Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead
The term ‘Phycology’ comes from the Greek word "Phykos'' that means seaweed. It is also known as algology in some spheres. Phycology is defined as the study of algae which are members of the plant kingdom. Even though these plants lack stems, roots, and leaves which are commonly found on terrestrial plants; algae serve a very important role as primary photosynthetic plants in freshwater while being a source of food for various organisms in aquatic environments. Therefore, it is very important to learn about these organisms and what role they play in their ecology.
| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Phycology, Algae, Terrestrial, Photosynthesis, Organisms, Cyanobacteria, Blue-Green Algae, Oxygen, Plants
Phycology
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Phycology is that branch of science which deals with the study of Algae. Phycology is not limited to only algae but includes other prokaryotic organisms like blue-green algae and cyanobacteria as well. Many scientists call this branch algology as well. Algae are photosynthetic and eukaryotic organisms which are found in an aquatic environment. They do not have real leaves or stems or roots and also do not produce any flowers.
Algae are both unicellular and multicellular organisms. Phytoplankton are examples of unicellular but algae-like seaweeds and sargassum are multicellular. Algae have a lot of medicinal uses too like some are used to make life-saving drugs and can cure degenerative diseases too. For such medical reasons also, Phycology is an essential branch of science.
Algae
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Algae are found in aquatic environments ranging from oceans, rivers, and lakes to ponds, brackish waters and even snow. They are usually green, but are also found in a variety of different colours. The algae living in snow, for instance, have carotenoid pigments along with chlorophyll, which gives a reddish hue to the surrounding snow. Giant Kelp and brown algae are more examples of multicellular organisms whereas unicellular examples include diatoms, Euglenophyta and Dinoflagellates.
- Algae require an environment which is moist or watery; hence, they are ever-present near or inside water bodies.
- Anatomically, algae are very similar to a major group of photosynthetic organisms known as the land plants.
- As algae lack many structural components which are present in plants, such as true stems, shoots, and leaves.
- Also, they also don’t have any vascular tissues to circulate essential nutrients and water throughout their body.
Characteristics of Algae
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
General characteristics of algae are common to plants as well as animals like, algae can photosynthesize like plants, and they possess specialised structures and cell-organelles, like centrioles and flagella, found only in animals. Algae are photosynthetic organisms. Some of the general characteristics of algae are:
- They are either unicellular or multicellular organisms
- They lack structures like roots, stems or leaves; they do not have a well defined body.
- They are found in environments where there is adequate moisture.
- They have both asexual and sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction occurs by spore formation.
- Algae are free-living, even though they form a symbiotic relationship with other organisms.
Study of Algae
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
New algal species are discovered every year. These organisms are essential as they are primary in both salt and freshwater aquatic environments.
- Algae travel mostly in the form of spores and are found in water, air, mixed with dust, and are even present inside us. This makes it really hard to keep a track of where algae can live.
- They are found usually in natural hot springs or on the surface of duck’s feet or even on the surface of the belly of a whale or fur of polar bears in zoos.
- They are also found as scum on the water surface of the pond, and on the surface of snow and ice in the centre of the mountains.
- These organisms also exist in the form of microscopic spores in destinations like Antarctica, and they can even grow up to 65 metres as kelp in an underwater sea forest.
- We generally associate algae with smelly swamps and scummy ponds. These are coloured; red, brown, or green.
- The colours are due to additional pigments along with their photosynthetic pigments. Photosynthesis is the ability of a plant to produce energy and give out oxygen.
- Algae are the primary producers of oxygen on Earth. Without these, we cannot survive.
Read More: Difference between Photosynthesis and Respiration
Applications of Algae
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Phycology or Algology is devoted to the study of algae and a lot of development in these fields have helped us discover massive benefits associated with algae. Big universities, huge corporations, and everyday folks generate huge benefits from algae. These organisms have massive environmental, social and financial potential.
- Algae is one of the primary ingredients of toothpaste.
- It is also used in making one of the components of ice cream.
- They are used as food ingredients, fertilisers, thickeners, dyes, pharmaceuticals, fuels, pollution controls, nutritional supplements, sewage treatments, and animal feed generally.
- They are found in sushi as well as individual salads.
- Algae are ecologically very important. Phytoplankton are a major and vital part of the food chain.
- Algae are also commercial sources for iodine, alginic acid, agar, potash, etc.
- Large algal species are a food source for many humans.
- Few algae species are used for sewage-oxidation ponds.
- The products of algae are also used in insulating materials such as bricks, filters, and scouring powder.
Algaculture
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Culturing is a very important aspect related to any scientific branch. Phycology like any other scientific branch had a separate field of its culture that is called algaculture. Algaculture is known as the process of farming of algae. This process involves a procedure which deals with the growing of a plant very fast and in an environmentally friendly way. Algae farmers spend most of their time farming and harvesting microalgae which are to be used for health supplements or biofuel. These new algae applications are a big deal and have generated some serious potential.
Things to Remember
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
- Phycology is known as the scientific study of algae. It is also known as algology and phycology is a branch of life science.
- Algae are most important as the ‘primary producers’ in aquatic ecosystems. Most species of algae are eukaryotic and photosynthetic organisms which thrive in a moist and wet environment. They lack true roots, stems or leaves and they do not flower.
- Phycology also includes the study of prokaryotic forms known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. A variety of microscopic algae also occur as symbionts in lichens.
- Algae are cultivated for production of a variety of different products; for large as well as small markets. These include plastics, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, fertilisers, and even cosmetics.
