The algae

Algae are a diverse group of aquatic organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis . Certain algae are familiar to most people; for instance, seaweeds pond scum or the algal blooms in lakes . However, there exists a vast and varied world of algae that are not only helpful to us, but are critical to our existence.

Algae represent a highly diverse consortium of ancient plants comprising different evolutionary lineages of mostly photoautotrophic organisms. The different groups of algae are of polyphyletic origin and epitomize the majority of existing divisions of plants. Algae are thallophytic; their vegetative body is not organized in roots and leafy stems like that of the kormophytes.

Some algae, the seaweeds, are macroscopic and may be confused with plants. Seaweeds can be red, brown, or green, depending on their photosynthetic pigments. Green algae, in particular, share some important similarities with land plants; however, there are also important distinctions. For example, seaweeds do not have true tissues or organs like plants do. Additionally, seaweeds do not have a waxy cuticle to prevent desiccation. Algae can also be confused with cyanobacteria, photosynthetic bacteria that bear a resemblance to algae; however, cyanobacteria are prokaryotes

Types of Algae

There are many types of algae. However, these are some of the more prominent types:

It is a large, informal grouping of algae having the primary photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a and b, along with auxiliary pigments such as xanthophylls and beta carotene.

Members are unicellular, multicellular, colonial and flagellates. Prominent examples of green algae include Spirogyra, Ulothrix, Volvox, etc.

2 — Brown algae (phaeophyceae)

• Sexual reproduction ranges from isogamous to oogamous. Motile gametes have two laterally attached flagella. Varied types of alternation of generation.
• For example, Laminaria, fucus, Dictyota

3 — Red algae ( Rhodophyceae)

The red algae form a distinct group characterized by having eukaryotic cells without flagella and centrioles, chloroplasts that lack external endoplasmic reticulum and contain unstacked (stroma) thylakoids, and use phycobiliproteins as accessory pigments, which give them their red color. Example:- porphyra, polysiphonia

Originally published at https://www.thebioquick.com.