ALGAE
General Characteristics of Algae
1. Thallus Organisation
o Algae are simple, autotrophic, thalloid plants.
o Thallus may be unicellular (Chlamydomonas), colonial (Volvox), filamentous
(Spirogyra, Ulothrix), or parenchymatous (Laminaria).
2. Habitat
o Mostly aquatic (freshwater and marine).
o Some grow in moist soils, tree trunks, rocks, hot springs, snow, or symbiotic
associations (e.g., lichens).
3. Cell Structure
o Eukaryotic (except blue-green algae = cyanobacteria, which are prokaryotic).
o Plastids contain photosynthetic pigments.
o Cell wall usually made of cellulose, sometimes impregnated with silica (diatoms),
calcium carbonate (some red algae), or alginates.
4. Photosynthetic Pigments
o Always contain chlorophyll a.
o Other pigments differ by group:
▪ Chlorophyll b (green algae)
▪ Chlorophyll c + fucoxanthin (brown algae, diatoms)
▪ Chlorophyll d + phycoerythrin + phycocyanin (red algae).
5. Reserve Food Material
o Different groups store different materials:
▪ Starch (Chlorophyceae)
▪ Laminarin + mannitol (Phaeophyceae)
▪ Floridean starch (Rhodophyceae)
▪ Paramylon (Euglenoids)
▪ Oils, leucosin (Diatoms, Chrysophyceae).
6. Motility
o Some algae are motile due to flagella.
o Flagella may be equal/unequal, whiplash/tinsel depending on the class.
o Red algae have no motile stages.
7. Reproduction
o Vegetative reproduction: By fragmentation, cell division.
o Asexual reproduction: By spores (zoospores, aplanospores).
o Sexual reproduction: May be isogamous (fusion of similar gametes), anisogamous
(fusion of dissimilar gametes), or oogamous (large non-motile egg + small motile
sperm).
8. Life Cycle
o Shows both haplontic (e.g., Spirogyra) and diplontic (e.g., Fucus) patterns.
o Some exhibit alternation of generations.
9. Ecological Role
o Primary producers in aquatic ecosystems.
o Release oxygen through photosynthesis.
o Form the base of aquatic food chains and major part of phytoplankton.
10. Economic Importance
• Food (e.g., Porphyra, Laminaria), industry (agar, carrageenan, alginates), biofertilizers,
medicines, biofuels, animal feed, oxygen production.
CLASSIFICATION OF ALGAE
. F.E. Fritsch (1935, 1945) classified algae mainly on morphological, cytological and
physiological characters.
The important basis of classification are:
Basis of Fritsch’s Algal Classification
1. Pigments
o Type of chlorophyll and accessory pigments (e.g., chlorophyll a, b, c, d,
phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, fucoxanthin).
o This influences the color of algae (green, brown, red, golden, yellow-green).
2. Reserve Food Material
o Different classes store different types of food:
▪ Starch (Chlorophyceae)
▪ Laminarin + mannitol (Phaeophyceae)
▪ Floridean starch (Rhodophyceae)
▪ Paramylon (Euglenineae)
▪ Oils + Leucosin (Chrysophyceae, Diatoms, Xanthophyceae).
3. Structure and Nature of Cell Wall
o Cellulose (Green algae),
o Silica (Diatoms),
o Calcium carbonate (some red algae),
o Pectin, alginates, etc.
4. Flagellation (Type, Number, Insertion)
o Whether algae are motile or non-motile.
o Number of flagella (1, 2 or more).
o Types: equal/unequal; whiplash or tinsel.
o Example: Unequal flagella in Xanthophyceae.
5. Thallus Organization
o Range from unicellular (Chlamydomonas) to colonial (Volvox), filamentous
(Spirogyra), or parenchymatous / tissue-like (Laminaria, Chara).
o Presence or absence of motile gametes (e.g., none in Rhodophyceae).
6. Habitat
o Mostly aquatic (freshwater, marine).
o Some terrestrial, epiphytic, or symbiotic.
7. Reproductive Methods
o Vegetative reproduction (fragmentation, spores).
o Asexual reproduction (zoospores, aplanospores).
o Sexual reproduction (isogamy, anisogamy, oogamy).
