ALGAE
simple "aquatic plants"

characteristics

eucaryotic+chlorophyll and pigments

photoautotrophic

a. lack of vascular conducting system
b. simple reproductive structure, lack true leaves roots, flowers

cell walls of algae

cellulose fibrils but usually modified by addition of polysaccharide

strengthened with calcium carbonate

sometime chitin or silica or no cell wall

classification of algae

Subtopic

Subtopic

algal reproduction

asexual reproduction

fragmentation

spores

binary fission

sexual reproduction

algal ecology

seaweed

human food

secondary products

macroscopic form

primary producers of the ocean

habitat

a. aquatic habitat like fresh water
b. moist soils and artificial aquatic habitat
c. few in dry soils
d. acidic habitat

motility of algae

due to flagella only during sexual reproduction

a. single flagella- Euglena
b. 2 or 4 polar flagella- Chlorophyta
c. 2 flagella of different length and point of insertion- Dinoflagellates

distribution of algae

primarily aquatic

a. planktonic- suspended in aqueous environment
b. benthic- attached and living on the bottom of water
c. neustonic- at water-atmosphere interface

terrestrial

moist rocks, trees, soil

endosymbionts in protozoa, worms, corals, fungi (lichen)

classification based on

cell wall

flagella number and location

chlorophyll and pigments

morphology of cells

habitat

reproductive structures

life history patterns

taxonomy

chlorophyta (green)

rhodophyta (red)

phaephyta (brown)

chrysophyta (diatoms)

pyrrophyta (dinoflagellates)

euglenophyta