Characteristics of Multicellular Algae

D. Rhodophyta D. Phaeophyta D. Chlorophyta

Characteristics of Algae
Habitat: in/near H2O source
Freshwater/marine: streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, oceans Terrestrial: damp tree trunks, moist soil

Lack vascular tissue (internal system of tubes that moves H2O, minerals from one part to another)
Aquatic habitat: Directly bathes cells w/ CO2, nutrients Carries away wastes
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Characteristics of Algae
Structure
Some unicellular, some colonial, most multicellular Variable size: microscopic (ex. plantlike protists) ~60m long (ex. giant kelp) W/ CW No specialized root/stem/leaf structures W/ chl a (all) + other forms of chl + accessory pigments

Reproductive cycle
Alternating sexual/asexual stages

Adaptations to Life Under Water

Very thin leaflike structures
~ 2 cells thick Can exchange O2, CO2, nutrients directly w/ surrounding H2O

No need for H2O-conducting tissues

Land plants have vascular tissues

Through diffusion
- Movement of substances: concn to concn - Works best across short distances ( 2-cells thick)

Adaptations to Life Under Water

No need for protection vs. dessication
Land plants have a waxy cuticle as waterproof covering

No need for stemlike structures

Algae supported by buoyant force of H2O

Easier sexual reproduction

Reproductive cells (gametes: sperm, egg) can swim/move through H2O) Fragile young plants do not easily dry out
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Adaptations to Life Under Water

Additional adaptations to life in the intertidal zone:
CW = cellulose + gel-forming saccharide Slimy, rubbery cushion vs. waves Some have CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) in their CW Cant be eaten

Groups of Algae
Phycology: the study of algae Algae are grouped according to
Type of chlorophyll and accessory pigments Form in which food is stored

Chondrus crispus

Volvox

Porphyra

Ulva

Chlamydomonas

Lithothamnion glaciale

Macrocystis pyrifera

Fucus

Sargassum

Gonium

Spirogyra

Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Etymology
Gr. rhodos, red red plants

Habitat
Some freshwater, most marine Polar regions, tropics Ocean surface to depths of up to ~260m

Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Pigments
Chl a (all), chl d (some) Phycobilins Absorb blue light can live deeper than most algae Ex. phycoerythrin Appear green, pink, red, purple, black

Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Food reserves: Floridean starch Cellular structure
Mostly multicellular W/o flagella and centrioles

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Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Examples:

Chondrus crispus,
Irish moss
Grows in tide pools and on rocky coastlines

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Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Examples: coralline algae
Collect CaCO3 in CW Tough, stony texture Help stabilize coral reefs
Lithothamnion glaciale

Phymatolithon calcareum
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Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Examples: Porphyra, nori
Used to wrap rice in sushi

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Red Algae, D. Rhodophyta

Examples: Porphyra, nori
Used to wrap rice in sushi

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Etymology
Gr. phaios, dusky or brown dusky plants or brown plants

Habitat
Almost all marine Cool, shallow coastal waters of temperate/arctic areas

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Pigments
Chl a and c
Xanthophylls Fucoxanthin

Dusky, olive or yellow-brown color

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Food reserves: laminarin Cellular structure
All multicellular

Largest and most complex algae

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Examples:
Giant kelp Can grow up to ~60 m long

Macrocystis pyrifera

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Examples:
Sargassum
Forms huge floating mats many km long in Sargasso Sea

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Examples:
Sargassum
Forms huge floating mats many km long in Sargasso Sea

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Examples:
Fucus, rockweed
Along rocky coast of east US

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Brown Algae, D. Phaeophyta

Examples:
Fucus, rockweed Parts Holdfast: attaches alga to bottom Stipe: stemlike structure that supports blades Blades: leaflike structures; surface for photosynthesis Bladder: gas-filled swelling for floating; keeps blades near waters surface *** Thallus (pl. thalli) - Gr. thallos, sprout - seaweed body that is plantlike but lacks true roots, stems, and leaves
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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Etymology
Gr. chloro green plants

