Algae Biology and Reproduction

Most Advanced Algae

• Ancestors of the plant kingdom

Reproduction

• Asexual reproduction occurs through zoospores, aplanospores, and hypnospores
• Sexual reproduction is classified into three types: isogamous, anisogamous, and oogamous

Forms of Algae

• Algae can be unicellular, filamentous, colonial, or parenchymatous

Unicellular Algae

• Chlamydomonas: characterized by motility, flagella, and variation in sexual reproduction
• Chlorella: non-motile, lacks flagella, and is rich in proteins
• Chlorella is used as food for space travelers and is the organism in which the Calvin Cycle (C3 cycle) was discovered
• It is a source of chlorophylls and antibiotics
• Chlorella is also known for its umbrella-shaped cells and is sometimes referred to as the "umbel plant"
• Hamerling experiments were conducted on Chlorella

Colonial Algae

• Colonial algae consist of a fixed number of cells in a colony, known as a coenobium
• Volvox: a motile colony
• Hydrodictyon: a non-motile colony

Filamentous Algae

• Cells are arranged to form filaments
• Spirogyra: also known as "pond silk"
• Ulothrix: also known as "pond weed"

Parenchymatous or Thalloid Algae

• Ulva: an example of a parenchymatous algae

Learn about the ancestors of plant kingdom, types of algae reproduction, and characteristics of unicellular algae such as Chlamydomonas and Chlorella. This quiz covers the various forms of algae, including filamentous, colonial, and parenchymatous.