- Algaculture is a type of aquaculture which involves farming of different species of algae. The majority of algae which are cultivated on purpose falls under the category of microalgae.
- There are three kinds of pigments which can be found in algae; chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobilins. These pigments are usually found in plastids which are called chromophores in almost all groups of algae except the members of cyanophyceae or cyanobacteria.
Sample Questions
Ques. Name some common algae. (2 marks)
Ans. Some of the common algae are:
- Euglenophyta also known as Euglena gracilis
- Chrysophyta which are Diatoms.
- Pyrrophyta or the Fire Algae or Dinoflagellates pyrolysis
- Chlorophyta or the Green Algae
- Rhodophyta is the Red Algae
- Phaeophyta or Brown Algae
- Xanthophyta is the Yellow-Green Algae
Ques. State the difference between algae and fungi. (4 marks)
Ans. Algae and fungi live in a symbiotic relationship a lot many times, for example: Lichens. In lichens, the algae provides the food to the fungus and the fungus in return, provides shelter to the algae.
| Algae | Fungi |
|---|---|
| ‘Alga’ as a word means Seaweed. | Fungus means ‘sponge’. |
| Algae comes under the kingdom Plantae. The unicellular cyanobacteria belong to Protista. | Fungi belongs to the kingdom of Fungi. |
| They have an autotrophic nutrition mode. | They have heterotrophic modes of nutrition. |
| These organisms are not parasitic, they have chlorophyll and make their own food by photosynthesis. | Under fungi some organisms are parasitic. |
Ques. Write three similarities between algae and fungi. (2 marks)
Ans. Mentioned below are a few similarities between algae and fungi:
- The Vascular tissues are absent in both algae as well as fungi.
- Both organisms are eukaryotic.
- Asexual reproduction is done through fragmentation which occurs in both algae and fungi. Their reproductive organs lack a protective covering.
Ques. Mention 5 characteristics of algae. (3 marks)
Ans. Mentioned below are a few characteristics of algae:
- Algae are either unicellular or multicellular in nature. They are eukaryotic organisms, found in moist places.
- Their reproduction can be sexual as well as asexual and asexual reproduction happens via spore formation. Sexual reproduction happens by the physical contact of the haploid gametes.
- They lack a well-defined body.
- Are photosynthetic in nature.
- Mostly free-living.
Ques. Are algae important for human survival? If yes, then why? (2 marks)
Ans. Algae are known to be the largest producers of oxygen, they fix about 50% carbon dioxide. They are also known as the primary producers and a lot of organisms in the ecosystem derive their food from them. A lot of commercial products are obtained from algae such as align, they are also useful for creating biomass or fertilisers as they have rapid growth.
Ques. Write a short note on phycology. (3 marks)
Ans. When you see the surface of a lake, it looks still and silent, but when you look just under the water, there is a whole entire ecosystem teeming with life. We find tiny microscopic algae floating through the water, and fishes floating in and out of a bunch of seaweed. There are various forms of algae, which include seaweed, they form an important part of all aquatic environments. These organisms produce energy through photosynthesis and become a food source for other organisms, they also provide shelter and protection for animals like fish. The study of different types of algae is known as phycology or algology. It is an important branch of biology as algae are a vital part of aquatic ecosystems. Through phycology we are able to discover different features as well as uses of algal species which contribute widely to the human world, physiologically as well as economically.
Ques. Is it harmful to drink water with algae? (3 marks)
Ans. Water affected by algae isn't at all suitable for drinking, recreation or agrarian use. Indeed, coming in contact with affected water can beget skin vexation, mild respiratory diseases and hay fever-like symptoms. Digestion of the poisons can beget gastroenteritis symptoms, similar to puking, diarrhoea, fever and headaches. However, we must communicate with a medical person who can advise or guide us about what to do and what not to, if any of these symptoms occur. However, we can always admit the affected person to the hospital where he/ she can be taken care of precisely and in a devoted manner, If the symptoms get more serious.
Ques. Classify algae into its three main classifications. (3 marks)
Ans. Algae can be classified into 3 main groups:
- Chlorophyceae or the green algae. They are green due to the presence of pigments called chlorophyll a and b. Some examples are Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra, and Chara.
- Phaeophyceae, also known as the brown algae. These are predominantly marine. They have pigments; chlorophyll a, c, carotenoids as well as xanthophyll. Examples of brown algae are Dictyota, Laminaria, and Sargassum
- Rhodophyceae or the red algae are red because of the presence of the red pigment known as r-phycoerythrin. This pigment gives a reddish hue to the snow where algae grows. Examples are Porphyra, Gracilaria, and Gelidium.
Ques. What is red algae? (2 marks)
Ans. Red algae also known as the Rhodophyceae are known as the oldest group of eukaryotic algae that contains over 6000 species. These organisms fall under kingdom Protista and their phylum is Rhodophyta. These algae contain chlorophyll and are used to prepare their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Reg algae are named as they are because of the red colour they get from the pigment Phycoerythrin. This pigment reflects the red light and absorbs the blue light and gives a reddish appearance to the algae.
Ques. Algae are bacteria or a plant? Define algal blooms. (2 marks)
Ans. Algae belong neither to bacteria nor plants. Algae is a term used to define a large collection of photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms.
An algal bloom is a rapid increase in algal population in any water body like the rivers or lakes. It is often characterised by the discolouration of the water and a peculiar odour.
Read More:
Comments