SARDI Aquatic SciencesAlgal Production Group

The Algal Production Group’s research is focused on the

development of microalgal and macroalgal feedstocks,

technologies and production systems to underpin and

sustain the growth of algal biomass industries in Australia.

Practical and cost effective Algal Production Systems

(APS) are developed for use in aquaculture, food and feed,

nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, industrial applications,

remediation of nutrient enriched wastewaters, bioenergy

and for biofixation of carbon. The group has been engaged

in applied algal research since 2006 continuing to meet the

needs of industry and government agencies within the state,

nationally and internationally. Collaborations with national

international institutions continue to be forged, resulting

in cutting edge research and development of innovative

concepts, technologies and products.

The Algal Production Group also has an active interest

in environmental research pertaining to photosynthetic

organisms. There is currently an active research program on

nutrient physiology of temperate seagrasses, and a strong

focus in quantifying primary productivity of phytoplankton

and microphytobenthos using in situ techniques.

The Algal Production Group is committed to delivering to

its clients, concept design, laboratory testing, proof-of-

concept, pilot, pre-commercial and commercial scale trials.

This is achieved using in-house skills, collaborations and

specialised infrastructure. Engagement with the client

may involve consultancy, research collaboration or ‘fee for

service’ research. The group also manages and operates

fee for service analytical laboratory (see ‘Algae and Biofuels

Facility’ capability statement).

Microalgae R & D

To meet the longer-term and larger-scale feedstock

requirements, research commenced in 2006 to develop

microalgae-based feedstock production for biofuels and

other high value co-products. Australia has great potential

for expansion of algal production systems, as it has large

areas of marginal land not suitable for agriculture, large

volumes of saline groundwater and experiences high

solar energy. Microalgae can be cultivated in high rate

algal ponds such as raceways and photobioreactors. Both

technologies are being researched at SARDI for various

species and product streams. The Algal Production Group

at SARDI has also undertaken an extensive bioprospecting

program isolating over 50 native microalgal strains selected

for various attributes. These strains are currently being

maintained in controlled environment conditions at SARDI.

In recent years the research program is focusing on

production of microalgal biomass for nutritional and health

supplements, carotenoid pigments as well as industrial

applications such as surfactants and oleoresins. These

programs are funded by industry.

Macroalgae R & D

The Algal Production Group is also actively involved in

applied research into macroalgal production systems. In

2007 the research group developed a partnership with

carbon and nutrient constrained industry stakeholders to

develop efficient macroalgal nutrient scrubbing systems.

The solution was developed using native macroalgal species

with high growth rates, environmental tolerance and with

high uptake rates for nitrogen and phosphorus. The research

project was diversified in 2010 in partnership with eight

industry partners to design and optimise land based raceway

production systems to mass culture endemic macroalgal

species for food, nutraceuticals, bioactives, cosmeceuticals,

aquaculture feed and bioremediation of industrial effluents. A

novel outcome of this project was the development of a two

stage protein enrichment strategy in cultivated macroalgae

by media manipulation. This program is ongoing with a

refined focus on food and aquaculture feed.

Seagrass, microphytobenthos and phytoplankton

R&D

The Algal Production Group has quantified nutrient uptake

and developed nutrient budgets for seagrass meadows in

Gulf Saint Vincent (South Australia) and Port Phillip Bay

(Victoria). These studies involved diver deployed benthic

chambers within seagrass meadows using in situ 15N isotope

labelling / spiking to obtain ecologically relevant estimates

of seasonal variability in ammonium and nitrate uptake and

allocation of these nutrients into the leaves, roots, epiphytes

and phytoplankton in the system. The outcomes from

these studies enabled us to better understand ecosystem

processes, develop whole plant nutrient budgets, contribute

to the development of whole ecosystem nitrogen models

and assist managers with the formulation of environmental

improvement plans.

The research on microphytobenthos and phytoplankton

was undertaken in the Coorong and the mouth of the River

Murray, South Australia. The study involved the use of in

situ benthic chambers with oxygen dataloggers to quantify

productivity of microphytobenthic community along a salinity

gradient. Phytoplankton productivity was quantified using the 14C radiotracer technique. The results fed into an ecosystem

model that led to the development of a decision-support

framework for environmental flow management for the

Coorong, Lower Lakes and River Murray Mouth regions of

the Murray-Darling Basin.

