Transcript Got Limu? Uses for Algae in Hawaii…. and Beyond! Heather Spalding UH Manoa GK-12 Program Hui Malama Learning Center.

Got Limu?
Uses for Algae in Hawaii….
and Beyond!
Heather Spalding
UH Manoa GK-12 Program
Hui Malama Learning Center
What is algae, anyway?
• Is it pond scum? ……YES!
• Is it that slimy green stuff on the inside
of your tanks? ……YES!
• Is it seaweed? ……YES!
• Is it limu? ……YES!
• Is it ogo? ……YES!
• Is it nori? ……YES!
• Is it phytoplankton?……YES!
• Is it a plant?……NO!
Three main divisions of marine algae in
Kingdom Protista:
• Chlorophyta – green algae
• Rhodophyta – red algae
• Phaeophyta – brown algae
Range in size from tiny microscopic life
to giant ocean kelps over a hundred feet
long!
Psycho Phycos
• “phykos” = Greek for “alga”
• Phycology = study of algae
• Phycologist = someone who studies
algae
Every Phycologist’s Pet Peeve:
• “Alga” is singular
• “Algae” is plural
• “Algaes” do not exist!!!
Halimeda meadows form important habitat
Algae is used for many purposes
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Fertilizer
Food for humans and animals
Hawaiiian cultural practices
Extracted products:
– potash
– algin
– carrageenan
– agar
Most common algae used for food
worldwide
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Porphyra (nori)
Gracilaria (ogo)
Rhodymenia (dulse)
Chondrus crispus (Irish moss)
Porphyra (nori)
Nori: better than potato chips!
Also high in….
• Iodine
• Vitamin B12
• Riboflavin
• Calcium
• Fiber
Gracilaria (ogo)
poke!
Carrageenan
Kappaphycus/Eucheuma
(Rhodophyta)
Kappaphycus/Eucheuma
When good algae go bad
Agar
• Extracted from Rhodophyta
Algin/Alginate & Potash
• Extracted from Phaeophyta
Identify, then…IRON CHEF: Limu
1.
Identify each alga by Genus
species & Hawaiian name
Use a recipe or create your
own recipe using algae!
Ulva
(Limu palahalaha)
Sea lettuce
Enteromorpha
(Limu ‘ele ‘ele)
Totally tubular!
Codium
(Limu wawae’iole)
“Rat’s foot”
Common Algae (Limu) Eaten in Hawaii
Dictyopteris
(Limu lipoa)
Sargassum
(Limu kala)
Asparagopsis
(Limu kohu)
Ahnfeltiopsis
(Limu ‘aki ‘aki)
Gracilaria
(Limu manauea)
ogo
Limu NOT commonly eaten in Hawaii
Caulerpa
“Sea grapes”