{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.algae","code":"thing-q37868","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q37868/","name":"algae","alternateNames":["benthic alga","microphyte","phytobiont","snow algae","harmful alga","Liadhag","ice algae","Goémon","calcareous alga","green algae","edible seaweed","Gamet"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.1","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.LIV"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"A diverse informal group of photosynthetic, mostly aquatic organisms ranging from single-celled microalgae and snow algae to large seaweeds, not forming a single evolutionary lineage; algae produce much of the world oxygen, form the base of aquatic food webs, and are used as food, feed, fertiliser and biofuel, while some form harmful blooms.","purpose":"Let an agent explain algae by group and role, address harmful algal blooms and safety, describe uses and cultivation, and support identification and education.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Photosynthetic","Mostly aquatic","Polyphyletic group","Ecologically fundamental"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"identify","name":"Identify","description":"Which algae.","layers":[{"id":"group","name":"Group","description":"Major groups.","findings":[{"id":"group-finding","name":"Group","description":"Major groups.","questions":[{"text":"Which group does this alga belong to, based on colour, form and habitat?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Is it actually a cyanobacterium?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"species","name":"Species","description":"Specific species.","findings":[{"id":"species-finding","name":"Species","description":"Specific species.","questions":[{"text":"What is this species, according to identification guides?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is it native or invasive here?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"safety","name":"Safety","description":"Blooms.","layers":[{"id":"bloom","name":"Bloom","description":"Harmful blooms.","findings":[{"id":"bloom-finding","name":"Bloom","description":"Harmful blooms.","questions":[{"text":"Is there a harmful algal bloom warning for this water body, according to authorities?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Should people and pets avoid contact now?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"exposure","name":"Exposure","description":"After contact.","findings":[{"id":"exposure-finding","name":"Exposure","description":"Exposure.","questions":[{"text":"Has a person or animal been exposed to a bloom and shown symptoms?","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"Which medical or veterinary help applies?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"ecology","name":"Ecology","description":"Roles.","layers":[{"id":"roles","name":"Roles","description":"Ecological roles.","findings":[{"id":"roles-finding","name":"Roles","description":"Ecological roles.","questions":[{"text":"What role do algae play in oxygen production and food webs?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"How do they respond to climate change and nutrient pollution?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"monitor","name":"Monitor","description":"Monitoring.","findings":[{"id":"monitor-finding","name":"Monitor","description":"Monitoring.","questions":[{"text":"How are algae used as water quality indicators?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"How can citizens report blooms?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"uses","name":"Uses","description":"Food and industry.","layers":[{"id":"food","name":"Food","description":"Edible algae.","findings":[{"id":"food-finding","name":"Food","description":"Edible algae.","questions":[{"text":"Which algae are eaten, and which safety and iodine considerations apply?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which regulations cover algal foods?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"industry","name":"Industry","description":"Cultivation.","findings":[{"id":"industry-finding","name":"Industry","description":"Cultivation.","questions":[{"text":"How are algae cultivated for biofuel, feed and chemicals?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"What are the prospects, according to research?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Identify algae from published keys and report blooms to the authorities.","Monitor water bodies for algal growth where authorized."],"mustNot":["Declare water or shellfish safe during or after an algal bloom.","Encourage swimming, drinking or letting animals drink where a harmful bloom is suspected.","Release cultured or non-native algae into open water.","Harvest protected or culturally significant seaweed without permission."],"requiresHuman":["Closing or reopening a beach, water supply or shellfish bed.","Any treatment applied to a water body."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Harmful blooms poison people, pets and livestock, and close fisheries.","Seaweed harvesting supports coastal livelihoods and can strip habitats."],"affectedParties":["People and animals using the water","Fishers and harvesters","Aquatic ecosystems"]},"owners":{"steward":"Nobody owns wild algae; water and environment authorities monitor and regulate them.","roles":[],"masterSystems":["Water quality monitoring records"]},"relations":[{"target":"Q131427","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q3322575","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"autotroph","type":"related","note":"category"},{"target":"shore","type":"related","note":"habitat"},{"target":"nitrogen fixation","type":"related","note":"cyanobacteria role"},{"target":"extinction","type":"related","note":"biodiversity context"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.algae","Wikidata: Q37868 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37868)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Organism length:  m - Measured by calibrated microscopy or direct measurement with the species, life stage and measured structure specified.","Dry mass:  g - Determined by weighing a defined sample after drying to constant mass under documented conditions.","Water content:  % of wet mass - Determined from the difference between wet and dry mass after documenting how surface water was removed."]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Photosynthetic aquatic organisms","Seaweeds and microalgae","Cyanobacteria are bacteria but are often called blue-green algae","Green, brown or red growths in water, from films and scums to seaweeds."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["identify major algal groups","explain ecological roles","advise on harmful bloom safety","describe uses and cultivation"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Harmful algal bloom toxins","Misidentifying cyanobacteria","Ecosystem damage from invasive algae"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["Bathing water quality directives","Food safety rules for seaweed and algal products","Novel food regulations"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Ecology, food, industry and environmental monitoring.","green algae","red algae","brown algae and kelps","diatoms and other microalgae","cyanobacteria (related, often grouped)"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q37868: algae","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37868","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Algae","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should each group be a separate entry?","How should bloom monitoring data be linked?","How should food rules be localised?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q37868/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q37868/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-11T15:46:30Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-07T10:10:30+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}