, oceanography and climate science.
Algal nutrition and the collective dynamics of biased swimming microorganisms are topics of great current academic interest. Our study will provide the first quantitative analysis of the effects of biased swimming and the effect of vitamin acquisition from symbiotic bacteria on the growth of microalgal populations. Academic colleagues will benefit from the novel results we will discover and from the theoretical and experimental techniques we will develop. We will make our findings available by publication in peer-reviewed high-impact international journals, talks at conferences and meetings and scientific visits. Impact timescale: 1-2 years from start of research.
University-industry interface beneficiaries (direct)
Results from the proposed research will be of interest to engineers seeking to develop efficient bioreactors for biofuel production, including the Algal Bioenergy Consortium (ABC) at Cambridge. We will work closely with chemical engineering members of the ABC to see if some of our discoveries can be incorporated in innovative bioreactor designs. Dr Bees is also currently engaged in setting up a large international university-industry collaboration in Botswana to research the efficient culturing of algae in the field for beta-carotene and biofuels, and is also collaborating with engineers in South Africa. He will see if some of our findings can be applied by colleagues in Botswana. In addition, to communicate to the engineering community and accelerate the application of our results, we will publish some of our results in engineering journals in collaboration with our colleagues. Impact timescale: 3-4 years from start of research.
Commercial beneficiaries (indirect)
The proposed research will provide new results that will significantly contribute to current understanding of algal growth, improving in turn the understanding of plankton blooms, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), and biotechnological culture of microalgae for biofuels. The prediction of blooms and the development of microalgal biofuels are important practical challenges in urgent need of scientific solutions. It is important to find a way of controlling HABs, which every year cause millions of dollars of damage to the fishing industry worldwide and can cause the unnecessary death of marine mammals. Biofuels are needed with urgency given reserves of fossil fuels are dwindling and carbon emissions must be reduced to limit climate change. By taking an important step towards finding new ways of controlling blooms and developing microalgal biofuels, the proposed research could indirectly benefit the fishing and renewable energy industries. Impact timescale: 5-10 years from start of research.
Wider public beneficiaries (direct)
We will also be involved in outreach activities and events to communicate our research directly with the public. Prof Smith is very active in public engagement. Notably she has recently organised an exhibit `Meet the Algae: Diversity, Biology and Energy' as part of the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2010, and will be exhibiting again at the Big Bang! festival in London in 2011. During the follow-on grant Dr Croze will receive training in public communication of science and will help Prof Smith with her outreach activities. We will also endeavour to publish articles about our research in popular science magazines (New Scientist, Scientific American) and accessible accounts of our research on university outreach web pages. Impact timescale: 1-2 years from start of research.
The proposed work is strongly multidisciplinary and will benefit academics across different fields, particularly: applied mathematics, physics, algal biology, marine ecology, engineering, oceanography and climate science.
Algal nutrition and the collective dynamics of biased swimming microorganisms are topics of great current academic interest. Our study will provide the first quantitative analysis of the effects of biased swimming and the effect of vitamin acquisition from symbiotic bacteria on the growth of microalgal populations. Academic colleagues will benefit from the novel results we will discover and from the theoretical and experimental techniques we will develop. We will make our findings available by publication in peer-reviewed high-impact international journals, talks at conferences and meetings and scientific visits. Impact timescale: 1-2 years from start of research.
University-industry interface beneficiaries (direct)
Results from the proposed research will be of interest to engineers seeking to develop efficient bioreactors for biofuel production, including the Algal Bioenergy Consortium (ABC) at Cambridge. We will work closely with chemical engineering members of the ABC to see if some of our discoveries can be incorporated in innovative bioreactor designs. Dr Bees is also currently engaged in setting up a large international university-industry collaboration in Botswana to research the efficient culturing of algae in the field for beta-carotene and biofuels, and is also collaborating with engineers in South Africa. He will see if some of our findings can be applied by colleagues in Botswana. In addition, to communicate to the engineering community and accelerate the application of our results, we will publish some of our results in engineering journals in collaboration with our colleagues. Impact timescale: 3-4 years from start of research.
Commercial beneficiaries (indirect)
The proposed research will provide new results that will significantly contribute to current understanding of algal growth, improving in turn the understanding of plankton blooms, including harmful algal blooms (HABs), and biotechnological culture of microalgae for biofuels. The prediction of blooms and the development of microalgal biofuels are important practical challenges in urgent need of scientific solutions. It is important to find a way of controlling HABs, which every year cause millions of dollars of damage to the fishing industry worldwide and can cause the unnecessary death of marine mammals. Biofuels are needed with urgency given reserves of fossil fuels are dwindling and carbon emissions must be reduced to limit climate change. By taking an important step towards finding new ways of controlling blooms and developing microalgal biofuels, the proposed research could indirectly benefit the fishing and renewable energy industries. Impact timescale: 5-10 years from start of research.
