GREEN ALGAE

CHLOROPHYTA
Ariel Cordova, Rachel Schultz, Aaron Baker, Nick Kinnie

Classification
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Protista
The green algae were formerly classified in kingdom plantae, based on:
Green algae use chlorophyll a and b in photosynthesis
The chloroplasts are enclosed in a double membrane
Green algae manufacture their own food and store it as starch like other plants

It is now classified as a protist, as it does not have the complexity to be

considered a plant.

Classification
Supergroup: Archeaplastida
Clade: Chlorophyta (approximately 7000 species)
Algae are grouped in this clade based upon pigmentation
and cell wall composition
Chlorophyta is named for the prominent green
chloroplast.

This classification makes sense as it groups

terrestrial plants and green algae in the same
supergroup. Green Algae are thought to be the
early ancestors of modern terrestrial plants.

Similarities and differences between

terrestrial plant cells and green algae cells
Contain membranebound chloroplasts,
Green Algae Cells
Terrestrial
Plant Cells
nucleus, central
vacuole, and double
layered cell wall
made of cellulose.
Do contain phyllids
or rhizoids

Contain membrane-bound chloroplasts, nucleus, central vacuole, and

double layered cell wall made of cellulose.

Do not contain phyllids or rhizoids

Primarily Aquatic

Differences in Algae
Some may occur as single cells
Single cells can be either mobile or immobile
Others may exist as colonies
Colonies more likely immobile
Others also occur in multicellular filaments

Fun Facts about Algae!!!

90% of Algae live in freshwater
Some algae even live in snow!!
Mobile algae move with flagella
Have complex lifestyles and can
reproduce asexually and sexually

Asexual Reproduction
A mature algae cell is haploid
This means the mature algae will
undergo mitosis to produce replicate
copies of myself, this happens through;

Fission (or splitting)

Budding
Fragmentation
Zoospores

Sexual Reproduction
Occurs when conditions get rough
Mature cell is still haploid and undergoes mitosis to produce
gametes.
When gametes released they will fuse with another algaes
gametes to create a zygote
Zygote is now diploid
Zygote produces outer layer that protects from difficult
conditions

Sexual Reproduction Continued

When conditions improve the zygote
them undergoes meiosis producing
four new haploid individuals
Through this many chlorophytes
exhibit alteration of generations
between haploid and diploid

Reproduction Diagram

Algaes niche
Lives in photic layer
Undergoes photosynthesis
Primary producer on many food webs
Main food source for many micro-organisms and other marine life

Algae and Us
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord
Marine plants including green algae produce
an estimated 70% of the worlds oxygen supply
Plays a role in reducing global warming as it
absorbs and stores much of the worlds CO2
emissions

Algae and Us continued

Melting polar ice leads to an increase in iron levels in the ocean
which promote algae growth
Therefore more algae to absorb the carbon dioxide

Other uses
As a food producer
Pigment beta carotene can be used in cancer treatment
Beta carotene is also used in food coloring

Negatives
Rapid population increase = algae blooms which sucks oxygen from
marine environments
This kills many marine organisms
Also causes weird tasting drinking water

Works Cited
Dolphin, Warren D., and David Vleck.(2015) "Investigating Bacterial Diversity." Biological Investigations: Form, Function, Diversity, and Process. Tenth
ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2015. 187-189.

Reece, Jane B., Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven Alexander Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Rob Jackson, and Neil A. Campbell. (2014) Campbell
Biology: Canadian Edition. 634-635.
Guiry, M. D. (2014 October 01). Chlorophyta: Green Algae. The Seaweed Site. Retrieved from http://www.seaweed.ie/algae/chlorophyta.php on
September 24, 2014.

Macfarlane, J. (2009 January 4). Amazing discovery of green algae which could save the world from global warming. Retrieved from
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1104772/Amazing-discovery-green-algae-save-world-global-warming.html on September 24, 2014.

Baxamusa, B. N. (2011 October 3). Chlorophyta: The Green Algae. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/chlorophyta-the-green-algae.html
on September 24, 2014
Algabase organization. (n.d). Taxonomy Browser. Retrieved from: http://algaebase.org/browse/taxonomy/?id=97241
Life of Plants. (n.d). Green Algae. Retrieved from: http://lifeofplant.blogspot.ca/2011/03/green-algae.html
The Seaweed Site: information on marine algae. (n.d). Chlorophyta: Green Algae. Retrieved from: http://www.seaweed.ie/algae/chlorophyta.php
UCMP. (n.d). Introduction to the Green Algae. Retrieved from: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/greenalgae/greenalgae.html
Hall, Jack (2011 September 12) The most important organism. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ecology.com/2011/09/12/important-organism/