alga

(noun)

any of many aquatic photosynthetic organisms, whose size ranges from a single cell to giant kelps and whose form is very diverse

Related Terms

Examples of alga in the following topics:

  • Edible Algae

    • Edible algae have been used as food for centuries in many coastal regions all over the world.
    • Cyanobacteria are sometimes called blue-green algae but they are prokaryotic organisms and are not true algae.
    • Seaweeds are edible algae that have been used for centuries as food in many coastal regions all over the world.
    • They may belong to one of three groups of multicellular algae: red, green or brown.
    • They are usually of marine origin since freshwater algae are often poisonous.

  • The Phosphorus Cycle

    • Phosphorous can be transfered to other organisms when they consume the plants and algae.
    • When phosphorous levels are high, algae and plants reproduce rapidly.
    • As phosphorous levels begin to increase at the end of the summer, primary plants and algae begin to rapidly grow again.
    • Artificial phosphorous can cause over growth of algae and plants in aquatic ecosytems.
    • The bright green color of the water is the result of algae blooms in response to the addition of phosphorous based fertilizers.

  • Algae

    • However notable examples of algae acting as pathogens are known.
    • For example Cephaleuros which is a genus of parasitic thalloid alga comprising approximately 14 species.
    • Examples of algae acting as a mammalian pathogen are known as well, notably the disease Protothecosis.
    • Protothecosis is a disease found in dogs, cats, cattle, and humans caused by a type of green alga known as Prototheca that lacks chlorophyll.
    • The grayish-white and darker "crusts" are lichens of the genus Strigula resulting from fungal colonization of the alga.

  • Carotenoids and Phycobilins

    • Photosynthesis in many plants and algae depend on chlorophylls which absorb light closer to the ultraviolet side of the spectrum, and emit light in the green end of the spectrum.
    • Chromoplasts of plants and some other photosynthetic organisms like algae, some bacteria, and some fungi .
    • They serve two key roles in plants and algae: they absorb light energy for use in photosynthesis, and they protect chlorophyll from photodamage.
    • Phycobilins (from Greek: φ (phykos) meaning "alga", and from Latin: bilis meaning "bile") are chromophores (light-capturing molecules) found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of red algae, glaucophytes and some cryptomonads (though not in green algae and higher plants).
    • The color of the mats of algae and bacteria is due to the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoid molecules produced by the organisms.

  • Oxygenic Photosynthesis

    • In plants, algae and cyanobacteria, photosynthesis releases oxygen .
    • Although there are some differences between oxygenic photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, the overall process is quite similar in these organisms.
    • In plants, algae and cyanobacteria, photosynthesis releases oxygen.
    • Although there are some differences between oxygenic photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, the overall process is quite similar in these organisms.

  • Facultative Phototrophy

    • They are the producers in a food chain, such as plants on land or algae in water.
    • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a single celled green alga about 10 micrometres in diameter that swims with two flagella .
    • Scanning electron microscope image, showing an example of green algae (Chlorophyta).

  • Microbe Size

    • Alternatively, there are single cell organisms, such as some types of green algae and some protozoans that are generally studied by microbiologists.
    • It is a member of the Chlorophyta phylum which are a sub-group of green algae.
    • Many types of green algae are not microscopic, but they are often studied by microbiologists.

  • Sea Coral and Sea Anemone Zooxanthellae

    • Symbiodinium are colloquially called "zooxanthellae" (or "zoox"), and animals symbiotic with algae in this genus are said to be "zooxanthellate".
    • These unicellular algae commonly reside in the endoderm of tropical cnidarians such as corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish, where they translocate products of photosynthesis to the host and in turn receive inorganic nutrients (e.g.

  • Cyanobacteria

    • Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green bacteria, blue-green algae, and Cyanophyta, is a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis.
    • According to the endosymbiotic theory, chloroplasts in plants and eukaryotic algae have evolved from cyanobacterial ancestors via endosymbiosis.
    • Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green bacteria, blue-green algae, and Cyanophyta, is a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis

  • Aerobic Hydrocarbon Oxidation

    • They are also incorrectly called algae due to their appearance.
    • P. aeruginosa is capable of growth in diesel and jet fuel, where it is known as a hydrocarbon-using microorganism (or "HUM bug"), causing microbial corrosion. [3] It creates dark, gellish mats sometimes improperly called "algae" because of their appearance.