Applying ecological principles of crop cultivation in large-scale algal biomass production

Successful algal biomass cultivation at scale is a key limiting step for the production of algal biofuels and other high-value products, and crop protection against undesirable biomass losses will be a critically important component of commercialization efforts. If algal biomass production occurs in large, open, outdoor ponds, then it can be expected that invasions of these production facilities by multiple species of algae, invertebrate herbivores, and pathogens will only be a matter of time. This review identifies and discusses key aspects of community and ecosystem ecology that have direct relevance to the successful cultivation of algal biomass. We use experiences and examples from commercial agriculture to illustrate core ecological principles of crop cultivation that we believe can successfully be transferred to large-scale algal biomass production. We then discuss the degree to which herbivores and disease can significantly reduce potential yields, and the concepts of biological control. We also discuss the effects of crop species diversity and composition on algal biomass production, and explore the potential benefits of algal polycultures in large-scale algal biomass cultivation systems.