Red,+Brown+&+Green+Algae

=Introduction and Characteristics =

= ﻿ ﻿ ﻿Algae is a major part of marine life. They are plantlike autotrophic protists that facilitate life for many marine organisms as well as for humans. There are about thirteen-thousand and more species out there, and they come in a variety of lengths and colors, ranging from Red, Brown, and Green. All forms of Algae have several structures which equip them for survival. One example, is their unique leaf-like fronds which allow them to intake nutrients and other foods. (A frond is basically a huge leaf divided into smaller parts.) Also, their holdfasts, which help the algae maintain balance while holding onto other objects. In addition, they have a large supply of spores which essentially helps them out during the reproduction process. =

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=﻿ ﻿Red, ﻿ Brown, and Green Algae Similarities = = ﻿ ﻿ ﻿Although these three algae types may seem very diverse, they have many characteristics in common. Among them all being plantlike protists they also have multicellular species, with the exception of Green algae also having unicellular species. They also have cell walls, tissues, and pigments which gives each plant their distinctive color. = = ﻿ =

= All About Algae = = ﻿Red algae, also known by its scientific name of phylum Rhodophyta, has a remarkable color of bright red. This is due to the accessory pigment called Phycobilin. This pigment is great at intaking blue light. This type of algae also contains chlorophyll a. Chlorophyll "a" is the most common and allows organisms to photosynthesize as well as contributes to the reddish color. Red algae does not have centrioles or flagella. It also forms parts of Coral Reefs. = = Brown algae, a.k.a phylum Phacophyta, has an appearance of brown and yellow. Fucoxanthin is the accessory pigment that gives it that color. Fucoxanthin allows it to perform photosynthesis as well. Brown algae contains Chlorophyll "a" and "c". Chlorophyll "c" also contributes to the brown-yellow color. It can grow to be extremely large, such as Giant Kelp which can be 60m in length. = = Green algae, or phylum Chlorophyta, has its respective color of green. Green algae has cellulose in cell walls, which attributes to their storage of food as starch. It also contains Chlorophyll "a", as well as "b" which also facilitates photosynthesis among intaking light waves. They are like those of land plants. Green algae, unlike red and brown algae, also has unicellular species which contain filaments. These filaments are cells which are basically stacked upon one another. =

=   = = ﻿﻿ ﻿ = = Location of Algae = = ﻿Each type of algae has their own location. They have their own ecological requirements that must be met in order for it to successfully thrive and reproduce. = = Red algae, for example thrives in cold water. There is a vast quantity of red algae growing in New Zealand's and Australia's Pacific Ocean. This type of algae also hangs out in coral reefs among other organisms. As much as 2500 to 6000 species live there. = =﻿ ﻿Brown algae ﻿ lives in less harsh waters than red algae. In these cooler waters, which are mostly located in East Asian waters, they live in large groups. Brown algae is the most largest and can therefore grow to huge lengths. = =﻿Green algae ﻿ grows in all parts of the Pacific Ocean as well, in big groups. =

= = =﻿Uses of Algae = =﻿﻿Red, Brown, and Green algae have many uses. They vary from very simple things to quite complex. First and foremost, they provide nourishment for both marine organisms as well as for humans. Algae contains much iron and Vitamin C, so they are quite essential. These three algaes are also great at providing shelter for marine animals' homes. In addition, they provide air because they go through photosynthesis as they are plants. Furthermore, they have become important in today's medical world. Brown algae,  in particular, is said to be a very beneficial component of weight loss. This algae is also used to help an individual's immune system. = =﻿Algae Life Cycle = =﻿Algae has two unique stages that it follows throughout its life cycle. This includes the haploid stage, and the diploid stage. The haploid stage has one set of chromosomes, while the diploid stage contains two sets of chromosomes. Algae alternates between these two stages, called Alternation of Generations. = =The haploid stage develops the gametes, both the female and male gametophytes. When they come in contact with one another they form a zygote cell. This occurs during the diploid stage. Finally, they form a multicellular organism which encounters Meiosis, then reproduction, allowing spores to develop where finally the alga becomes a sporophyte. = =Algae Reproduction =

=﻿ ﻿Algae reproduction can be placed into two categories; Asexual Reproduction and Sexual Reproduction. Asexual includes: Binary Fission, Fragmentation, and Budding. During Binary fission, DNA is replicated, divides in half, thus two daughter cells are born. During fragmentation, parts, or fragments of the parent cell, form cells. During Budding, the cells of an alga detach and form other cells. Spores, which are made during an alga's life cycle are also part of reproduction. They spread out and eventually grow to be algae. = = Sexual Reproduction, however, involves Conjugation. During this process, two algae species, which are alike, will exchange information that will go through the conjugation tube, and will thus form other cells. In another process, two alga will team up and one will become the receiver and the other the donor. The receiver alga will receive the donor's portion and will then seperate, making new cells in the process. =

= = =<span style="background-color: #008000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">﻿Algae Organelles = = <span style="background-color: #008000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> ﻿ ﻿ ﻿ ﻿ ﻿ ﻿Like other plants, Red, Brown, and Green algae also have organelles. These include a Golgi Apparatus, lysosomes, peroximes, endoplasmic reticulum, contractile or noncontractile vacuoles, mitochondrion, and chloroplasts. =

=<span style="background-color: #008000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">﻿ = =<span style="background-color: #008000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Different Species of Algae Examples = =<span style="background-color: #008000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ ﻿ = =<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">With thirteen-thousand and more different species of algae in existance, there are sure to be many remarkable algae types out there. = = The most common examples of Red algae are: =
 * = Coralline Algae =
 * = Encrusting Algae. =
 * = Irish Moss. =

=<span style="background-color: #800000; color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Brown Algae: =
 * = Sargassum Weed =
 * = Giant Kelp =
 * = Rockweeds =

= Green Algae can be: =
 * 1) =<span style="background-color: #ffff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Colonial﻿﻿ - <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">lives as a large group of cells =
 * 2) =<span style="background-color: #ffff00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Unicellular - <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">one large cell =
 * 3) = Multicellular -  many cells =
 * 4) = Coenocytic - lives as many cells but without a distinguished cell wall. =

= Examples include: =
 * = Chlorella =
 * = Chlamydomonas =
 * = Cladophora =
 * = Gonium =

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