Algae

Algae

characteristics:

eukaryotic 

contain chloroplast and chlorophyll a = photosynthesis 

polyphyletic - no common ancestor 

unicellular, colonial, filamentous and multicellular 

can range from microscopic to macroscopic 

environments:

fresh and marine water

on rocks = endolithic algae

soils, plants, animals 

extremophiles 

symbiotic = found growing alongside other organisms 

major algae phyla:

- Green algae = chlorophyta 

photosynthesis for energy - autotrophs 

symmetrical flagella = swim in breast stroke manner

structurally diverse 

- Red algae = rhodophyta 

primary endosymbionts 

the pigment phycoethryn which gives them red colour - it absorbs light effectively 

used to…