The work on phytoplankton productivity was undertaken

as part of a 24 day voyage in the Southern Ocean

onboard RV Southern Surveyor investigating the role of

submarine canyons in upwelling, sediment transports

and productivity hotspots off the Bonney Coast and

Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Spatial variations in size

fractionated phytoplankton productivity in the upwelling

zones of the two submarine canyons were mapped. The

output from this study together with other parallel studies

undertaken during the voyage on benthic communities,

fish diversity and hydrodynamics, significantly contributed

to our understanding of the role of submarine canyons

in contributing to primary productivity in the two most

productive upwelling zones off southern Australia.

Current and past projects

2014-ongoing: ‘Cultivation of marine microalgae

Nannochloropsis salina (CS-190) and Nannochloropsis

oceanica (CS-702) in outdoor raceways’, funded by industry.

This project is currently ongoing.

2007-ongoing: National Collaborative Research

Infrastructure Strategy ‘National Photobioreactor Facility’

/ ‘Algae and Biofuels Facility’, funded by the Department

of Education (Australian Government), Department of

Innovation, Industry, Science & Research (Australian

Government) and Department of Further Education,

Employment, Science and Technology (South Australian

Government).

2011-15: Collaborative project with the Victorian Department

of Primary Industries and five partners on ‘Developing tools

for the management of nutrient and sediment interactions

with seagrass ecosystems in Port Phillip Bay’, funded by

the Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria

Government).

2012-14: ‘Consultancy for the development of an integrated

mariculture project in Tacloban Province of the Philippines’,

funded by the industry.

2013: ‘Production trials of the wild strain and mutants of

Chloroparva sp. in outdoor raceways for lutein synthesis’,

funded by industry.

2010-12: ‘Development of a sustainable South Australian

macroalgal aquaculture industry’, funded by the South

Australian Premier Science and Research Fund with co-

investment from eight industry partners.

2010-11: ‘Collaborative project with CH2M Hill on ‘Utilisation

of nutrients in wastewater at Melbourne water sewage

treatment plants for algae to energy production’, funded by

Melbourne Water Corporation.

2009-12: ‘A collaborative project on ‘A pilot scale second

generation biorefinery for sustainable microalgal biofuels

and value-added products’, funded by the Department of

Resources, Energy and Tourism.

2009-11: ‘Development of JP8 surrogates from microalgae’,

funded by the US Department of Defence under the Defence

Advanced Research Projects Administration program.

2009-10: Collaborative project on ‘The metabolic and

genetic optimisation of microalgae for biofuel production’,

funded by the South Australian Department of Further

Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

2007-11: Collaborative project on ‘Large-scale microalgal

biodiesel feedstock and value added biochemical products

for a sustainable South Australian biofuels industry’, funded

by the South Australian Premier Science and Research Fund

with industry co-investment.

2008: ‘The role of submarine canyons in upwelling, sediment

transports and productivity hotspots off the Bonney Coast

and Kangaroo Island, South Australia’, funded by the Marine

National Facility RV Southern Surveyor.

2007-08: ‘Evaluation, development and optimisation of

photobioreactor systems for biodiesel production from

microalgal feedstocks’, funded by AusIndustry and Australian

Renewable Fuels Ltd.

2007: A collaborative project on a ‘Pre-feasibility study of

the use of a macroalgal phytoremediation system for the

treatment of Penrice effluent water’, funded by Penrice Soda

Products Ltd.

2006-09: ‘Sustainable production of biodiesel from

microalgae utilising saline waters from the salt interception

schemes and saline aquifers in the Lower Murray’, funded

by the Center for Natural Resource Management and the

South Australian Department of Water, Land & Biodiversity

Conservation.

2006-08: ‘Microphytobenthic and phytoplankton productivity

along a salinity gradient in the Coorong and Murray Mouth’,

funded by the CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fund: Water for

a Healthy Country Flagship.

