General Characteristics of Algae

General
Characteristics
of ALGAE
Algae are eukaryotic
organisms that have no roots,
stems, or leaves but do have
chlorophyll and other
pigments for carrying out
photosynthesis. Algae can be
multicellular or unicellular.
Algae is classified into six main divisions:
Chlorophyta: Green Algae, Rhodophyta:
Red algae, Phaeophyceae: Brown Algae,
Pyrrophyta:Dinoflagellates,
Euglenophyta: Euglenoids, and
Chrysophyta :golden-brown algae. Here
are the characteristics of each of these
types of algae.
Chlorophyta: Green Algae
Characteristics: Green colour
from chlorophyll a and b in the
same proportions as the
'higher' plants; beta-carotene
(a yellow pigment); and various
characteristic xanthophylls
(yellowish or brownish
pigments). Food reserves are
starch, some fats or oils like
higher plants. Green algae are
thought to have the
progenitors of the higher green
plants but there is currently
some debate on this point.
Green algae may be unicellular (one cell), multicellular (many cells),
colonial (living as a loose aggregation of cells) or coenocytic (composed
of one large cell without cross-walls; the cell may be uninucleate or
multinucleate). They have membrane-bound chloroplasts and nuclei.
Most green are aquatic and are found commonly in freshwater (mainly
charophytes) and marine habitats (mostly chlorophytes); some are
terrestrial, growing on soil, trees, or rocks (mostly trebouxiophytes).
Some are symbiotic with fungi giving lichens. Others are symbiotic with
animals, e.g. the freshwater coelentrate Hydra has a symbiotic species
of Chlorella as does Paramecium bursaria, a protozoan. A number of
freshwater green algae (charophytes, desmids and Spirogyra) are now
included in the Charophyta (charophytes), a phylum of predominantly
freshwater and terrestrial algae, which are more closely related to the
higher plants than the marine green algae belonging to the Chlorophyta
(known as chlorophytes). Other green algae from mostly terrestrial
habitats are included in the Trebouxiophyceae, a class of green algae
with some very unusual features.
Live in both fresh and salt water.
Many exist as long filaments, or strings.
Produce most of the oxygen we breath.
Some species pollute public water systems by
poisoning the water and producing a foul smell.
Rhodophyta: Red algae
Characteristics: The red colour of these
algae results from the pigments
phycoerythrin and phycocyanin; this
masks the other pigments, Chlorophyll
a (no Chlorophyll b), beta-carotene and
a number of unique xanthophylls. The
main reserves are typically floridean
starch, and floridoside; true starch like
that of higher plants and green algae is
absent. The walls are made of cellulose
and agars and carrageenans, both long-
chained polysaccharide in widespread
commercial use. There are some
unicellular representatives of diverse
origin; more complex thalli are built up
of filaments.
A very important group of red
algae is the coralline algae,
which secrete calcium
carbonate onto the surface of
their cells. Some of these
corallines are articulated
(right, Corallina, with flexible
erect branches; others are
crustose (below). These
corallines have been used in
bone-replacement therapies.
Coralline algae were used in
ancient times as vermifuges,
thus the binomial Corallina
officinalis.
Live only in salt water.
Color results from combination of blue, red, and green
pigments.
Used as food.
Produce carrageen, a thickener used in ice cream and
pudding.
Phaeophyceae: Brown Algae
The brown colour of these algae
results from the dominance of the
xanthophyll pigment fucoxanthin,
which masks the other pigments,
Chlorophyll a and c (there is no
Chlorophyll b), beta-carotene and
other xanthophylls. Food reserves
are typically complex
polysaccharides, sugars and higher
alcohols. The principal
carbohydrate reserve is laminaran,
and true starch is absent (compare
with the green algae). The walls are
made of cellulose and alginic acid, a
long-chained
heteropolysaccharide.
There are no known unicellular or colonial representatives;
the simplest plant form is a branched, filamentous thallus.
The kelps are the largest (up to 70 m long) and perhaps the
most complex brown algae, and they are the only algae
known to have internal tissue differentiation into conducting
tissue; there is, however, no true xylem tissue as found in the
'higher' plants.
Most brown algae have an alternation of haploid and diploid
generations. The haploid thalli form isogamous,
anisogamous or oogamous gametes and the diploid thalli
form zoospores, generally by meiosis. The haploid
(gametangial) and diploid (sporangial) thalli may be similar
(isomorphic) or different (heteromorphic) in appearance, or
the gametangial generation may be extremely reduced
(Fucales).
Color results from combination of green and brown
pigments.
Represent the largest species of algae.
Used as food.
Produce algin, a gummy substance used in making
cosmetics and ice cream.
Pyrrophyta:Dinoflagellates
Have two flagella: one
for locomotion and
one for steering.
Often appear red.
Some release toxins
into the water, causing
a "red tide" that often
kills large numbers of
fish and other marine
life.
What is a Dinoflagellate?
They are planktonic.
90% of all dinoflagellates are marine plankton.
They are small.

