22 Questions
What is the function of the air bladders in brown algae?
To keep their bodies floating near the surface
What is the main difference in habitat between brown algae and red algae?
Brown algae live in shallow water, red algae live in deep water
What type of pigments do red algae use to absorb light?
Phycobilins
What is the purpose of holdfasts in red algae?
To attach to rocks
What is the term for the body of a seaweed?
Thallus
What method of reproduction is used by Spirogyra?
Fragmentation
What is a characteristic of green algae?
They have yellow pigments that give them a yellow-green color
What is a common feature of brown algae?
They are multicellular and mostly marine
How do green algae reproduce?
Both asexually and sexually
What is a type of algae that can form a colony?
Volvox
What is the major pigment found in green algae?
Chlorophyll
In which environment can green algae be found?
In freshwater, oceans, moist soil, and even in snow
Which type of algae is also known as 'seaweeds'?
Red algae
How many species of green algae are there?
Over 7000
What is the characteristic of dinoflagellates that makes them emit light?
Bioluminescence
What is the primary component of dinoflagellates' cell walls?
Thick cellulose plates
Which type of algae is known for its ability to change from photosynthetic to heterotrophic?
Euglenoids
What is the name of the phenomenon that occurs when dinoflagellates become extremely numerous, turning the ocean a reddish color?
Red tide
What is the primary habitat of most dinoflagellates?
Marine
What is the characteristic of diatoms that gives them a golden-yellow color?
Presence of carotenoids
Which type of algae is known for its ability to live symbiotically with jellyfishes, mollusks, and corals?
Dinoflagellates
What is the name of the toxin-producing dinoflagellate that was discovered in 1988?
Pfiesteria piscicida
Study Notes
Algae Reproduction and Characteristics
- Spirogyra can reproduce asexually through fragmentation, where an individual breaks up into pieces and each piece grows into a new individual.
Brown Algae
- Almost all species of brown algae live in salt water along rocky coasts in cool areas of the world.
- Brown algae contain chlorophyll and a yellowish-brown carotenoid called fucoxanthin, which gives them their brown color.
- Many species of brown algae have air bladders that keep their bodies floating near the surface, where light is available.
- The largest and most complex of brown algae are kelp, with a thallus divided into the holdfast, stipe, and blade.
Red Algae
- Red algae, or Rhodophyta, are mostly multicellular marine seaweeds.
- Red algae use holdfasts to attach to rocks.
- Red algae contain chlorophyll and photosynthetic pigments called phycobilins, which absorb green, violet, and blue light, allowing them to thrive in deep water.
Diversity of Algae
- Algae produce much of the oxygen used on Earth through photosynthesis.
- Algae are classified into six phyla: euglenoids, diatoms, dinoflagellates, green, red, and brown algae.
Green Algae
- Green algae are the most diverse, with over 7000 species.
- The major pigment in green algae is chlorophyll, but some species also have yellow pigments.
- Most green algae live in freshwater, but some live in the oceans, on tree trunks, in snow, and even in the fur of sloths.
- Green algae can be unicellular, colonial, or multicellular in organization.
Dinoflagellates
- Dinoflagellates have cell walls composed of thick cellulose plates.
- They contain chlorophyll, carotenoids, and red pigments.
- Dinoflagellates have two flagella that cause the cell to spin slowly as they beat.
- Many species of dinoflagellates live symbiotically with jellyfishes, mollusks, and corals.
- Some species of dinoflagellates are bioluminescent and can emit light.
Learn about the asexual reproduction of Spirogyra through fragmentation and the characteristics of brown algae, including their habitat and pigments.
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