Wider public beneficiaries (direct)
We will also be involved in outreach activities and events to communicate our research directly with the public. Prof Smith is very active in public engagement. Notably she has recently organised an exhibit `Meet the Algae: Diversity, Biology and Energy' as part of the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2010, and will be exhibiting again at the Big Bang! festival in London in 2011. During the follow-on grant Dr Croze will receive training in public communication of science and will help Prof Smith with her outreach activities. We will also endeavour to publish articles about our research in popular science magazines (New Scientist, Scientific American) and accessible accounts of our research on university outreach web pages. Impact timescale: 1-2 years from start of research.
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- University of Naples (Collaboration)
- Stockholm University (Collaboration)
- University of Padova (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Denmark (Collaboration)
- Pierre and Marie Curie University - Paris 6 (Collaboration)
Publications
Adesanya VO
(2014)
Kinetic modelling of growth and storage molecule production in microalgae under mixotrophic and autotrophic conditions.
in Bioresource technology
Bearon R
(2012)
Biased swimming cells do not disperse in pipes as tracers: A population model based on microscale behaviour
in Physics of Fluids
Bees M
(2014)
Mathematics for streamlined biofuel production from unicellular algae
in Biofuels
Brodie J
(2017)
Biotic interactions as drivers of algal origin and evolution.
in The New phytologist
Brodie J
(2017)
Biotic interactions as drivers of algal origin and evolution
Cooper MB
(2019)
Cross-exchange of B-vitamins underpins a mutualistic interaction between Ostreococcus tauri and Dinoroseobacter shibae.
in The ISME journal
Croze O
(2019)
Helical and oscillatory microswimmer motility statistics from differential dynamic microscopy
in New Journal of Physics
Croze O
(2013)
Dispersion of swimming algae in laminar and turbulent channel flows: consequences for photobioreactors
in Journal of The Royal Society Interface
Description | Dr Otti Croze, a physicist interested in biological questions, spent a year in Prof Smith's laboratory in the Plant Sciences Department. He was exposed both to the experimental approaches of algal biotechnology and molecular biology, and to the field of plant biology generally by interacting with other members of the Department, as well as the engineers and chemists with whom Prof Smith also collaborates. As a result, Dr Croze successfully applied for an independent Winton Fellowship in Sustainable Energy in the Dept of Physics, and continues to maintain his involvement and collaboration with Prof Smith and other colleagues in Cambridge and beyond. |
Exploitation Route | Interdisciplinary work requires commitment on both sides to learn each other's language and understand the motivation as much as the actual methods. Being embedded in another laboratory is an effective way to do that - not just for the mobility fellow but also for other members of the laboratory, who otherwise would remain unaware of the potential of such interactions. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Energy Environment |
Description | The mobility fellow who was employed on the grant, Dr Ottavio Croze, was able to establish his own interdisciplinary research programme and was awarded a Winton Fellowship in Sustainable Energy in the Department of Physics. During his fellowship in Prof Smith's group, Dr Croze carried out some preliminary research on the role of swimming in the culture of algae in photobioreactors and the role of spatial separation in the interaction between mutualistic algae and bacteria. This work laid the foundation for present work by his research group (now comprising two PhD students and several project students). The work is still in strong collaboration with Prof Smith, indeed one very able EPSRC funded PhD student works jointly between the Croze and Smith groups |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Energy |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Business Interaction Voucher |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | PHYCBIV-23 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Department | Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 10/2018 |
Description | Royal Society Research Grant |
Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 02/2017 |
Description | Winton Fund for the Physics of Sustainability |
Amount | £750,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Cavendish Laboratory |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2013 |
End | 07/2018 |
Description | Marie Curie ITN on Quantitative Ecosystems |
Organisation | Pierre and Marie Curie University - Paris 6 |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are a partner in a consortium aiming to apply for an ITN to link statistical physics approaches and ecological/biodiversity research in marine systems. Our interests are in algal community interactions, so we provide a biological perspective |
Collaborator Contribution | Several of the groups are physicists and can provide a quantitative approach to tackle the questions we are interested in |
Impact | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Ecology Physics Mathematics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Marie Curie ITN on Quantitative Ecosystems |
Organisation | Technical University of Denmark |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are a partner in a consortium aiming to apply for an ITN to link statistical physics approaches and ecological/biodiversity research in marine systems. Our interests are in algal community interactions, so we provide a biological perspective |
Collaborator Contribution | Several of the groups are physicists and can provide a quantitative approach to tackle the questions we are interested in |
Impact | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Ecology Physics Mathematics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Marie Curie ITN on Quantitative Ecosystems |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are a partner in a consortium aiming to apply for an ITN to link statistical physics approaches and ecological/biodiversity research in marine systems. Our interests are in algal community interactions, so we provide a biological perspective |
Collaborator Contribution | Several of the groups are physicists and can provide a quantitative approach to tackle the questions we are interested in |
Impact | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Ecology Physics Mathematics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Marie Curie ITN on Quantitative Ecosystems |
Organisation | University of Naples |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are a partner in a consortium aiming to apply for an ITN to link statistical physics approaches and ecological/biodiversity research in marine systems. Our interests are in algal community interactions, so we provide a biological perspective |