2004-06: ‘Nutrient fluxes in the meadow forming seagrasses

Posidonia and Amphibolis from the Adelaide metropolitan

coast’, funded by the Adelaide Coastal Water Study.

Relevant publications (Authors in bold are present or part

members of the Algal Production Group)

Microalgal publications

1. Challagulla, V., Fabbro, L. and Nayar, S. 2015. Biomass,

lipid productivity and fatty acid composition of fresh

water microalga Rhopalosolen saccatus cultivated under

phosphorous limited conditions. Algal Research 8: 69-75.

2. Nayar, S., Bott, K. and Braley, M. 2013. Production

trials of the wild strain and the mutants of Chloroparva sp.

in outdoor raceways for lutein synthesis. South Australia

Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences),

Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2013/000552-1. SARDI

Research Report Series No. 733. 51 pp.

3. Zhang, W., Nayar, S., Franco, C., Clarke, S.R., Aitchison,

T., Trout, N., Tan, L.F., Su, P., Kupke, B., Bott, K., Braley, M,

Flink, B. and Tham, R. 2012. Developing a proof-of-concept

facility for microalgal biodiesel feedstock and value-added

products to pioneer a sustainable South Australian biofuels

industry. Final report prepared for the Department of Further

Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST),

Government of South Australia. 218 pp.

4. Baxter, K., Elsum, G., Poon, J., Austin, D., Mackie, J.,

Byers, B. and Nayar, S. 2011. Energy balance, utilisation

of nutrients, and uptake of metals for wastewater from

algae to energy production: An algal bioenergy technology

assessment. Proceedings of the Water Environment

Federation, Energy and Water 2011. p. 374-403.

5. Austin, D., Mackie, B., Byers, S. and Nayar, S. 2011.

Utilisation of nutrients and uptake of metals in wastewater

for algae to energy production: Algal Bioenergy Technology

Assessment; Final Report prepared for Melbourne Water

Corporation. CH2M Hill Australia Pty Ltd, Melbourne. 77 pp.

6. Zhang, W., Nayar, S., Franco, C., Clarke, S.R., Capelle,

E., Aitchison, T., Trout, N., Tan, L.F., Su, P., Kupke, B.,

Bott, K., Braley, M., Clarke, S., Thomas, R. and Tham, R.

2011. Developing a proof-of-concept facility for microalgal

biodiesel feedstock and value-added products to pioneer

a sustainable South Australian biofuels industry. Second

annual progress report prepared for the Department of

Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology

(DFEEST), Government of South Australia. 23 pp.

7. Zhang, W., Nayar, S., Franco, C., Clarke, S.R., Capelle,

E., Aitchison, T., Trout, N., Tan, L.F., Su, P., Kupke, B., Bott,

K., Braley, M., Clarke, S., Thomas, R., Rasmussen, P., and

Tham, R. 2010. Developing a proof-of-concept facility for

microalgal biodiesel feedstock and value-added products

to pioneer a sustainable South Australian biofuels industry.

Second annual progress report prepared for the Department

of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology

(DFEEST), Government of South Australia. 18 pp.

8. Nayar, S., Bays, J. and Austin, D. 2010. Utilisation of

nutrients for algal energy production: Data gap analysis

review. Technical Memorandum 1A prepared for Melbourne

Water. CH2M Hill, Melbourne. 8 pp.

9. Nayar, S., Bays, J. and Austin, D. 2010. Preliminary list

of endemic and non-endemic algal strains for bioenergy

applications. Technical Memorandum 1B prepared for

Melbourne Water. CH2M Hill, Melbourne. 33 pp.

10. Fernández, W., Bergvall-Kåreborn, B., Djordjevic, M.,

Lovegrove, K. and Nayar, S. 2009. Using design as a

boundary spanning object in climate change mitigation

projects. Australasian Journal of Information Systems 16:

51-69.

11. Bott, K. and Nayar, S. 2008. Biodiesel from microalgae.

Issues Magazine 84: 39-41.

