Partial identification and nutritional analysis of Kiribati algae

Abstract

A chemical analysis of the edible algae from the island of Beru in Kiribati revealed it contained relatively high concentrations of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. A fair amount of protein and other minerals such as Na⁺, K⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions are also present in it. The scientific identification revealed that the algae are made of a mixture of different species, which are not an entirely new species just discovered. In fact, the two major types of algae that were identified (Lyngbya perelegans and Chroococcus minutus) are known to exist in Hawaii, some areas in Europe and parts of South East Asia.