Mosses Vs Alage: How different are they?

Mosses and algae are two different type of plant. Each of this plant have their own special characteristics that make them different form others plant or angiosperm. Below is the differences between algae and mosses.

Algae: 
Algae is the most simplest type of eukaryotic plant. Like others plant, algae made their own food through photosynthesis process through chlorophyl as their main photosynthetic pigments.Alage can be found in most aquatic habitat, majority inhibits marine and freshwater environment.  Algae are differentiated into stem,root , and leaves. Moreover, algae does not have true vascular system. Algae can be differentiated to 2 type generally, which is microalgae and macroalgae. Microalgae are consist of free living microorganism which is known as phytoplankton, while macroalgae are consist or simple plant such as seaweed.  Algae can be divided into 4 main phylum under the kingdom protista according to their pigment. The phylum are:

• Chlorophyta ( green algae)
• Phaeophyta  (brown algae)
• Rhodophyta ( red algae)
• Bacillariophyta,  (diatoms)

Example of microalgae 

Mosses/ Bryophyta:

Same like algae, mosses are also the simple plant, but inhibit mostly in the land. Mosses can be found living on other substrate such as rock, tree, other living organism. Some of the mosses can also be found living in aquatic environment. Mosses need wet and moisture condition to live. Mosses can be divided into:

• Musci (mosses)
• Hepataciae (liverworts and hornworts)

Example of mosses

For more information on differences between algae and mosses specifically, you can visit this page.

Merambong Shoal,Johor in Danger

Merambong Shoal is inhibited island located in Gelang Patah,Johore. This island is dominated with mangrove swamp. The most valuable treasure that contain in this island are the seagrass bed. The seagrass bed in Merambong shoal is the largest seagrass bed in Malaysia. This seagrass bed support 8 species of seagrass, which is:

• Syringodium isoetifolium.
• Halodule pinifolia,
•  H. uninervis
• Cymodocea serrulata
• Thalassia hemprichii
• Halophila ovalis, 
• H. minor, 
• H. spinulosa

Besides the species of seagrass that inhibit this shoal, there are also seahorses and dugongs which made this shoal as their home, breeding area and grazing field. As we known, dugong's main diet is seagrass which is from Halophila sp. Besides dugongs and seahorses, this shoal are also the main nursery area for many high value commercial fish, shrimp and crab species.

Threats of Merambong Shoal:

Despite the richness of biodiversity inhibits Merambong Shoal, now this seagrass bed area is in danger. According to Tan Cheng Li from www.thestar.com.my,

 "Land reclamation for the 2,000ha mixed development Forest City project off Gelang Patah, Johor, has buried portions of the seagrass meadows of Merambong Shoal, which is home to threatened animals such as dugongs, turtles and seahorses. 

Construction work has stopped for now as no detailed environmental impact assessment was conducted."

Land reclamation happened in Merambong shoal.

The biggest threat in Merambong shoal is land reclamation for Forest City project. This project give negative impact to seagrass inhibits this shoal. This project resulted in the significant loss of seagrass species Halophila minor, Cymodocea rotundata and Syringodium isoetifolium. 

Below is the video from Rentakini channel on youtube  that show the threat that faced by Merambong shoal due to development project.

We must do something before our valuable treasure of Malaysia gone forever. Proactive action must be done to protect this seagrass bed. If we lose this seagrass bed due to development, not only we lose one shoal, BUT we will also lose other commercial species that valuable in economical aspect. In biological aspect, it may result in ecological imbalance,thus we may lose the richest marine biodiversity in Malaysia. This development project must be STOP!!

Harmful Algal Bloom

Harmful Algal Bloom: HAB

What are Harmful Algal Bloom?

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) is environmental problem caused by excessive growth of micro algae in water body. The overgrowth of the micro algae happen when there is excessive amount of nutrients in the water and with some other factor such as sunlight and static or slow moving movement of water.
The example of microalgae that cause HAB is cyanobacteria, dinoflagellate, and blue green algae. Some of the microalgae produce toxin in freshwater or marine water, while the non toxic micro algae also give damage in economic such as aquacuture industries or commercial fishing industries.

 What are the major factor contribute to this problem?

 Nutrients run off from agricultural activity

Domestic wastewater

Industrial waste

Three major factor that contribute to HAB is nutrients runs off that come from agriculture activity. In agriculture industries, there are a lot of uses of chemical fertilizer that rich in nutrients. Excessive uses of fertliser may caused nutrients run off where the nutrients entered the water body after rain or flood. Besides that, poor management of industrial waste and domestic waste are also the major factor that contributing in HAB. MOST of the waste are directly flow to the river without any treatment done. 

Other factors that trigger HAB are:

Sunlight

Static movement of water

Example of Harmful Algal Bloom:

Red tide

Lake Eutrophication

Effect of HAB:

Human health (direct exposure):

• Rashes
• Respiratory problems
• Stomach or liver illness
• Contamination of nitirite in drinking water

Environmental:

• Create hypoxia or dead zone in water
• Blocking sunlight 
• Cause mortality to other living organism such as fishes and crustaceans
• Water pollution

Economical:

• Negative impact on tourism industry
• Commercial fishing and shellfish losses
• Aquaculture industries losses
• Increased cost to treat water for domestic uses

Studies done on Harmful Algal Bloom:

1. Spring algal bloom and larval fish survival
2. The effect of harmful algal bloom oon aquatic organism
3. The red tide dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense: Effects on behaviour and growth of a tintinnid ciliate.