Algae

Pond scum, seaweed, and giant kelp are all examples of algae. Algae are Algae can reproduce sexually, asexually or by a combination of both processes through Algae can be categorized into seven major types, each with distinct sizes, functions, and color. The different divisions include: • Euglenophyta (Euglenoids) • Chrysophyta (Golden-brown algae and Diatoms) • Pyrrophyta (Fire algae) • Chlorophyta (Green algae) • Rhodophyta (Red algae) • Paeophyta (Brown algae) • Xanthophyta (Yellow-green algae) Euglena gracilis / Algae. Roland Birke/Photolibrary/Getty Images Euglena are fresh and salt water protists. Like plant cells, some euglenoids are autotrophic. They contain chloroplasts and are capable of photosynthesis. They lack a Due to their photosynthetic capabilities, Euglena were classified along with algae in the phylum Euglenophyta. Scientists now believe that these organisms have acquired this ability due to endosymbiotic relationships with photosynthetic green algae. As such, some scientists contend that Euglena should not be classified as algae and be classified in the phylum Euglenozoa. Diatoms. Malcolm Park/Oxford Scientific/Getty Images Golden-brown algae and diatoms are the most abundant types of unicellular algae, accounting for around 100,000 different species. Both are found in fresh and salt water environments. Diatoms are much more common than golden-brown algae and consist of many types of plankton found in the ocean. Instead of a cell wall, diatoms are encas...