BIOL-2026EL Study Guide - Final Guide: Macrocystis Pyrifera, Antheridium, Motility
1 Feb 2021
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Document Summary
The algae are eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms and are thus differentiated from all other microorganisms. Most algae are found in freshwater and marine environments, but a few are terrestrial. Although they occur as unicellular, colonial and multicellular forms, algae lack tissue differentiation and are thus distinguished from plants. Single-celled algae can be as small as bacteria, while others, such as certain seaweeds and kelp, can attain sizes of around 1 to 75 m in length, respectively. The vegetative body of algae is called the thallus, which varies from simple single cells (single-celled algae may be as small as bacteria) to complex multicellular forms (such as the giant kelp). Some unicellular algae have asexual reproduction where gametes do not fuse to form a zygote. Three types of asexual reproduction include fragmentation, spores, and binary fission. Fragmentation thallus breaks up and each fragmented part grows to form a new thallus.
