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The life ocean is not limited by fishes and corals. There’s also an organism called Algae. For the ocean life, it’s important as a food source for some types of fish. Not only for them, algae is also commercially developed and turned into so many things. In a country like Indonesia, people use the Algae to make some kinds of dessert. And they are delicious. Not only giving benefit for the fishes in the sea, but another importance of algae is to be source of pretty high fiber to humans as well. Because the benefits it gives, people started to cultivate in order to get the economic value. This resulting in more and more people consume it, causing a high demand on the markets. With a lot of differences in algae types, there are also a lot of kinds of market.

As said above, there are some types of algae in the ocean. Basically the Algae included inside Thailophyta group. And this group has three different types that differed from their colors. Those are Chloropytha (Green Algae), Rhodophyta (Red Algae), and Phaeophyta (Chocolate Algae). However, in Indonesia, the green ones are dominating the sea. There are about five types of them there, such as :

1. Bornetella

The first one on the list is Bornetella. This type of Algae lives on a dead corals. This one also grows on the pieces of coral in coral reefs.  Bornetella has some kind of shape that resembles a tree, with some long roots dominated in thick green color and some yellowish green on some spots. Even though its surrounding corals are not alive, it can grow healthy under this condition.

Unlike the other types of Algae, Bornetella tends to live in broken corals. Even though Bornetella can grow to any other types of coral, it’s its natural behaviour to chose the corals that already broken or dead. They are the best places to be. The quiet condition makes Bornetella grows better. And in those quiet places, there will be more Bornetellas to come.

2. Caulerpa

It’s saddening seeing how climate change affect the color of sea water. Making it worse and toxic for basically everyone. Fortunately, there’s a type of Algae that could make it better, byt the name of Caulerpa. Caulerpa is one of many green algae types. It also has about fifteen different subtypes with five different varieties. In Indonesia, people usually refer this algae as anggur laut or sea grape. In the ocean,

This algae has the ability to cleanse the sea water from toxic. If Caulerpa grows neatly in a ecosystem, the level of toxic in affected area will be decreased overtime. It’s a bit ironic actually, since its body is actually poisonous. It’s lethal to any fishes out there. But, its predator, which is a sea snail, is actually the one that is not affected. The snail has the ability to nulify the poison, so consuming Caulerpa wouldn’t be a problem to it.

3. Ulva

The third one is Ulva. Ulva is included as one of many edible algae for many types of fish. It has a wide thallus with variety of color from green to yellow.It lives in the sea, and sometimes in lake as well. This kind of coral doesn’t live around corals. Instead, it sticks on surrounding woods or small stones.

Ulva is now considered to be one of many reseacrhed types of algae. It’s believed that Ulva has a condireably high electricity level. Wether it’s true or not, it’s still under the radar. If the answer is yes, this algae could be an alternative source of energy in the future.

4. Dyctyosphaera

Dyctyosphaera is one of the algae that helps marine biotas to survive for the bad effects of climate change on marine ecosystems in Indonesia. It grows on the corals, and always stays there. Within it’s life, it spreads nutritious contents not only for the corals, but also the smaller sea creatures live nearby. A lot of vitamins, protein, and some wonderful contents of anticancer, antioxidant, as well as antibacterial one can be found within the body of Dyctyosphaera..

Because of how useful it is, this algae is mainly used by pharmacy to create antibiotics. The nutririents from it is really beneficical for human body. In West Nusa Tenggara area of Indonesia, people even consume it direcyly as a side dish because of how healthy it is.

5. Codium

Last but, of course,  not the least is Codium. A bit different from everyone, Codium has more slimmy and smooth texture, even though its form is like a branch of a tree. Its color is mainly light green, but also vary to darker color. Based on researches, Codium has the antibacterial content that is useful to extend the life of foods or cosmetics. It’s also can be found in most watery areas in Indonesia, it’s a common one.