12. Nayar, S. and Williams, K. 2007. Microalgal biodiesel

production initiatives in the USA, Europe, India and China:

A travel report. Microalgal Biofuels Group Technical Report

2 prepared for AusIndustry and Centre for Natural Resource

Management. South Australian Research and Development

Institute Research Report Series Number 233, Adelaide. 56

pp.

13. Nayar, S., Bott, K., O’Loughlin, E. and Williams, K.

2007. Production of biodiesel from microalgae: Historical

overview and challenges. Microalgal Biofuels Group

Technical Report 1 prepared for AusIndustry and Centre for

Natural Resource Management. South Australian Research

and Development Institute Research Report Series Number

203, Adelaide. 95 pp.

Macroalgal publications

1. Nayar, S. and Bott, K. 2014. Current status of global

cultivated seaweed production and markets. World

Aquaculture 45(2): 32-37.

2. Nayar, S. and Froese, F. 2013. Are biofuels from

seaweeds a viable proposition? – Bioeconomic modelling

of biogas production and co-generation in an Australian

context. Biofuels 4: 371-378.

3. Knott, J., Bott, K., Froese, F., Gurgel, C. and Nayar, S.

2012. Commercial potential of macroalgal culture: A review.

A report prepared for the Department of Further Education,

Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), Government

of South Australia. 60 pp.

4. Nayar, S., Clarke, S.C., Stone, D., Gurgel, C., Qin, J.G.,

Bott, K., Knott, J., Rodda, K. and Bansemer, M. 2012.

Development of a Sustainable South Australian Macroalgal

Aquaculture Industry. First annual progress report prepared

for the Department of Further Education, Employment,

Science and Technology (DFEEST), Government of South

Australia. 175 pp.

5. Cheshire, A. and Nayar, S. 2008. A pre-feasibility study

of the use of a macroalgal phytoremediation system for the

treatment of Penrice effluent water. Prefeasibility report

prepared for Penrice Soda Holdings Ltd, Adelaide. 26 pp.

Environmental research - seagrass and phytoplankton

publications

1. Nayar, S. and Bott, K. 2015. Uptake and translocation

of ammonium and nitrate by temperate seagrass Zostera

nigricaulis in Port Phillip Bay. South Australian Research and

Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI

Publication No. F2014/000665-1. SARDI Research Report

Series No. 819. 51 pp.

2. Patterson, J.S., Nayar, S., Mitchell, J.G. and Seuront,

L. 2013. Population-specific shifts in viral and microbial

abundance within a cryptic upwelling. Journal of Marine

Systems 113-114: 52-61.

3. Nayar, S., Collings, G., Pfennig, P. and Royal, M. 2012.

Managing nitrogen into seagrass meadows near a coastal

city: Flow-on from research to Environmental Improvement

Plans. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64: 932-940.

4. Currie, D., McClatchie, S., Middleton, J. and Nayar,

S. 2012. Biophysical factors affecting the distribution of

demersal fish around the head of a submarine canyon off the

Bonney Coast, South Australia. PlosOne 7: 1-16.

5. Patterson, J.S., Nayar, S., Mitchell, J.G. and Seuront,

L. 2012. A local upwelling controls viral and microbial

community structure within South Australian continental

shelf waters. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 96: 197-

208.

6. Nayar, S., Collings, G.J. Miller, D.J., Bryars, S. and

Cheshire, A.C. 2010. Uptake and resource allocation of

ammonium and nitrate in temperate seagrasses Posidonia

and Amphibolis. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 1502-1511.

7. Nayar, S., Collings, G.J. Miller, D.J., Bryars, S. and

Cheshire, A.C. 2009. Uptake and allocation of inorganic

carbon by temperate seagrasses Amphibolis and Posidonia.

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 373:

87-95.

8. Brookes, J.D., Lamontagne, S., Aldridge, K. T., Benger.

S., Bissett, A., Bucater, L., Cheshire, A.C., Cook, P.L.M.,

Deegan, B.M., Dittmann, S., Fairweather, P.G., Fernandes,

M.B., Ford, P.W., Geddes, M.C., Gillanders, B.M. , Grigg,

N.J., Haese, R.R., Krull, E., Langley, R.A., Lester, R.E., Loo,

M., Munro, A.R., Noell, C.J., Nayar, S., Paton, D.C., Revill,

A.T., Rogers, D.J., Rolston, A., Sharma. S.K., Short, D.A.,

Tanner, J.E., Webster, I.T., Wellman, N.R. and Ye, Q. 2009. An

Ecosystem Assessment Framework to Guide Management of

the Coorong. Final Report of the CLLAMMecology Research

Cluster. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy Country National

Research Flagship, Canberra. 47 pp.

