Red and Green

Algae

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This page covers the red algae (Rhodophyta) and "green algae". The two groups, although both considered to be algae in the classical sense, do not appear to be closely related.

RHODOPHYTA (RED ALGAE). The red algae are primarily marine and are diverse in shape and in size. All of them are characterized by the presence of a reddish pigment called phycoerythrin. The group stores its energy in a unique form of starch called Floridean Starch. Some red algae are very important in the formation of coral reefs by precipitating calcium carbonate and sometimes forming large rocky masses.

Introduction to the Rhodophyta. University of California Museum of Paleontology. An introduction to the Rhodophyta with information on their systematics, biology, and morphology.

1999 Marine Botany Course. Judith Connor and Ben Hale, Hopkins Marine Station. A field course and Stanford University of the algae of Monterey Bay, and the habitats they occur in.

An Introduction to the Nongeniculate Coralline Algae. Derek Keats. An extensive introduction to the so-called coralline red algae.

Algae: The Forgotten Treasure of Tidepools. F. Perez, C. Kjeldsen, and J. Hughley. A wonderful gallery of photographs of Rhodophyta (red algae), Phaeophyta (brown algae), and Chlorophyta (green algae) from the tidepools of California. The site also has a little information about each group and each of the genera illustrated.

GREEN ALGAE. The "green algae" are a very large and very diverse group. Traditionally the "green algae" are called the Chlorophyta, but this name is no longer used because it would mean placing the plants as part of the algae, something no one seems willing to do. The "green algae" vary in size from single-celled organisms to large, multicellular plant like species. The species are both marine and freshwater and a few are terrestrial. Although the group in heterogeneous in many ways, all of the groups comprising the green algae possess Chlorophylls a and b, beta-carotene, and store energy in the form of starch. None of the other "algae" groups use chlorophyll b nor store energy in the form of starch.

Algae: The Forgotten Treasure of Tidepools. F. Perez, C. Kjeldsen, and J. Hughley. A wonderful gallery of photographs of Rhodophyta (red algae), Phaeophyta (brown algae), and Chlorophyta (green algae) from the tidepools of California. The site also has a little information about each group and each of the genera illustrated.

Some Notes on the Desmid genus Genicularia. Microscopy UK. William Ells. Although this page is about a particular desmid, it has basic information and wonderful figures on desmids as a whole.

Stars of the Marshes. Wim van Egmond. Microscopy UK. Some wonderful drawings of desmids and dinoflagellates.

Introduction to the Green Algae. University of California Museum of Paleontology. A general introduction to the green algae with information on their systematics, morphology, and biology.