1. The Awesome Algae

2. Why Awesome? Life as we know it, would never have evolved without them
Produces most of the Earth’s oxygen (estimated 50-75% of all photosynthesis is done by algae)
They also help remove huge amounts of carbon dioxide!

3. More awesomeness... The basis of most food chains in the ocean
3. Some are so cool, they can live in the snow...and look like blood
They can glow (bioluminescence)
5. They may be the next source of fuel

4. And more awesomeness... 6. We use them to treat a heap of things:
Stomach ulcers, lung ailments, high blood pressure, arthritis, and other health products

5. Even more 7. Used in hand lotion, toothpaste, to make plastics, waxes
8. Used in scientific laboratories to grow bacteria

6. 9. Can provide a home for sea otters and many many many other species.

7. Can it get any more awesome?
Yes.
10. They are also delicious
They are used to make ice cream smooth, candy bars last longer
Used in pickle relishes, salad dressing, chip dips, pancake syrup, egg nog, soup, meat dishes, candy, cake batter, pie filler, bakery jelly, doughnut glazes

8. Algae
Photosynthetic organisms that live in streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, oceans, on damp tree trunks, in moist soil
What must they live by?
____________________

9. Plant or Protist? Scientists have debated this one for a while
Now we say that they are not plants, but protists
Remember protist = eukaryotes that don’t fit in other kingdoms (the garbage pile)

10. Why are they like plants?
Some algae, the “seaweeds” are
_______________
Share many other characteristics with plants
Giant kelp

11. Why are they protists?
Many are ____________________organisms, such as phytoplankton
Don’t have the specialized root, leave or stem structures found in land plants, although they can have structures that serve similar functions
phytoplankton
Bull kelp

12. Root-like, stem-like and leave-like structures
Bull kelp with its hold-fast, stipe, blades and gas-filled bulb

13. Three Phyla of Algae
The three phyla of algae that are largely multicellular are commonly known as “red algae”, “brown algae” and “green algae”
The most important difference between them is their photosynthetic pigments
Phylum Rhodophyta (Red algae)
Phylum Phaeophyta (Brown algae)
Phylum Chlorophyta
Green algae

14. Green Algae
Members of Phylum Chlorophyta, meaning “green plant” in Greek
Share many characteristics with plants including photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b) and cell walls
They also have reproductive cycles very similar to plants

15. Green Algae: Where and How
Green algae can be found in fresh and salt water, and in moist areas on land
They can be:
Unicellular
Colonial
Multicellular

16. Unicellular Many species spend most of their lives as single cells
Chlamydomonas is a typical unicellular green algae that grows in ditches, ponds and wet soils
Chlamydomonas

17. Colonial
Several species of green algae form colonies (groups of single cells that are joined together but show few specialized structures)
Ex. Spirogyra is found in freshwater
- It forms long threadlike colonies called filaments stacked like aluminum cans

18. Colonial Volvox cells are joined together by strands of cytoplasm.
Can contain cells arranged to form hollow spheres
Some cells are specialized for reproduction
Borderlines colonial and multicellular

19. Multicellular
Ulva, or “sea lettuce” is a bright green multicellular algae, common along rocky seacoasts
Only two-cells thick, but tough enough to handle pounding waves

20. Reproduction in Ulva
Has a life-cycle involving “alternation of generations” of two stages in it’s life:
the diploid stage, the sporophyte (which is a _____________________
producing stage)
alternates with
the haploid stage, the gametophyte (which is a
______________________________ producing stage)

21. Alternation of Generations in Ulva