✅ So, in short:
Fritsch classified algae mainly on the basis of pigments, reserve food, cell wall
composition, flagellar structure, thallus organization, and reproduction
1. Chlorophyceae (Green algae)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids
Reserve food: Starch (inside plastids)
Cell wall: Cellulose
Thallus: Unicellular, colonial, filamentous or parenchymatous
Example: Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra, Chara
2. Xanthophyceae (Yellow-green algae)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, xanthophylls
Reserve food: Oil and leucosin
Flagella: Two, unequal (whiplash and tinsel)
Mostly freshwater
Example: Vaucheria, Tribonema
3. Chrysophyceae (Golden algae)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, fucoxanthin
Reserve food: Oil and leucosin
Mostly unicellular and planktonic
Example: Chrysococcus, Dinobryon
4. Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, fucoxanthin
Reserve food: Oil and leucosin
Cell wall: Siliceous, with two halves (epitheca and hypotheca)
Important phytoplankton in marine and freshwater
Example: Navicula, Pinnularia
5. Phaeophyceae (Brown algae)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, fucoxanthin
Reserve food: Laminarin and mannitol
Mostly marine, largest algae
Thallus differentiated into holdfast, stipe, blade
Example: Fucus, Laminaria, Sargassum
6. Cryptophyceae (Cryptomonads)
• Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, phycobilins.
• Reserve food: Starch-like carbohydrate (outside plastid).
• Mostly unicellular, biflagellate.
• Example: Cryptomonas.
7. Dinophyceae (Dinoflagellates)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, peridinin
Reserve food: Starch and oils
Cell wall: Cellulose plates (theca)
Cause red tides, some bioluminescent
Example: Ceratium, Gonyaulax, Noctiluca
8. Chloromonadophyceae
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, b
Unicellular green flagellates
Example: Chloromonas
9. Euglenineae (Euglenoids)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, b
Reserve food: Paramylon
No cell wall, pellicle present
Mostly freshwater, mixotrophic
Example: Euglena
10. Pyrrophycophyceae (Fire algae)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, c, carotenoids
Bioluminescent forms
Example: Noctiluca
11. Rhodophyceae (Red algae)
Pigment: Chlorophyll a, d, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin
Reserve food: Floridean starch
No motile stages in life cycle
Mostly marine, source of agar and carrageenan
Example: Polysiphonia, Gelidium, Gracilaria
Economic Importance of Algae
1. Food source (Human consumption)
o Red algae (Porphyra, Gracilaria) and brown algae (Laminaria) are eaten in Japan, China,
Korea (e.g., nori, kombu).
o Rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
2. Agar production
o Extracted from red algae (Gelidium, Gracilaria).
o Used in microbiology culture media, food industry (as thickener, stabilizer).
3. Carrageenan industry
o Obtained from red algae (Chondrus, Kappaphycus).
o Used in dairy products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals.
4. Alginates (from brown algae)
o Extracted from Laminaria, Macrocystis, Sargassum.
o Used as emulsifier, stabilizer in ice cream, toothpaste, textile, paper industry.
5. Biofertilizers
o Blue-green algae (Anabaena, Nostoc, Aulosira) fix atmospheric nitrogen.
o Increase fertility of paddy fields (used in rice cultivation).
6. Single Cell Protein (SCP)
o Microalgae like Chlorella and Spirulina provide high-protein food supplements.
o Used for tackling malnutrition.
7. Fish feed & Animal feed
o Algae (Ulva, Chlorella, Spirulina) are used as feed for fish, poultry, and cattle.
8. Pharmaceutical & Medical uses
o Some algae yield antibiotics, vitamins, and bioactive compounds.
o Chlorella used in detoxification; alginates used in wound dressings.
9. Industrial applications
o Diatomaceous earth (from diatom shells) used in polishing powders, filtration, insulation.
o Algal oils (from diatoms, dinoflagellates) for biofuel production.
10. Ecological importance
• Algae form the base of aquatic food chains.
• Release oxygen (major producers, ~50–70% of Earth’s oxygen).
• Used in wastewater treatment (oxidation ponds).