Methods in Molecular Biology (2020) 1980: 35–39
DOI 10.1007/7651_2017_99
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
Published online: 02 December 2017
Basic Methods for Isolating and Culturing Microalgae
Kristian Spilling
Abstract
In this chapter, I go through the very basic methods for isolating and setting up a microalgae culture.
Isolation can be done from local algal strains with a micropipette and microscope. Determining algal
growth is important and can be done by counting cells under a microscope or by determining the change
in dry weight (DW).
Keywords Cultivation, Growth rate, Microalgae
1 Introduction
Microalgae are found all around us and with great diversity. A single
drop of water may contain thousands of algal cells, and they can be
found free living in aquatic habitats (lakes, streams, and ocean) and
in symbiosis with other organisms (lichen, corals) or forming biofilms on moist surfaces (forming mats on the shoreline). Common
for all microalgae is that they convert CO 2 to organic carbon during
photosynthesis; in this process, they need light energy and inorganic nutrients, most notably nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in
addition to some trace elements like iron (Fe). With all the diversity,
several microalgae species offer possibilities to grow and harvest
valuable compounds like fatty acids (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids),
carbohydrates, and proteins or more complex secondary metabolites. For biofuel purposes, lipids in particular have attracted a lot of
attention [1].
Although there has been a lot of studies during the past decades, e.g., on algal lipid production [1, 2], most of the scientific
literature is concentrated on a handful of easily cultivated species,
and new approaches is needed [3]. In order to expand cultivation
efforts to taxa that have been less studied, there is a need for
isolating, culturing, and studying more species of microalga. In
this chapter I outline some of the very basic methods for doing
this: isolating new algal strains and following their growth.
35
DOI 10.1007/7651_2017_99
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
Published online: 02 December 2017
Basic Methods for Isolating and Culturing Microalgae
Kristian Spilling
Abstract
In this chapter, I go through the very basic methods for isolating and setting up a microalgae culture.
Isolation can be done from local algal strains with a micropipette and microscope. Determining algal
growth is important and can be done by counting cells under a microscope or by determining the change
in dry weight (DW).
Keywords Cultivation, Growth rate, Microalgae
1 Introduction
Microalgae are found all around us and with great diversity. A single
drop of water may contain thousands of algal cells, and they can be
found free living in aquatic habitats (lakes, streams, and ocean) and
in symbiosis with other organisms (lichen, corals) or forming biofilms on moist surfaces (forming mats on the shoreline). Common
for all microalgae is that they convert CO 2 to organic carbon during
photosynthesis; in this process, they need light energy and inorganic nutrients, most notably nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in
addition to some trace elements like iron (Fe). With all the diversity,
several microalgae species offer possibilities to grow and harvest
valuable compounds like fatty acids (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids),
carbohydrates, and proteins or more complex secondary metabolites. For biofuel purposes, lipids in particular have attracted a lot of
attention [1].
Although there has been a lot of studies during the past decades, e.g., on algal lipid production [1, 2], most of the scientific
literature is concentrated on a handful of easily cultivated species,
and new approaches is needed [3]. In order to expand cultivation
efforts to taxa that have been less studied, there is a need for
isolating, culturing, and studying more species of microalga. In
this chapter I outline some of the very basic methods for doing
this: isolating new algal strains and following their growth.
35