ALGAE OVERVIEW
Cyanophyta Euglenophyta Pyrrophyta Chlorophyta Charophyta Xanophyta Bacillariophyta Phaeophyta Rhodophyta
Dinoflagellates Charophytes/ Golden-brown
Euglenoids Yellow-green
Common name Blue-green algae (“pastures of the Green algae Charales (stone/ algae (“Jewels of Brown algae Red algae
(“plantimals”) algae
sea”) brittleworts) the sea”)
Chlorophyll a & b, Chlorophyll a & b,
Chlorophyll a & c,
Phycocyanin, Chlorophyll a & b, β-carotene, carotene, Chlorophyll a & b, Chlorophyll a & d,
β-carotene, Chlorophyll a & c, β-carotene,
Pigments phycoerythrin, β-carotene, at least xanthophyll xanthophyll, carotene, carotenoids,
xanthophyll fucoxanthin
chlorophyll a one xanthophyll (peridin and pyrenoid usually xanthophylls phycoerythrin
(fucoxanthin)
dinoxanthin) present
Cyanophycean Chrysolaminarin, Floridean starch,
Food storage Paramylum, oils Starch, oils Starch Laminarin, mannitol, oils
starch leucosin oils
Inner: cellulose Cellulose, pectin,
Cellulosic, may be Cellulose or silica Cellulose, alginic
Cell wall No cell wall, Calcified, Outer: calcium, xylan
Peptidoglycan thecate or Cellulose, pectin (Diatoms), acid, sulfated
components pellicle cover cellulose phycocolloids + with a slimy outer
athecate sometimes none polysaccharides
algaenic acid later
Flagellated (tinsel: Flagellated Biflagellated
Flagellated (tinsel: Biflagellate →
one extended, one (whiplash) → bi- (unequal length)
Flagella Non-flagellated mastigonemes longer: tinsel Non-flagellated
in transverse or quadri- → longer: tinsel,
present) shorter: whiplash
groove) flagellated shorter: whiplash
Euthrophic 10% marine, 90% Freshwater, 98% marine, 2%
Habitat Freshwater Marine Freshwater Salt/freshwater
freshwater freshwater terrestrial freshwater
Cellular
Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
organization
Branching with
Unicellular, whorls (leaves)
Unicellular, Unicellular,
Unicellular, colonial, and anchored by Siphonous
Thalli Unicellular, never colonial, filamentous,
colonial, filamentous, rhizoids (vasicular and Filamentous
Organization united in colonies filamentous membranous,
filamentous membranous, (vegetative filamentous)
(simple/branched) foliaceous
siphons propagation) with
inter/nodes
Oogamy →
Asexual: cell div, Isogenerate (iso
antheridia
Unicellular: cell Asexual → cell zoospore (motile) Asexual: nuclear/ alt. of gen),
(surrounded by
Mode of division division aplanospore (non- cell div heterogenerate
Cell division shield cells) and
reproduction Filamentous: sexual reproduction motile) Sexual: (het. alt. of gen),
oogonia
fragmentation also present Sexual: iso-, auxospores cyclosporae (alt.
(surrounded by tub
aniso-, oogamy of 2N gen)
cells) on leaves
Produce algal
Economic
Nitrogen fixation Pollution indicatiors blooms that poison
importance
marine life
Gloeocapsa,
Oscillatoria, Diatoms (Order
Representative Ceratium,
Spirullina, Nostoc, Euglena, Phacus A LOT Chara Vaucheria centrales and
species Pyrodinium
Anabaena, pennales)
Rivularia
CHLOROPHYTA
(unicellular, colonial, filamentous, membranous, coenocytic, calcareous)
Chlorella Closterium Cosmarium Protococcus
Organization Unicellular
Lobed/plate-
Cup-like, may like
Chloroplast or may not chloroplast,
type have a may or may
pyrenoid not have
pyrenoid
Fresh/
Habitat
saltwater, soil
Spherical
Two semi-cells that are mirror
solitary cells
Shape Spherical images, connected by the
clumped in
isthmus
masses
Ulothrix Oedogonium Cladophora Spirogyra Hydrodictyon Pediastrum Scenedesmus Volvox
Filamenous, Filamenous,
Organization Filamentous Organization Colonial Colonial, coenobic (flat plates)
unbranched unbranched
Band- Helica/spiral Parietal (attached
Segmented,
shaped shaped/ Chloroplast type to wall), contains a
net-like Netted/
Chloroplast chloroplasts ribbon-like pyrenoid
chloroplasts reticulate
type with more chloroplasts
with chloroplasts
than one
pyrenoids
pyrenoid Pools, lakes, Pools and lakes, in
Habitat
streams plankton
Epiphyte -
attaches self
Salt/ Salt/ Known as
Habitat to other Thousands of cells
freshwater freshwater pond scum Colonies are Uninucleate with
algae/plants/ connected by
stones Shape polygonal with spine-like
protoplasmic
cylindrical shape processes
extensions
Holdfast - Filaments
basal cell surrounded
Shape
modified for by pectic Oogamy,
anchorage sheaths formation of formation of
