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Ecological approaches to disease management in open pond cultivation systems. Val H. Smith, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS Rob McBride, Sapphire Energy, Inc. Tim Crews, Land Institute, Salina, KS. Photos courtesy of R.O. Megard. Photos courtesy R.O. Megard. This is the vision:.
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Ecological approaches to disease management in open pond cultivation systems Val H. Smith, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS Rob McBride, Sapphire Energy, Inc. Tim Crews, Land Institute, Salina, KS Photos courtesy of R.O. Megard Photos courtesy R.O. Megard
This is the vision: Mass cultivation of microalgae for biofuels production kmle.co.kr Nutrients and light Silicate (SiO2) Phosphate (PO4-3) Nitrate (NO3-) Light Carbon dioxide (CO2) Modified from www.fish.washington.edu/classes/fish210/data/Lectures/Lecture%2013.ppt
And this is what the algal crops will be cultivated in: Closed photobioreactors Open pond systems http://brae.calpoly.edu/CEAE/biofuels.html http://www.sapphireenergy.com/locations/green-crude-farm.html
But the world is full of potentially devastating disease agents… (diatom) Chlorella Cyanobacteria Alan Wilson calanoid‑copepod‑NOAA.jpg calanoid‑copepod‑NOAA.jpg Chytrids and other pathogenic fungi Cyanophages Phycoviruses http://www.ccalmr.ogi.edu/files/images/aformosa.jpg; http://genome.jgi-psf.org/ChlNC64A_1/ChlorellaNC64A.jpg; http://aem.asm.org/content/71/2/629/F5.large.jpg;
…that can cause major crashes… Sapphire Energy
…and the pathogen load can increase in abundance and diversity over time Sapphire Energy Sapphire Energy
The control of infectious disease is a critically important area of research
The use of multi-species polycultures has important implications for crop stability Photos courtesy R.O. Megard
Increasing algal diversity decreases disease prevalence Disease prevalence (% of total algal cells) Diversity or abundance of diluting species Modified from Johnson and Thieltges 2010. J. Exper. Biol. 213: 961-970
Dilution effects of algal diversity on disease Highly susceptible single-species monoculture Specialist pathogen Pathogen dilutionby diverse, multi-species polyculture Specialist pathogen http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk
Biological control has been used since 324 AD! https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Finsects.tamu.edu%2Fstudents%2Fundergrad%2Fento401%2FLecture06-BioControlPrinciples.ppt&ei=xQXXU4uVFJKNyASCoILYBQ&usg=AFQjCNFwueoEDg_BurbMvekfuUXwB26wiw&sig2=sAWxZBIid8Y9lO8j6lmrWg&bvm=bv.71778758,d.aWw&cad=rja
Strong effects of microconsumers on chytrid infections of amphibians Woodhams et al. 2011. Frontiers in Zoology 8:8; Schmeller et al. 2014. Curr. Biol. 24: 176–180; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.11.032
Potential use of microconsumersto control chytridinfections of microalgae Chytrid zoospores Few or no microconsumers Abundant microconsumers high Prevalence of infected algal cells low Rotifers Ciliates www.aslo.org; wikipedia
Where do we go from here? • Explore the effects of algal diversity on disease prevalence and disease transmission • Explore new, non-chemical methods to control the growth of algal pathogens • Design optimal food web structure to minimize disease prevalence and disease transmission
Acknowledgements • Bob Honea, Director, KU TRI • KU Feedstock to Tailpipe team • U.S. DOE and NSF EPSCoR