Floristic composition of Azorean littoral rock pools.

43rd European Marine Biology Symposium”. Ponta Delgada, Açores, 8-12 de Setembro de 2008

Phytobenthic communities of intertidal rock pools in the eastern islands of Azores and their relation to position on shore and pool morphology

This study aimed to characterize algal composition inside rock-pools from two islands of the Azores archipelago (São Miguel and Santa Maria) and relate it to shore height and pool morphology. Pools were categorized as upper, medium and lower intertidal according to the surrounding communities. Maximum depth and surface area were used to reflect morphology and qualitative sampling to evaluate algal species richness. PRIMER software assessed the similarity across islands, sites, shore heights and pool morphology. Eighty eight algal taxa were identified in pools from São Miguel and 52 from Santa Maria. Rhodophycean species dominated rock-pool flora on both islands. Differences were found across islands and sites. Higher species richness was observed at medium intertidal pools. Algae composition was not affected by shore height in pools from Santa Maria. São Miguel’s medium and lower pools were grouped separately from upper ones. Pool morphology did not influence significantly the algae composition

Scale-up for the production of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow in vertical photobioreactors

4th Congress of the International Society for Applied Phycology. Halifax, Canadá, 19-24 de Junho

Microalgae production for commercial purposes in the Azores

IBBA Strategic Planning - Workshop III, Plant Biotechnology Ponta Delgada, 25 Janeiro, 2011

Astaxanthin production from Haematococcus pluvialis using photobioreactors

8th European Workshop Biotechnology of Microalgae. Nuthetal, Alemanha, 7-10 de Junho

Scoping the potencial for outdoor microalgae production in the Azores

Microalgae cultivation has received much attention due to some desirable characteristics such as fast growth rates, high photosynthetic efficiencies and the production of valuable biochemicals. Mass cultivation of microalgae for commercial purposes is already a reality in some locations being an activity with approximately 45 years. The Azores archipelago, located in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal, features a temperate climate. To evaluate the feasibility of local outdoor microalgae production, certain fundamental factors must be analysed. In this study water, light, temperature, carbon sources, nutrients, international outlook and regional context were analyzed from the perspective of a local outdoor commercial microalgae production. A SWOT analysis was applied to the analysed factors to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The results nominate the Azores as a promising location to implement an outdoor production of valueadded products from microalgae.Oma – Observatório do Mar dos Açores ; MARE – Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente ; IMAR – Instituto do Mar ; DOP – Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas ; Universidade dos Açoresinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Culture collection of freshwater microalgae from the Azores archipelago: resource for taxonomic and phycoprospecting research

ABSTRACT: In recent years, much interest has been focused on the biotechnological potential of microalgae, mainly due to their rapid growth and the identification of several substances synthesized by these organisms. The isolation and in vitro cultivation of native microalgae species is very important for taxonomic and conservation studies and is the first step towards feasibility studies of local commercial productions. In this study 114 isolates of microalgae were obtained from samples collected in 23 locations of the island of Sao Miguel, Azores. From them, 60 species were identified comprising 39 Chlorophyta, 10 Ochrophyta, 6 Cyanophyta, 3 Charophyta, 1 Euglenozoa and 1 Cryptophyta. Eighteen of the species identified constitute new records for the Island of Sao Miguel.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Intensive Growth of Microalgae in the Azores: an Integrated Biotechnological Approach

Jornadas "Ciência nos Açores – que futuro? Tema Ciências Naturais e Ambiente", Ponta Delgada, 7-8 de Junho de 2013.As microalgas são os organismos fotossintéticos de maior produtividade. A sua grande diversidade metabólica e fisiológica torna-as na fonte sustentável de uma grande variedade de produtos com interesse comercial. Nos últimos anos, muito interesse tem sido focado no potencial biotecnológico das microalgas, principalmente devido à identificação de diversas substâncias sintetizadas por estes organismos. Várias espécies são cultivadas comercialmente em alguns países, sendo a biomassa produzida utilizada como fonte de produtos para aplicação na indústria de alimentos, farmacêutica, médica, nutracêutica, cosmética e aquacultura. Apesar do crescente interesse internacional na biotecnologia de microalgas, a investigação nesta área no Arquipélago dos Açores está ainda numa fase inicial. Mesmo assim, os resultados obtidos na produção de astaxantina a partir de Haematococcus pluvialis foram extremamente promissores e deverão levar ao desenvolvimento de um projeto de investimento ainda no corrente ano. Atualmente está em curso um estudo que visa identificar e isolar estirpes autóctones de microalgas e valorizar o respetivo potencial biotecnológico na produção de metabolitos de elevado interesse comercial, utilizando como forma de produção de biomassa o cultivo em fotobioreactores submetidos às condições edafoclimáticas dos Açores.ABSTRACT: Microalgae are the photosynthetic organisms of highest productivity. Their vast physiological and metabolic diversity has been the sustainable source of a variety of products with commercial interest. In recent years, much interest has been focused on the biotechnological potential of microalgae, mainly due to the identification of various substances synthesized by these organisms. In certain countries several species are grown commercially where biomass is produced and utilized as a source of products for application in the food, medical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries, and aquaculture. Research in this area in the Azores Archipelago is still in an initial phase. However, the results for the production of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis were promising and should lead to the development of an investment project in the current year. Currently a study is in progress which aims to identify and isolate native strains of microalgae and enhance the respective biotechnological potential for the production of metabolites of high commercial interest, using fotobioreactores for biomass production adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Azores.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia

Produção e acumulação de astaxantina em Haematococcus pluvialis

Apresentação do projeto FICOIL. Serviço de Desenvolvimento Agrário de São Miguel. Ponta Delgada, 24 de janeiro

Astaxanthin production using Photobioreactors, investigation and scale up and an integrated solution for eutrophic lakes

TRANSCREA, Convertir la investigación y el conocimiento en innovación, propiedad intelectual e industrial. Terceira, 16 e 17 Fevereiro, 2011