BIOL 336 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Red Algae, Homothallism, Heterothallic
12 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Occurrence and activities of algae (cont. : most algae are aquatic, and most aquatic algae are marine, importance of algae. Influence atmospheric chemistry and biogeochemistry of nutrient cycling. Form oil, and siliceous and limestone deposits. Source of biofuels and human food/industrial products. Represent the base of food chain supporting fisheries, marine. What are algae? mammals and bird populations: heterogeneous aggregation of remotely related groups from bacterial to plantlike seaweeds, vary in size and form from tiny single cells (like bacteria sized) to giant seaweeds. Algal nutrition: autotrophy: synthesis of high-energy organic compounds from low- energy inorganic compounds. Take inorganics and put them into organic form. Primary producers: first producers of organic materials in food chain: most algae are not obligate autotrophs, some algae are heterotrophic (obtain organic carbon from external environment) Osmotrophic: take up dissolved organic particles: numerous algae are mixotrophic which is autotrophic + heterotrophic. Could survive with photosynthesis alone but they take in vitamins through their membranes.