9. Nayar, S. and Loo, M.G.K. 2009. Phytoplankton and

phytobenthic productivity along a salinity gradient in the

Coorong and Murray Mouth. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy

Country National Research Flagship and South Australian

Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

Publication No. F2009/000263-1, Adelaide. 19 pp.

10. Fox, D.R., Batley, G.E., Blackburn, D., Bone, Y., Bryars,

S., Cheshire, A., Collings, G., Ellis, D., Fairweather, P.,

Fallowfield, H., Harris, G., Henderson, B., Kaempf, J.,

Nayar, S., Pattiaratchi, C., Petrusevics, P., Townsend, M.,

Westphalen, G., Wilkinson, J. 2007. Adelaide Coastal Waters

Study –Final report Volume 1: Summary of study findings

Novermber 2007. Report prepared for the South Australian

Environmental Protection Authority. Commonwealth Scientific

and Industrial Research Organisation, Adelaide. 53 pp.

11. Nayar, S., Miller, D., Bryars, S. and Cheshire, A.C. 2006.

A simple, inexpensive and large volume pore water sampler

for sandy and muddy substrates. Estuarine, Coastal and

Shelf Science 66: 298-302.

12. Nayar, S., Collings, G., Miller, D. and Bryars, S. 2006.

Nutrient fluxes in the meadow forming seagrasses Posidonia

and Amphibolis from the Adelaide metropolitan coast.

ACWS Technical Report No. 13 prepared for the Adelaide

Coastal Waters Study Steering Committee. South Australian

Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)

Publication No. RD01/0208-18, Adelaide. 75 pp.

13. Collings, G., Bryars, S., Nayar, S., Miller, D., Lill, J. and

O’Loughlin, E. 2006. Elevated nutrient responses of the

meadow forming seagrasses Amphibolis and Posidonia,

from the Adelaide metropolitan coastline. ACWS Technical

Report No. 11 prepared for the Adelaide Coastal Waters

Study Steering Committee. South Australian Research and

Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences) Publication No.

RD01/0208-16, Adelaide. 118 pp.

14. Bryars, S., Collings, G., Nayar, S., Westphalen, G., Miller,

D., O’Loughlin, E., Fernandes, M., Mount, G., Tanner, J.,

Wear, R., Eglinton, Y. and Cheshire, A. 2006. Assessments

of the effects of inputs to the Adelaide coastal waters on

the meadow forming seagrasses Amphibolis and Posidonia.

Task EP1 Final technical Report. ACWS Technical Report No.

15 prepared for the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study Steering

Committee. South Australian Research and Development

Institute (Aquatic Sciences) Publication No. RD01/0208-19,

Adelaide. 48 pp.

Staff

When required, the Algal Production Group can draw on

additional research capabilities from SARDI staff from other

strategic research areas of Aquatic Sciences and other

divisions of SARDI. SARDI also has a strategic relationship

with a number of universities and companies which can

respectively be used to provide additional research capability

and commercialisation strategies.

Dr Sasi Nayar

Sub-program Leader, Algal Production Systems &

Facility Manager, Algae and Biofuels Facility

Dr Sasi Nayar leads the Algal Production Group and manages

the NCRIS Algae Biofuels Facility at the South Australian

Research and Development Institute – Aquatic Sciences

located at West Beach in Adelaide. He has a PhD in Marine

Ecology and Ecotoxicology from the National University of

Singapore (2003) and a Masters degree in Fisheries Science

from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

(1998). He has over 20 years’ experience in handling

ecological research projects in mangroves, coral reefs,

estuarine reefs, seagrass meadows, coastal and oceanic

waters in the tropics and temperate environment. He has

published 30 peer reviewed international journal papers,

16 of them on algal biology and ecology, 17 research

reports, 11 popular science articles and a book chapter.