Zoospores,
Zoospores, Reproduction Isogamy autocolonies, no daughter cells
Reproductio Zoospores, Zoospores, isogamy
diplobiontic zoospores from gonidia
n isogamy oogamy (zoospores)
life cycle
Ulva lacuca Enteromorpha Caulerpa (racemosa, Codium (fragile,
intensinalis lentillifera, serrulata, Boergesnia Valonia Acetabularia
azterobacter)
sertulatoides)
mermaid’s wine
Common name Sea lettuce Bitukang manok Sea bottle Sea balloon
goblet/parasol
Organization Membranous (foliaceous) Coenocytic (tubular) Calcareous
Salt/freshwater Saltwater Pest in oyster beds,
Tropical/subtropical
Habitat in oligotrophic (low
water
nutrient) water
Blade-like, lobed/ Long, stolon-like
undulate, looks like prostrate strands
Hollow, intestine-
Shape a lettuce, holdfast with erect fronds Like water balloons/grapes
like form tubes
present and downwards
rhizoids
Zoospores,
anisogametes,
Reproduction
diplobiontic life
cycle
XANTHOPHYTA EUGLENOZOA
Vaucheria Euglena Phacus
Common name Water felt
Single flagella used
Flagella Biflagellated
Filamentous/siphonous for gliding/swimming
Organization
Chloroplast type Pareital Not rigid, allows Rigid, prevent
Pellicle
euglenoid movement euglenoid movement
Habitat
Multinucleate branched tubes Shape Slipper-shaped Oval/spherical
Shape
Have eyespot for detection of light
Asexual: zoospores Sexual:
Reproduction May or may not
oogonia + antheridia
contain pyrenoids
Phaeophyta
Heterogenerata
Class Isogenerate Cyclosporae
e
Ectocarpus Dictyota Padina Laminaria Fucus Sargassum
Gulf/Sargasso
Common name Kelp Rock weed
weed
Diatoms (Bacillariophyta/brown algae)
On stones,
shells, or
Habitat Centrales Pennales
epiphytic on
larger algae
Holdfast Common name Centric diatoms Pennate diatoms
Flat,
present, stalked Highly branched
dichotomously
Branching with (stipe), blade with air-filled Circular/rounded/ Elongate/slipper-
Shape branched, short Shape
erect filaments for bladders for
stipe, round triangular like
photosynthesis free-floating
holdfast
and uptake
Symmetry Radially Bilaterally
Plastids with
Chloroplasts pyrenoid-like
bodies Raphe Absent Present
Diplohaplontic Sexual No
with reproduction gametophyte, 2 longitudinal
Chloroplasts Discord, many
isomorphic alt. with two no asexual bands
of gen generations reproduction
Movement Absent Present
Sporophyte
Sporeo: both produces
sporangia Gameto: small gametangia → In cytoplasm
gametes → In periphery of
Gameto: only Sporo: large Nucleus separating
plurilocular zygote → cytoplasm
vacuole
Life cycle sporophye
Plurilocular: Habitat Marine Freshwater
cuboidal cells
that develop into
2N zoospores,
warm temp
Unilocular:
one-celled,
stalked, cold
temp
Emulsifiers and industrial gums,
used on soda, glasss making, used
Economic
in toothpaste, ice cream,
importance
milkshakes, textiles, used to make
kombu and wakame
Rhodophyta
Class Bangiodeae Floridae Polysiphonia is hassle
- Unique:
Macroscopic Microscopic - 2 sporophyte phases, only 1 gametophyte
Unicellular, Filamentous,
- Sporophyte phase 1: carposporophyte → carposores
Thallus filamentous, Filamentous pseudoparenchmat - Sporophyte phase 2: tetrasporophyte → tetraspores
parenchmatous ous - Oogonium: carpogonium
- Male gametes: spermata → NON MOTILE
Growth Diffuse, intercalary Apical, intercalary Apical - Life cycle:
1 or more per cell, 1. Tetrasporophyte (2n) → tetrasporangia undergoes meiosis →
Chloroplast 1 per cell, stellate Many, discoid tetraspores (n)
ribbon-like
2. Tetraspores → male/female gametophytes (n)
Pit connections Absent Present Absent 3. Female gametophyte → eggs (n) with trichogyne
Pyrenoids Present Present Absent 4. Male gametophyte → spermantangia → nonmotile sperm (n)
5. Egg + sperm → zygote (2n)
Wall Mannans & xylans Cellulose Cellulose 6. Zygote → carposporophyte (2n) → carpospores (2n)
Nuclei Uninucleate Uni/multinucleate Uni/multinucleate
7. Carpospores undergo mitosis → tetrasporophyte (2n)
Isodimorphic/
Life cycle Hetero/haplodimorphic
diplohaplontic
Habitat Salt/freshwater Saltwater
RHODOPHYTA AGAIN
Class Bangiodae Florideae
Porphyra Liagora Actinotrichia Galaxaura Asparagopsis Gellidiella Polysiphonia
Habitat Saltwater Sublittorial zone
Layering Monostomatic
Light colored due to
external lime
Red thin leaves that
Shape & color deposit,
turn green
dichotomous
branching
Economic
Used to make nori
importance
