The term algae are used for living creatures that like to live in moist environments.Algae, like land plants, feed themselves through the process of photosynthesis. There are approximately 72,000 different types of algae species found all over the planet.They may be found in a variety of water bodies, including seas, lakes, rivers, ponds, shallow marine waters, and others. You must have spotted them growing on rocks and wood during the wet seasons. They can also be blue, red, or brown in color. There may be single-celled algae and multi-celled algae. Some of them are colonial alga while some are singular alga. Most species of these plants evolved from algae during the Silurian period by developing internal fertilization.Although algae use photosynthesis to prepare their food, they are not plants. There are no leaves, stems, flowers, or seeds on them. They release oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. Some algae only have one cell. Some smaller algae species can only be seen under a microscope, while others, such as giant kelp, can be seen with the naked eye and are over 196.8 ft (60 m) long.Algae are eaten by various marine groups, including whales, sea slugs, octopuses, starfish, and various others. In some countries, it is also used as a human food source. The algae play significant roles in the food web and increase the earth’s oxygen levels by consuming carbon dioxide.After reading about the true algae and its evolved structures, also check facts about best algae eaters and are algae plants.Basic Characteristics Of AlgaeAlgae are organisms that grow in moist environments. They are generally green in appearance, although they can also be blue, brown, or red. They may perform photosynthesis, but they are not the same as land plants.They have a unique body form that lacks leaves and stems. They may be of microscopic forms of macroscopic forms (like the giant kelp). Some are simple algae while others are complex marine algae. Some of the basic characteristics of algae are as follows. Like algae cells are eukaryotic, which means that their nucleus is well defined. And photosynthesis is the process through which algae produce their food. There might be unicellular algae (only one cell) or multicellular algae (having more than one cell) and are usually found in aquatic environments and damp places. There are no stems, leaves, roots, flowers, or seeds on them.The thallus is the name for their body. Algae’s food is stored in the form of starch. Algae are most commonly found in or near moist places such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and oceans. Some algae may form symbiotic relationships with fungi such as lichens. Algae can reproduce in three ways: vegetative, sexual, and asexual. To move around, some algae use a thread-like structure called flagella.What causes algae blooms?Algal blooms are the rapid growth of algae in a water body such that the water appears to be the same color as the algae. The algal blooms are harmful to the marine life of that water body. The algal bloom forms a layer on the surface of the water body.No sunlight and oxygen can pass through this layer. Many fishes and plants die due to this. Water can also turn poisonous as they release toxic substances in water. You can remove the algae by using an algae net. There are various reasons why algal blooms occur. Like a lot of nutrients are found in factory waste, fertilizers, and soil. The nutrients like phosphate and nitrogen help the algae to grow fast. During the spring season, when the temperature is high or over 77 F (25 C), the blue-green algae grow rapidly. This is not possible during very high or very low temperatures of summer and winter respectively.Sunlight is also a major factor responsible for an algal bloom. Under light with high intensity, the algae may die but when the light is of medium intensity they can grow pretty quickly. The algal bloom usually occurs in still water bodies. This means they require less water flow and low winds to grow.Categories Of AlgaeJust like plants, algae are also divided into different categories. There are three major groups of algae-based on the color pigments they contain.They are- Chlorophyta (green algae), Phaeophyta (brown algae), and Rhodophyta (red algae). They have some similarities and some differences too. There are other classes of fungi too like golden-brown algae (Chrysophyceae), diatoms, and others. The three main categories of algal groups along with some of their basic characteristics are as follows.Chlorophyceae: they are commonly known as ‘green algae’. The green algae contain chlorophyll a and b. The chloroplast also consists of pyrenoids which store starch and proteins. The cell wall is made up of cellulose and pectose. Some examples of Chlorophyceae are - Volvox, Spirogyra, Chara, and many other organisms.Phaeophyceae: they are commonly known as ‘brown algae’. They contain chlorophyll a and c. Carotenoids and xanthophylls are also present. They store their food in the form of laminarin. Their cell wall is made up of cellulose which is covered by algin (a gelatinous substance). Some examples of brown algae are Fucus, Sargassum, Ectocarpus, and various other organisms.Rhodophyceae: they are known as ‘red algae’. They contain chlorophyll d along with r-phycoerythrin and carotenoid. They store their food in the form of Floridean starch. Its cell wall is made up of cellulose and agarose. Some examples of red algae are Gelidium, Poryphyra, Polysiphonia, and various others.Relationships Among Algal GroupsAlgae are a large group of living organisms that have a well-defined nucleus and prepare their food through photosynthesis. There are over 70,000 algae species in the world. Algae are majorly divided into three groups - Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyceae.Other groups of algae include golden-brown algae (Chrysophyceae) and diatoms. The classification is done on the basis of various factors. The algae are divided into three groups on the basis of various characteristics. Below are the algal relationships between these groups.Pigment: the pigments present in algae determine its color. Chlorophyceae has chlorophyll, which gives it a green color. The brown color of Phaeophyceae is due to the presence of a pigment called fucoxanthin. Pigment phycoerythrin gives the red color to Rhodophyceae.Algal cell walls: the cell wall is made up of different chemicals in different groups of algae. In Chlorophyceae, the cell wall is made up of cellulose and pectose. The cell wall of Phaeophyceae is made up of cellulose and covered by a gelatin-like substance known as algin. In Rhodophyceae, the cell wall is made up of cellulose, agarose, and agaropectin.Stored food: various organisms store their food in the form of a chemical compound. In Chlorophyceae, food is stored in the form of starch. In Phaeophyceae, it is stored in the form of laminarin or mannitol. In Rhodophyceae, food is stored in the form of floridian starch.Difference Between Algae And FungusFungi are usually eukaryotic microscopic organisms. You must have seen a mushroom. It is also a fungus. Fungi grow from the spores. Algae and fungi are living organisms. They are similar in various ways but also have some differences.Both of them are eukaryotic organisms. They both do not have stems, leaves, or flowers. Some algae also form a symbiotic relationship with fungi like lichens. There are some differences between algae and fungi. Like algae are usually found in water bodies or near damp places like rivers, oceans, lakes, ponds, and others. Whereas fungi are usually found on land and do not need a lot of water.Also algae prepare their food through the process of photosynthesis while fungi feed on dead and decaying plants and animals. Algae are green in color because they contain chlorophyll but fungi are not green since they do not have chlorophyll. The cell wall of algae is made up of cellulose while that of fungi is made up of chitin. All the algae only have one nucleus per cell but few fungi can have more than one nucleus in their cell.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for algae for kids then why not take a look at fish that eat algae, or how to get rid of algae in fish tank.
The term algae are used for living creatures that like to live in moist environments.
