Further Reading. Because they require the basic environmental conditions, this bacteria can be found in a variety of environments ranging from marine to terrestrial habitats. Algae are protists with plant-like characteristics, that are typically found in aquatic environments.Like plants, algae are eukaryotic organisms that contain chloroplasts and are capable of photosynthesis.Like animals, some algae possess flagella, centrioles, and are capable of feeding on organic material in their habitat. There are a couple more common and well-known groups of algae. Among Cyanophyceae, 8 genera including Gloeocapsa, Nostoc and Rivularia are reported. In the symbionts of Peltigera canina, P. polydactyla, and P. rufescens the globules always are single and have a diameter of 60–100 nm. Blue-green algae produce their own food by the process of photosynthesis, which uses light, oxygen and nutrients. Ø The classification of algae by Fritsch is primarily based of the pigmentation in algae. Characteristics of the phylum Phaeophyta: (1) They are composed of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells, with special type of excretory granules in vesicles. They are ubiquitous, and can be found everywhere. Photosynthetic pigments: They possesses chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and small amount of β-carotenoids. Key Areas Covered. Food reserves are starch, some fats or oils like higher plants. A pair of contractile vacuoles, along with single cup-shaped chloroplasts, are present at the base of these flagella. Ø Different groups of algae have different pigment composition. In the Nostoc phycobiont of Leptogium hildenbrandii, they are in groups of three to eight and their diameter is about 50 nm. Keshav Narayan Pai Msc I Department of Botany 2. What are the Main Characteristics of the Plant Kingdom Kingdom : Plantae of Plant Kingdom Division : Thallophyta (Algae) The plants in this divisions are commonly called algae. Nostoc is a filamentous cyanobacteria that forms heterocysts and is covered with a gelatinous sheath. Sexual reproduction is absent in Cyanophyceae. Lakes that are rich in nutrients allow a prolific and healthy growth of this algae. Many Blue-green algae show ‘false’ branching and special types of cells called ‘heterocyst’s’. Ø Pigments in algae belongs to three major categories: (1). Examples: Nostoc, Oscillatoria, Anahaena, Lyngbya, Plectonema. Chlorophyceae (green algae) Phaeophyceae (brown algae) Rhodophyceae (red algae). Characteristics. General characteristics of algae 1. Characteristics of Cyanobacteria. It was cyanobacteria in the Archaean and Proterozoic Eras (2.7 billion years ago) that were • The major groups of algae have been classified into Divisions (the equivalent taxon in the zoological code was the Phylum). Heterocyst of Nostoc Structure and Function Nostoc is a Colonial, filamentous algae seen as mucilaginous balls that belongs to the class cyanophyceae (Blue green algae) • Heterocysts are Large sized, colourless, spherical, thick walled cells present in the filaments of blue green algae like Nostoc Nostoc is multicellular but all the cell function individually. They are important ecologically and environmentally because they are responsible for the production of approximately 70% of the oxygen and organic … Pond scum, seaweed, and giant kelp are all examples of algae. They are Thallophytes which have chlorophyll as their primary photosynthetic pigment and lack a sterile covering of cells around the reproductive cells. Some types of Nostoc are edible, and are even considered delicacies in some regions; in China during holidays a black hairlike vegetative species, Nostoc flagelliforme or "fat choy", are consumed. Also referred to as blue-green algae and blue-green bacteria, cyanobacteria is a bacteria phylum that obtain their energy through a process known as photosynthesis. Volvox colonies were first Arkansas has a very diverse assemblage of algae. Chlorophyceae (Green algae) General characterstics of Chlorophyceae. Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) are an ancient group of photosynthetic microbes that occur in most inland waters and that can have major effects on the water quality and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. The food reserves contain sugar, higher alcohol and other complex forms of polysaccharides. The terms “Algae ” was coined by C. Linnaeus which means ‘sea weeds’. Examples: Chlorella, Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra, Ulva. Nostoc is common as terrestrial and subaerial cyanobacteria.It is widely distributed in alkaline soils, moist rocks, water ponds, streams, and lakes, etc. This organism is commonly harvested and eaten in some Asian countries. The genera included in Charophyta are very much different from the members of Chlorophyta morphologically and in some other characteristics. Charophyta The green algae included in this division was once classified in Chlorophyta as a class Charophyceae, but now raised to the status of division. What are Green Algae – Definition, Characteristics, Types 2. The division is characterized by the following : The division comprises of most primitive […] Ø Algae also shows great diversity in pigmentation. They include about 2000 species in 150 genera, with a wide range of shapes and sizes. Algal Examples. The algal component or phycobiont may belong to Cyanophyceae (blue green algae), Chlorophyceae (green algae), Xanthophyceae or Phaeophyceae. Cyanobacteria are important in the nitrogen cycle. The first group is the diatoms, which have a cell wall composed of silica. All of the phyla contain the chlorophyll a, and the important features of all the seven phyla are discussed in this article. 