Habitat
Freshwater/marine Moist land areas

Pigments
Chl a and b Carotenoids
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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Food reserves: starch Cellular structure
CW: cellulose Unicellular Colonial: groups of similar cells joined together but w/ few specialized structures Multicellular: w/ well-developed specialized structures
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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Evolutionary relationships
Characteristics common w/ plants: Chl a and b Cellulosic CWs Starch as food reserves Moss protonema Characteristic common w/ mosses: A stage in moss life cycle ~ tangled mass of algae Ancestors of modern land plants ~ living sp. of green algae

Modern plants may have descended from algaelike ancestor (but no fossil proof for this)
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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Unicellular example: Chlamydomonas
Habitat: ponds, ditches Structure: Egg-shaped 2 flagella Chloroplast: single, large, cup-shaped Pyrenoid: region at base of chloroplast; synthesizes & stores starch 2 small contractile vacuoles Eyespot: detects light CW: not made of cellulose
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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Colonial example:

Gonium

4-42 identical cells living together but still functioning independently

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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Colonial example:

Volvox

500-50,000 cells arranged to form hollow spheres Cells connected to each other by strands of cytoplasm Coordinates movement Most cells identical; few produce gametes

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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Colonial examples: threadlike green algae
Structure: filaments Long, threadlike colonies Cells shaped like soda cans stacked end to end Specialized structures: (Oedogonium) holdfast cell attaches filament to lake or pond bottom

Spirogyra

Oedogonium
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Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Colonial examples: threadlike green algae
Reproduction: Asexual: broken filaments can continue to divide and grow Sexual: (Oedogonium) formation of gametes
Oedogonium
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Spirogyra

Green Algae, D. Chlorophyta

Multicellular example: Ulva, sea lettuce
Habitat: marine (rocky coastlines) Structure: Truly multicellular, w/ several specialized cell types (ex. holdfast) 2-cells thick but strong enough to survive intertidal waves
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References
Campbell, N.A. 1996. Biology. California: The Benajmin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. Miller, K.R. and J. Levine. 1995. Biology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Miller, K.R. and J. Levine. 2002. Biology. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
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Image Sources
http://www.biopix.dk/Temp/JCS%20Chondrus%20crispus%2015577.jpg http://www.vattenkikaren.gu.se/fakta/arter/algae/rhodophy/corallin/coraf1.jpeg http://seaweed.ucg.ie/descriptions/Phycal.html http://www.marlin.ac.uk/imgs/Species/Rhodophycota/o_porumb.jpg http://www2.auckland.ac.nz/info/schools/nzplants/images/food/porphyra_2(400).jpg http://paulbuckley14059.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/sushi-for-2.jpg http://www.mitoku.com/recipes/image_recipes/temaki_sushi001_large.jpg http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/resources/gallery/algae/images/giant_kelp1_300.jpg http://www.naturalsciences.org/education/deepsea/images/sargassumL.jpg http://www.bermuda-triangle.org/assets/images/Sargasso.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Lines_of_sargassum_Sargasso_Sea.j pg/450px-Lines_of_sargassum_Sargasso_Sea.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Fucus_vesiculosus_in_sea.jpg/800px -Fucus_vesiculosus_in_sea.jpg http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/botf99/higheralgaef/lfalgae/fucus.jpg http://www.science.siu.edu/landplants/Bryophyta/images/Polytrichum.protonem2.JPEG http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/chlamydomonas.jpg http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/48212/Gonium2.gif http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imagsmall/volvox2.jpg http://courses.bio.psu.edu/fall2005/biol110/tutorials/tutorial30_files/volvox.jpg http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/imagsmall/spirogyra.jpg http://133.25.19.145/PDB/Galleries/USA1999/Species/Oedogonium.jpg http://www.horta.uac.pt/species/algae/Ulva_sp/Ulva_sp_a.JPG

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