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swampwiz
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AIUI, there are these 3 types of algae, with blue-green algae being technically bacteria, green algae being plants, but what are red algae?
Bystander said:
Below are other published taxonomies of the red algae using molecular and traditional alpha taxonomic data; however, the taxonomy of the red algae is still in a state of flux (with classification above the level of order having received little scientific attention for most of the 20th century).[28]
- If one defines the kingdom Plantae to mean the Archaeplastida, the red algae will be part of that kingdom
- If Plantae are defined more narrowly, to be the Viridiplantae, then the red algae might be considered their own kingdom, or part of the kingdom Protista.
Drakkith said:Hmmm. It looks like there's some problems with its classification:
Linnaean versus cladistic.Drakkith said:some problems with its classification:
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are prokaryotic organisms that have chlorophyll a and phycobilins as photosynthetic pigments. Green algae, or Chlorophyta, are eukaryotic organisms that also have chlorophyll a and b, as well as carotenoids. Red algae, or Rhodophyta, are also eukaryotic organisms that have chlorophyll a and d, along with phycobilins.
The main differences between these three types of algae lie in their cellular structure, photosynthetic pigments, and habitat. Blue-green algae lack membrane-bound organelles, while green and red algae have them. Blue-green algae have only one type of chlorophyll and use phycobilins for photosynthesis, while green and red algae have multiple types of chlorophyll. Blue-green algae are found in a variety of environments, while green algae are mostly freshwater organisms and red algae are mainly marine organisms.
Blue-green algae can sometimes produce toxins and cause harmful algal blooms, but they can also have beneficial effects such as nitrogen fixation and bioremediation. Green algae are important producers in aquatic ecosystems and are also used in the production of food and biofuels. Red algae are used in food and pharmaceutical industries and their extracts have potential health benefits.
Blue-green algae reproduce mainly through binary fission, a type of asexual reproduction. Green algae can reproduce both asexually through cell division and sexually through the fusion of gametes. Red algae also have both asexual and sexual reproductive strategies, but they mostly reproduce through the fusion of male and female gametes.
Yes, blue-green, green & red algae can be used as bioindicators of water quality. Changes in the abundance and diversity of these algae can indicate pollution, eutrophication, and other environmental disruptions in aquatic ecosystems. They can also be used as indicators of climate change due to their sensitivity to changes in temperature and nutrient levels.