Are Diverse Algal Communities more Efficient at Capturing the Light Spectrum? References Methods

Algae biofuel represent an attractive option to satisfy growing demand for economically viable renewable energy. Commercialization of algae biofuel faces the need to intensify production while minimizing losses to pests. One approach to increasing yields and reducing consumption is to co-culture multiple algal species. Diverse polycultures can be more efficient at producing biomass while resisting grazers. For instance, polycultures may be more productive than monoculture at capturing & utilizing a broader spectrum of light because they contain more photosynthetic pigments. We explored the effects of an algal community diversity on the pigment composition, absorbance spectrum and biomass prediction