Types of Algae

Algae are classified into three groups namely Red algae, Green algae, and Brown algae. Now let us understand each of these clearly:

Chlorophyceae (Green Algae): Chlorophyceae is a type of algae that belongs to the green algae class. The majority of members of this class are either fresh or salt water. Chlorophyceae contains “chlorophylls a and b”. Some of them also contain beta carotene, making Chlorophyceae unique. The shape of chloroplasts differs between green algae. Chlamydomonas resembles a cup-shaped large chloroplast, whereas Spirogyra resembles a spiral-shaped chloroplast. Few Chlorophyceae, however, have a plate, griddle, or discoid shapes. Some green algae are unicellular in nature, while others are multicellular. The edges of Chlorophyceae contain cellulose and also store starch. Chlorophyceae are flexible and agile for all of these reasons.

Phaeophyceae (Brown Algae): Phaeophyceae is another type of algae that belongs to the brown algae class. The majority of Phaeophyceae are multicellular marine organisms. The brown algae thallus has a leaf-like photosynthetic part and a stalk-like structure that aids in attachment. Chlorophylls a and c, as well as xanthophylls, are found in brown algae. Fucoxanthin is also found in Phaeophyceae. Fucoxanthin is a golden brown pigment that contributes to their greenish brown appearance. Brown algae are regarded as the most important food source as well as a habitat.

Rhodophyceae (Red Algae): Rhodophyceae is another type of algae in the red algae family. Rhodophyceae are multicellular thalli that are mostly found in the sea. Rhodophyceae also contains a few unicellular forms. Floridian starch is the primary storage food of red algae. Cell walls of Rhodophyceae contain cellulose, and the best part is that they lack flagella. Rhodophyceae are thought to be the richest source of nutritional and pharmaceutical substances.

Major similarities between Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyceae:

• All the three belongs to the kingdom Protista.
• Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae, and Rhodophyceae contain “chlorophyll a“.
• All three are aquatic organisms and ecologically important.

Before delving into the Ecological Importance of Algae, let us first define Ecology, Types of Algae, and why it is so important. Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms, including humans, with their surroundings. In simple words, Ecology is the study of the relationship between living organisms and the environment. Ecology is extremely important for the world, and it plays a critical role in human well-being. It is the source that provides a clear relationship between humans and nature; thus, it helps us understand and study oxygen, food production, clean air, and the future environment.

Algae is a broad term that covers a wide range of plants. Alga is a generic term for sea wood. The word Alga is the singular form of the word Algae and is a Latin word. Many scientists believed that the word Algae had some connection with the Latin word Allergy, but this was met with strong opposition from other scientists because Algae has nothing to do with temperature, whereas Allergy is a type of human cold. Algae is extremely important in freshwater environments. Freshwater environments are those in which the level of salt in the water is very low, hence the name.

Algae can range from unicellular to multicellular organisms. Many studies have shown that algae lack the specialized tissues that are found in land plants. The absence of these cells could be an adaptive mechanism to the environment in which the plants will live. More than half of the world’s oxygen is produced by microscopic algae. Phytoplankton is single-celled algae that are responsible for primary production. Because Phytoplankton is eaten by small animals at the surface levels, they are the primary producers. The larger algae provide a habitat for fish and other aquatic animals.