1. Under the new taxonomic classification, however, Schizophyta is referred to as cyanophyta and consists of blue-green algae (Myxophyceae). Phaeophyta Characteristics Phaeophyta are the most complex forms of algae. The majority of the research conducted on algae in the state is published in the Arkansas Academy of Science’s journal, but some is available in other journals and government publications. Blue Greens (Known as cyanobacteria) Includes species that fall under the division Cyanophyta, Kingdom Eubacteria. However, these algae can also cause problems for humans by growth on sport turf and buildings, and can lead to unpleasant odors in drinking water. It is these "fixed" forms of nitrogen which plants need for their growth, and must obtain from the soil. W.F. Chlorophyta: Green Algae. The formation of mucilaginous colonies and the complex life cycle are major traits common to all species in the Nostoc genus. Unlike green algae or Chlorophyta, they lack true starch. It is the largest class of algae; They are commonly known as green Algae. Their is no division of labor within multicellular..this is simply an example where many cells are living together like a colony. The main difference between green algae and cyanobacteria is that green algae contain chloroplasts whereas cyanobacteria do not contain chloroplasts in their cells. • The standard botanical classification system is used in the systematics of the algae: Phylum (Division) – phyta Class – phyceae Order – ales Family – aceae Genus Species 31 The cell walls are composed of cellulose and alginic acid (a complex polysaccharide). Unicellular algae occur most frequently in water, especially in plankton.Phytoplankton is the population of free‐floating microorganisms composed primarily of unicellular algae. Volvox, genus of some 20 species of freshwater green algae (division Chlorophyta) found worldwide. Below are characteristics that each Algal group will typically exhibit, however be advised that exceptions for some species do exist. Every single ovoid or spherical cell in volvox colonies possess two flagella. Firstly, it showed resemblance to the algae group, by which it then included in the class Myxomycetes. The algae are autotrophic protists that can be unicellular or multicellular. The volvox grows well in eutrophic water bodies. Algal component from Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae are most common phycobionts in lichens. The rate of cell division is more in warm water, which accounts for the reason why they are often seen in summer when the temperature of the water is more. Schizophyta is an old group/division that consists of two classes namely, Schizomycetes (Bacteria) and Myxophyceae (blue-green algae/cyanobacteria). Nostoc belongs to the group Cyanophyta of the kingdom Monera.It is blue-green algae. (2) They are mainly marine with a unicellular or multicellular body, only four or five species are freshwater living. These organisms are found in the supergroups Chromalveolata (dinoflagellates, diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae) and Archaeplastida (red algae and green algae). Nostoc colony forms a jelly-like mass. Algae live with fungi in lichens.. These organisms are usually finely dispersed throughout the water and may cause considerable turbidity if they attain high densities. In contrast to free-living blue-green algae, the lichenized forms have many osmiophilic globules scattered between the thylakoids. Ø Distribution pattern of pigments has great taxonomic significance in algae. The sugars produced by the bacteria helps them in growth and cell division. Cyanobacteria: characteristics and life history Cyanobacteria are a critical component of the Earh’s biosphere and are largely responsible for life as we know it. Volvox form spherical or oval hollow colonies that contain some 500 to 60,000 cells embedded in a gelatinous wall and that are often just visible with the naked eye. Green seaweeds.. Characteristics: Green colour from chlorophyll a and b in the same proportions as the 'higher' plants; beta-carotene (a yellow pigment); and various characteristic xanthophylls (yellowish or brownish pigments). In addition, algae may occur in moist soil or on the surface of moist rocks and wood. they are referred to as algae but are actually photosynthetic bacteria that appear like true algae. 1. The algae are classified into phyla based on their type of chlorophyll, the form of food-storage, the color of the algae and the cell wall composition. But, after further study on their structure and characteristics, it is then placed in the group of Bacteria under the class Schizomycetes or cyanobacteria. 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