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Algae ALGAE Life   Algae

IDnature guides

Groups Algae North American Invasives

Kinds

Charophytes Chlorophyta Coleochaetales, Coleochaetophytes Dinophyta, Dinoflagellates Euglenophyta, Euglenophytes Ochrophyta, Yellow-green algae Streptophyta, Green algae

Index

IDnature guide Phylogeny Overview Links to other sites

alt="Diatom" title="Diatom" /> Diatom

Overview Algae are mainly found in marine or freshwater environments but also occupy such extreme environments as deserts, boiling springs, ice, and snow. Algae survive by capturing light energy which is used to convert inorganic substances into simple sugars, this process is commonly known as Photosynthesis. As a by-product of photosynthesis, Algae produce oxygen which other aquatic life uses. Algae can be found in a variety of forms ranging from single-celled to complex multicellular forms, such as the Kelp which grow to be over sixty meters in length. Algae are vital in many food chains acting as the primary producer of organic matter. Algae are important to humans in the form of food and medicine. Algae are also important in the make up of coral reefs, coralline algae engage in a symbiotic relationship with coral to form large coral reefs.

Phylogeny

• Tree of Life

• Algaebase -- Information database for algae.
• Charophycean Green Algae -- Information on charophycean green algae.
• Berkeley -- Introduction to green algae.

Rex Lowe
Bowling Green State University

John Pickering
University of Georgia, Athens

David Porter
Department of Botany
University of Georgia, Athens