As a principal investigator, he has been successful in

attracting greater than $30 million in grants from Federal

and State governments, and industry for 17 projects. He

has played a key role in securing $5 million from state

and federal governments to design and develop the NCRIS

Photobioreactor Facility (now called the Algae and Biofuels

Facility) at SARDI, a unique state-of-the-art national facility.

Dr Liu Ge

Aquatic Biochemist, Algae and Biofuels Facility

Dr Liu Ge brings to this program expertise in natural

products chemistry. He has considerable experience in

isolation and structure elucidation of bioactive chemical

constituents using sophisticated techniques such as gas

and liquid chromatography (GC, HPLC), mass spectrometry,

and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). His research at

the University of Adelaide led to the development of a dried

blood spot technique for determining the omega-3 fatty acid

status from capillary blood which has been patented. He has

also worked for large pharmaceutical companies developing

and optimising manufacturing processes for various

pharmaceutical products. Dr Liu Ge has published 4 papers

in international peer review journals.

Mr Kriston Bott

Senior Technical Officer (Algal Culture), Algal

Production Group

Mr Kriston Bott has a Bachelor of Applied Science with a

major in Aquaculture from James Cook University. During

his time with SARDI he has provided technical assistance

on numerous research projects including shellfish health,

bivalve genetics, abalone selective breeding and microalgal

production for biodiesel. Mr Bott is also involved with various

aspects of microalgae culture, both batch and continuous

production systems. He has managed the SARDI aquaculture

microalgae photobioreactor and marine microalgal culture

collection for over 3 years. He is a co-author on 8 journal

articles published in peer reviewed international journals.

Mr Bott brings to this group significant experience in

management of microalgal culture facilities and running the

physiological experiments under controlled conditions.

Ms Michelle Braley

Technical Officer (Algal Culture), Algal Production

Group &

Laboratory Manager, Algae and Biofuels Facility

Ms Michelle Braley has worked on temperate marine

ecosystems since 2005, gaining valuable skills and

experience in a variety of areas including Marine

Environment & Ecology, Fisheries & Inland Waters and

Catchment Ecology. She obtained a Bachelor of Science at

Flinders University and Honours in Marine Ecology at the

University of Adelaide. For the past two years, Ms Braley

has worked as a Research Services Officer in environmental

chemistry for the Marine Environment & Ecology Program.

In this role she focused on marine environmental chemistry,

providing support to numerous projects primarily in

the context of assessing environmental impacts (e.g.

Aquaculture, Spatial Footprint of Wastewater) and risk

assessment of exotic marine pests (e.g. Caulerpa). From

this she has developed skills in preparing and analysing

sediments, water and biological samples for organic content

and composition, nutrient levels and sediment particle

size distribution. She also has experience in providing field

based support to numerous projects, data entry/database

management and writing scientific literature.

Ms Sonja Hoare

Research Officer, Algae and Biofuels Facility

Ms Sonja Hoare has worked on temperate marine

ecosystems since 1998, gaining valuable skills and

experience in a variety of areas. She obtained a Bachelor

of Science in Environmental Science (Marine Biology)

at Flinders University. Since this time, she has been

undertaking research activities for various programs

within SARDI Aquatic Sciences. Much of this work has

been focused on the assessment and monitoring of South

Australia’s marine habitats and has been carried out in

estuarine and marine systems within South Australia’s

gulfs, coasts, bays and rivers. She is currently responsible

for managing the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory

undertaking analyses of algal pigments, dissolved inorganic

nutrients, sediment granulometry and total nitrogen-carbon-

sulphur in sediment, water and biological samples.

Contact:

Dr Sasi Nayar

Phytoplankton Biologist and

Sub-program Leader

Algal Production Group

SARDI Aquatic Sciences

PO Box 120, Henley Beach

SA 5022, Australia

Tel: +61 8 8207 5321

Fax: + 61 8 8207 5481

Mobile: 0428 542 101

Email: sasi.nayar@sa.gov.au

Web: www.pir.sa.gov.au