Collaborator Contribution | Several of the groups are physicists and can provide a quantitative approach to tackle the questions we are interested in |
Impact | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Ecology Physics Mathematics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Marie Curie ITN on Quantitative Ecosystems |
Organisation | University of Padova |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are a partner in a consortium aiming to apply for an ITN to link statistical physics approaches and ecological/biodiversity research in marine systems. Our interests are in algal community interactions, so we provide a biological perspective |
Collaborator Contribution | Several of the groups are physicists and can provide a quantitative approach to tackle the questions we are interested in |
Impact | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Ecology Physics Mathematics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | SIMS |
Organisation | Stockholm University |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We recently started a collaboration with researchers at the University of Stockholm and the Natural History Museum in Stockholm the metabolic exchanges between mutualistic microbes using Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS). |
Collaborator Contribution | Our partners are experts in applying SIMS to microbial systems |
Impact | Molecular level understanding of microbial mutualistic metabolic interactions |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | BBC Radio 4 Frontiers - What ever happened to biofuels? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was one of 4 invited participants in this programme, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and available as a podcast. I had many emails and contacts from the wider public, including at the Festival of Plants exhibit, generally indicating that this had increased people's awareness of the possibility to use solar energy with algae, not just for biofuels, but also for other 'green tech'. Their attitude to biofuels per se was also more positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b02ykygv |
Description | Festival of Plants, Botanical Garden, Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Exhibit at the Festival of Plants (was called Fascination of Plants in 2012) in Cambridge University Botanic Garden. It provided basic information about algae, showcased our scientific work, and then explained how we were using this in collaboration with companies to carry out remeidation of waste water. There were activities such as viewing microalgae with microscopes and observing algae phototaxis. Children could handcraft their own algae using pipe cleaners or take part in an interactive algae quiz to win prices. Several members of the public asked for additional information. Interest from several visitors about how to incorporate algal growth in their activities, eg anaerobic digestion or green energy generally |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015 |
URL | http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Event.aspx?p=27&ix=351&pid=2718&prcid=0&ppid=2718 |
Description | IntoBiology resource |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A final year undergraduate student in Plant Sciences produced a webpage describing work on algae in Plant Sciences and Biochemistry. The webpage is part of the programme established by IntoBiology, aimed at encouraging school children to consider studying plant biology. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://intobiology.org.uk/unlocking-the-potential-of-algae-how-the-green-stuff-in-your-pond-might-go... |
Description | Pint of Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk on the potential uses of algae for bioenergy production as part of the Pint of Science festival in Cambridge, where scientists engage with people having a drink in a local pub. This takes place in London, Cambridge, Bristol and other university towns each year. As result of my talk and questions afterwards, although most people were not aware initially what algae were, nor how they could be used to generate energy, their opinions became more positive and optimistic towards biofuels generally. Pint of Science was awarded "Points of Light" by the Prime Minister David Cameron in November 2015 and the founders were interviewed about it on London Live TV. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
URL | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pint_of_Science |
Description | Science on Saturday, part of SET week in Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We had a stand in the science tent outside Dept of Plant Sciences. We demonstrated what algae are, what we use for now and how they might be used in the future for energy production. There were activities such as viewing microalgae with microscopes, extracting different light-harvesting pigments, and observing algae phototaxis. Children could handcraft their own algae using pipe cleaners or take part in an interactive algae quiz to win prices. School asked for visit to talk to years 10-13. Established the material to mount a Royal Society Summer Science Exhibit |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2015,2016 |
Description | Science on Sunday |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An exhibit showcasing the biology, diversity and uses of algae, with hands on activities for children and adults. Taking advantage of a 3-D printed microscope it was possible to engage people in (a) microscopic world (b) characteristics of algae and (c) use of 3-D printing. Children often could relate the hands-on activities as related to their Science Week in school the previous week. Adults reported feeling more informed about subjects that they had heard of (eg aquatic food chains, bioenergy) but did not have good grasp of the details. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/NewsItem.aspx?p=27&ix=196 |
Description | Science on Sundays |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Short talk and Q&A on the nature of algae and how their characteristics could be used for sustainable energy, water remediation, or other green tech solutions. Held in the Cambridge Botanic Garden, the audience were interested in plants, and so this was an opportunity to provide information on what algae are, and how they might be used in novel ways. The audience fed back that they felt much better informed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/NewsItem.aspx?p=27&ix=196 |
Description | The Life Scientific on BBC Radio 4 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by Jim Al-Khalili about my scientific career and interest in algae and vitamins. The programme "The Life Scientific" was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and was also available on BBC iPlayer and as a podcast. As a result I have had numerous contacts about possible scientific and industrial collaborations, as well as enquiries from the general public about the various topics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08bzl8y |