POTENTIAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE OF MICROALGAE IN
FRESHWATER BODIES IN THE NORTH CENTRAL PART OF
VIETNAM
By
Le Thi Thuy Ha, Nguyen Dinh San and Vo Hanh
Address:
1/Dr. Le Thi Thuy Ha, Faculty of Biology, Vinh University, Vietnam.
Email: lethuyhadhvinh@gmail.com
2/ Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh San, Faculty of Biology, Vinh University,
Vietnam
3/ Prof. Dr. Vo Hanh, Faculty of Biology, Vinh University, Vietnam
Abstract
The species composition of microalgae in freshwater bodies in the north
central part of Vietnam (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang
Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces) have been being investigated frequently
and continuously for last two decades. On the basis of reviewing the
scientific papers published from 1983 to 2011, we have listed 651 species
and subspecies of microalgae distributing in ponds, lakes, reservoirs and
rivers in this region. Of these microalgae, we determined several species that
are potential for application in aquaculture, wastewater treatment and
biodiesel production.
Keyword : microalgae, freshwater, North Central part of Viet Nam.
INTRODUCTION
North Central Part of Vietnam ranges from South Tam Diep Mountains
(Thanh Hoa province) to North Hai Van Pass (Thua Thien – Hue province).
It is narrowest and harshest region in Vietnam but has many rivers,
reservoirs, lakes and ponds. Many studies have reported the species
composition of microalgae occurring in these water bodies [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8...]. In order to be easier to recognize the potential of biological resources
of microalgae distributing in the North Central Part of Vietnam, especially to
find out species which could be potentially applied in aquaculture, waste
water treatment and biodiesel production, we have reviewed all related
papers published from 1983 to 2011.
METHODS
- The list of microalgae species distributing in freshwater of North
Central Part of Vietnam was established on the basis of reviewing all related
articles published from 1983 to 2011.
- The distribution characteristics of microalgae species distributing in
freshwater of North Central Part of Vietnam was determined on the basis of
the environmental characteristics they were found.
- The potential of the listed species was assessed on the basis of their
application in aquaculture, waste water treatment and biodiesel production.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
1. Species Composition
From 1983 to 2011, 651 species and subspecies (419 species and 232
subspecies) of microalgae in 34 ponds, lakes and revervoirs, and in 16 rivers
in North Central Part of Viet Nam (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang
Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien - Hue provinces) were identified by many
authors. They were assigned to 6 phyla: Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta,
Chrysophyta, Cyanophyta (Cyanobacteria), Euglenophyta and Dinophyta.
Of those, green algae (Chlorophyta) are the most diverse (248 species /
subspecies), following by diatoma (Bacillariophyta) with 229 species /
subspecies. The least diverse phylum was golden algae (Chrysophyta) with
only 3 species (Table 1).
Table 1. Number of species and subspecies of microalgae in freshwater of
North Central Part of Vietnam.
TT
Phylum
Number of total
Total
Species
Subspecies
1
Cyanobacteria
63
10
73
2
Dinophyta
21
1
22
3
Chrysophyta
2
1
3
4
Bacillariophyta
144
85
229
5
Euglenophyta
43
33
76
6
Chlorophyta
146
102
248
419
232
651
Total:
2. Distribution characteristics of microalgae
The data showed that species composition and number of species could
be distinguished between in standing water (pond, lakes and reservoirs) and in
flowing water (rivers). Of 651 species/subspecies, there were only 117 ones
occurring in both types of habitat (Table 1). The table 1 also showed that the
dominant phylum in standing water was green algae (Chlorophyta) with 170
species and subspecies while the dominant phylum in flowing water was
diatom (Bacillariophyta) with 186 species and subspecies.
At the estuaries, the species compositions were the most diverse because
of the immigratio of marine species, which belonged to the genera
Coscinodiscus, Chaetoceros (Bacillariophyta), Ceratium, Dinophysis,
Prorocentrum, Gonyaulax (Dinophyta).
Table 2. The number of species / subspecies of algae in the water body types
North Central Part of Vietnam
Phylum
Total species
Number of species /
/ subspecies
subspecies
Pond,
River
Lake,
Reservoir
1
Diatoma (Bacillariophyta)
229
78
186
2
Green algae (Chlorophyta)
248
170
132
3
Golden algae (Chrysophyta)
3
2
1
4
Blue green algae (Cyanobacteria)
73
25
62
5
Euglena (Euglenophyta)
76
50
41
6
Dinoflagellata (Dinophyta)
22
2
21
651
327
443
Total:
Number of species / subspecies occurred in
117
both types of habitat
3. Biological Resource Assessment of microalgae
Above results indicated that freshwater algal flora in the North Central
Part of Vietnam is rather diverse and rich. Most of the 651 species and sub-
species are impotant food for zooplankton, molluscs, shrimp and fish.
Notably the species Skeletonema costatum occurring at the estuaries: Cua
Hoi (Ca river), Lach Quen (estuary of Do Ong river), Lach Van (estuary of
Bung river) and coastal waters Ky Anh district (Ha Tinh province) - this is
an indispensable food source for shrimp at larvae stage.
In addition, some species of algae also contain unsaturated fatty acids such
as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (ARA), acid
docosahexanoic (DHA), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid present in the
diatom species encountered many estuarine belong to genus Chaetoceros,
Skeletonema costatum.
Beside the nutritional value, in the freshwater of North Central Part of
Viet Nam, the presence of several species of algae as biological indicators
for contaminated flow: Oscillatoria limosa (blue green algae) manifest for
level the α, β - mesosaprobic; Phacus longicauda (euglena) manifest for
level the α, β - mesosaprobic, Chlorella vulgaris (green algae) manifest for
level α- mesosaprobic and other species of the genera Euglena, Scenedesmus
... Besides appeared some toxic algae such as the genera Microcystis and
Alexandrium .
Botryococcus braunii was found in several water bodies, which was reported
as a species applying in biodiesel production because it contains high lipids
and carbohydrates, which has - this is resource for biodiesel in the future.
CONCLUSION
1. The species composition of microalgae in freshwater bodies in the north
central part of Vietnam have been being investigated frequently and
continuously for last two decades. On the basis of reviewing the scientific
papers published from 1983 to 2011, we have listed 651 species and
subspecies of microalgae.
2. Compared to other lakes and reservoirs in the river of the north central
more diverse composition algae. Dominance in the structure and species
composition
between
different
rivers
is
dominated
by
diatoms
(Bacillariophyta), the second belong to green algae (Chlorophyta), while in
the ponds, lakes and reservoirs are vice versa.
3. Potential biodiversity in North Central microalgae is enormous, several
species can be applied in aquaculture, waste water treatment and pollution
produced biodiesel.
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