Khamis, F. K.Abubakar, L. U.Mutie, A. M.Kenya, E.U.2014-07-112014-07-11201213th KARI Biennial Scientific Conferencehttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/10368With the depletion of oil resources as well as the negative environmental impact associated with the use of fossil fuels, there is a renewed interest in seeking alternative energy sources. The present study was conducted to determine the microalgae biodiversity in Kenyan aquatic environment and their potential in bio-fuel production. Microalgae species were collected from 3 lakes in Kenya (Lake Turkana, Baringo and Magadi)and identified morphologically. The abundant species were cultured in BBM and BG-11 media to obtain pure clones and lipids (oil) extracted by the Bligh and Dyer method. The results showed that the blue-greenalgae (Cyanophytes) were widespread and dominated the algal community in all the 3 lakes. However, Lake Turkana exhibited the highest species biodiversity, followed by Lake Magadi, while Lake Baringo had the least. Screening for lipid/oil content identified high oil yielding algae species abundantly distributed naturally in the Kenyan aquatic environment. The peak lipid content ranged from 1.5 – 10.5% of algal biomass. Chlorellaspecies showed the highest yields (10.5%), followed by Euglenaacus (5.78), Nitzschia (3.68%), Ankistrodesmus falcatus(1.58%) and Scenedesmus acuminatus(1.575%). The lipid profiles revealed high concentrations of oleic acid which is a main constituent of biodiesel production. DNA barcode for the species with highest lipid content was developed using cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Phylogenetic analyses by MEGA 4 indicated that Nitzschiaspp and Chlorellaspp are different evolutionally, Scenedesmusspp and Chlorella spp both being of the same phyla show great similarity with a 71% score compared to the Nitzschiaspp which is a diatom. These species can therefore be potential candidates for biofuel production.enMicroalgaebiofuellake Baringolake Turkanalake MagadiArticle