1. Introduction to Algology (Phycology)
What is Algology (phycology):
Algoloy is the science (gr. logos) of algae (L. algae).
Phycology is the science (gr. logos) of algae (gr. phycos). This discipline deals with the morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny, biology, and ecology of algae in all ecosystems

2. FOSSIL HISTORY OF ALGAE
3.5 billion yrs ago
Cyanobacteria—first algae
Prokaryotes—lack membrane bound organelles
Later eukaryotes evolved—mitochondria, chloroplasts, and chromosomes containing DNA.

3. BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE
Binomial nomenclature—Ulva lactuca
Binomial Nomenclature was proposed by Linnaeus in Cited in Species Plantarum.
Type Specimen—The specimen from where the description is made. Collected and placed in a herbarium. Herbarium label—species name, location, date of collection, habitat, name of collector and identifier)

4. ALGAE How are algae similar to higher plants?
How are algae different from higher plants?

5. Similarities Presence of cell wall—mostly cellulosic.
Autotrophs/Primary producers—carry out photosynthesis
Presence of chlorophyll a

6. Differences
Algae lack the roots, stems, leaves, and other structures typical of true plants.
Algae do not have vascular tissues—non vascular plants
Algae do not form embryos within protective coverings—all cells are fertile.
Variations in pigments.
Variations in cell structure—unicellular, colonial and multicellular forms.

7. Variations in the pigment constitution
Chlorophylls (green)
Carotenoids (brown, yellow or red)
Phycobilins (red pigment-phycoerythrin
blue pigment –phycocyanin)

8. Where are algae abound?
Kelp forest up to 50 m high are the marine equivalent to terrestrial forest; mainly built by brown algae

9. Some algae encrust with carbonate, building reef-like structures; cyanobacteria can from rock-like structures in warm tidal areas: stromatolites

10. Algae grow or are attached to animals and serve as camouflage for the animal

11. Algae live as symbionts in animals such as Hydra, corals, or the protozoan ciliate Paramecium; Chlorella  in corals they are referred to as zooxanthellae

12. Small algae live on top of larger algae: epiphyton
Algae in free water: phytoplankton

13. Terrestrial algae
Algae have adapted to life on land and occur as cryptobiotic crusts in desert and grassland soils or endocryptolithis algae in rocks 

14. Algae live on the snow cover of glaciers and in the brine channels of sea ice

15. A symbiosis of algae and fungi produced the lichens, which are pioneer plants, help convert rock into soil by excreting acids, stabilize desert soil, are sensitive to air pollution

17. Algae can cover trees or buildings green or live in the hollow hairs of ice bears

18. Algal Blooms Algae can be so dominant that they discolor the water
Higher amounts of nutrients are usually the cause
Algal blooms can have harmful effects on life and ecosystem:
Reduced water clarity causes benthic communities (see grass) to die off
Fish kills are common effects
50% of algal blooms produce toxins harmful to other organisms, including humans
Algal blooms produce a shift in food web structure and species composition
Algal blooms can mostly be linked to sewage input or agricultural activities, leading to nutrient pollution: eutrophication

20. Unicells: single cells, motile or nonmotile
Forms of Algae
Unicells: single cells, motile or nonmotile

21. Colonies: Assemblage of individual cells with variable or constant number of cells that remain constant throughout the colony life

22. Coenobium: Colony with constant number of cells, which cannot survive alone; specific „tasks“ among groups of cells is common

23. Filaments: daughter cells remain attached after cell division and form a cell chain; adjacent cells share cell wall (distinguish them from linear colonies!); maybe unbranched or branched

24. Siphonaceaous forms: one large, multinucleate cell without cross walls

25. Parenchymatous and pseudoparenchymatous algae:
mostly macro-scopic algae with tissue of undifferentiated cells and growth originating from a meristem with cell division in three dimensions; pseudoparenchymatous superficially ressemble parenchyma but are composed of appressed filaments

27. REPRODUCTION Sexual-Gametes Vegetative Cell divisions/Fragmentation
=part of the filament
breaks off from the rest and forms a new one.
Asexual Reproduction
Zoospores after losing their flagella,
form new filaments. No sexual fusion.

28. SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
ISOGAMY-Both gametes have flagella and similar in size and morphology.
ANISOGAMY-Gametes have flagella but are dissimilar in shape and size. One gamete is distinctly smaller than the other one.
OOGAMY-gamete with flagella (sperm) fuses with a larger, non flagellated gamete (egg).

29. Endosymbiosis

30. Primary and Secondary endosymbiosis

31. Mitochondrial cristae mainly tertiary (various sources)
Characteristics of the mitochondria and endosymbiotic origin of plastids of the major eukaryotic algal groups
Group
Mitochondrial cristae
Plastid origin(s)
Red algae (Rhodophyta)
flattened
primary
Green algae (Chlorophyta)
Cryptomonads (Cryptophyta)
secondary (red)
Euglenoids (Euglenophyta)
disk-shaped
secondary (green)
Haptophytes (Haptophyta)
tubular
Dinoflagellates (Dinophyta)
mainly tertiary (various sources)
Ochrophytes (Ochrophyta)

32. Nutrition types
Cyanobacteria
Purple nonsulfur bacteria

33. Can algae provide a renewable source of energy
Oil is very important fossil fuels comes from diatom remains.
The energy we extract from fossil fuels was originally stored in organisms through the process of photosynthesis.
Why wait millions of years?