Although many of them are microscopic, the largest, Noctiluca, may be
as large as 2 mm in diameter!
They are motile.

Dinoflagellates swim by means of two flagella, movable protein strands
which propel the cell through the water. The longitudinal flagellum
extends out from the sulcal groove of the hypotheca (posterior part of
cell); when it whips back and forth it propels the cell forward. The
flattened flagellum lies in the cingulum, the groove that extends around
the equator of the cell. Its motion provides maneuvering and forward
movement. As a result of the action of the two flagella the cell spirals as
it moves.
Many are covered by cellulose plates.
The cell is surrounding by a series of membranes called the
amphiesma. In "armored" species cellulose deposited between the
membranes forms rigid plates called thecae. "Naked" cells lack thecae.
Their chromosomes are always condensed.

In addition, the DNA is not associated with histones as in other
eukaryotic cells. Dinoflagellates contain a lot of DNA, which explains
the large size of the nucleus. The metabolic requirements of
supporting the large amount of DNA may explain the low growth rates
of dinoflagellates compared to other unicellular protists.
Not all dinoflagellates are photosynthetic.

Many dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, manufacturing their own
food using the energy from sunlight, and providing a food source for
other organisms. The photosynthetic dinoflagellates are important
primary producers in coastal waters.
Have two flagella: one for locomotion and one for
steering.
Often appear red.
Some release toxins into the water, causing a "red tide"
that often kills large numbers of fish and other marine
life.
Euglenophyta: Euglenoids
The Euglenophyta or
euglenoids are 800
species of unicellular,
protozoan-like algae,
most of which occur in
fresh waters. The
euglenoids lack a true cell
wall, and are bounded by
a proteinaceous cell
covering known as a
pellicle.
Euglenophytes have one to three flagellae for
locomotion, and they store carbohydrate reserves as
paramylon. The primary photosynthetic pigments of
euglenophytes are chlorophylls a and b, while their
accessory pigments are carotenoids and xanthophylls.
Most euglenoids have chloroplasts, and are

photosynthetic. Some species, however, are
heterotrophic, and feed on organic material suspended
in the water. Even the photosynthetic species, however,
are capable of surviving for some time if kept in the dark,
as long as they are "fed" with suitable organic materials.
Chrysophyta: golden-brown algae
The Chrysophyta are the golden-
brown algae and diatoms,
which respectively account for
1,100 and 40,000-100,000 species
of unicellular algae. These algae
occur in both marine and fresh
waters, although most species
are marine. The cell walls of
golden-brown algae and diatoms
are made of cellulose and pectic
materials, a type of
hemicellulose.
In the diatoms especially, the cell wall is heavily
impregnated with silica and is therefore quite rigid
and resistant to decay. These algae store energy as a
carbohydrate called leucosin, and also in oil droplets.
The golden-brown algae achieve locomotion using one
to two flagellae. The photosynthetic pigments of these
algae are chlorophylls a and c, and the accessory
pigments are carotenoids and xanthophylls, including
a specialized pigment known as fucoxanthin.
Live in both fresh and salt water.
Have glassy cell walls, which form a two-part shell that
fits together like two halves of a Petri dish.
Form the base of the marine food chain.
Large deposits of diatomaceous earth found in many
places were formed from the remains of diatoms.
Used to make cleansers, pool filters, and toothpaste.

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General

They are small.

They are motile.

Their chromosomes are always condensed.

Not all dinoflagellates are photosynthetic.

Most euglenoids have chloroplasts, and are

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