The
past, present and future of phycology in China
C.K. Tseng-2004
Hydrobiologia,
512(1-3): 11-20
Abstract:
Algae
have been part of Chinese life for thousands of years. They are widely used
as food and have been cited in Chinese literature as early as 2500 years
ago. However, formal taxonomic studies on Chinese algae were initiated by
foreign scientists only about 200 years ago, and by Chinese phycologists
only about 90 years ago. This paper summarizes the history of modern
phycological studies on Chinese algae and provides an overview of the
achievements of phycological studies by Chinese scientists, especially on
algal taxonomy, morphology, genetics, ecology and environmental research,
physiology, biotechnology, algal culture, applied phycology and space
phycology, in the last century. Recent development in phycological research
focuses on algal floristic and molecular systematics, algal molecular
biotechnology, applied phycology including micro and macroalgal cultivation
and algal product development, and the roles of algae in environmental
pollution control. These areas will also be the main focuses of Chinese
phycological research in the foreseeable future.
(Institute
of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China, E-mail: cktseng@qd-public.sd.cninfo.net)