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Algae (UK: / ˈ æ l ɡ iː / AL-ghee, US: / ˈ æ l dʒ iː / AL-jee; [3] sg.: alga / ˈ æ l ɡ ə / AL-gə) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotes, which include species from multiple distinct clades.
Phycology (from Ancient Greek φῦκος (phûkos) 'seaweed' and -λογία 'study of') is the scientific study of algae. Also known as algology, phycology is a branch of life science. Algae are important as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Most algae are eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms
Phaeocystis is an important algal genus found as part of the marine phytoplankton around the world. It has a polymorphic life cycle, ranging from free-living cells to large colonies. [196] It has the ability to form floating colonies, where hundreds of cells are embedded in a gel matrix, which can increase massively in size during blooms. [197]
Life history [1] The algae in the Protist kingdom can be placed into three different categories of macroalgae/seaweeds—phaeophyta, rhodophyta or chlorophyta. The microalgae in these marine environments can be categorized into four varieties—pyrrhophyta, chrysophyta, euglenophyta or cryptophyta.
The green algae are a large group of photosynthetic eukaryotes that include many microscopic organisms. Although some green algae are classified as protists, others such as charophyta are classified with embryophyte plants, which are the most familiar group of land plants. Algae can grow as single cells, or in long chains of cells.
A toxic algae bloom is injuring or killing scores of marine animals, from fish to sea lions and dolphins. Toxic algae in Southern California is injuring and killing marine life Skip to main content
Marine algae can be divided into six groups: green, red and brown algae, euglenophytes, dinoflagellates and diatoms. Dinoflagellates and diatoms are important components of marine algae and have their own sections below. Euglenophytes are a phylum of unicellular flagellates with only a few marine members. Not all algae are microscopic.
The algae poses a threat to both marine and human life. People should avoid swimming in water around the blooms because toxins that may be present could lead to a host of illnesses.