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The Classification of Algae - Comparing Three Schools of Thought - Plantlet
The Classification of Algae - Comparing Three Schools of Thought - Plantlet
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Algae refers to a heteromorphic group of organisms which are capable of doing photosynthesis as they
contain chlorophyll as their primary pigment and lack a sterile covering around their reproductive cells.
The members are grouped together as they share some common characteristics. However, they are not
necessarily closely related in evolution perspective. It is really fascinating that an apparently simple group
of organisms like algae possesses such diverse nature in both morphological and physio-chemical
characteristics.
Often the phycologists become puzzled as they start defining the term algae. It is so diverse that putting
all the common characters to define algae in a single sentence is almost an impossible task. To support
such claim, we can recall two world famous phycologists’ statement: “Sometimes even the professional
botanists and biologists find algae embarrassingly elusive of definition” (Bold and Wynne).
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Due to its diverse nature, the algal classification is also a difficult task. Some schools of scientists prefer
certain characters of algae while the other choose the remaining ones. Again some botanists opt for the
modern phylogenetic system. It has been quite unequivocal by now that as the science of classification
and nomenclature is becoming more diverse, the algal classification is getting more complicated.
However, today we are going to compare three classifications as proposed by: Check Also
H.C. Bold and M.J. Wynne (1978, 1985 (the one given in 1985 is followed here))
R.E. Lee (1999, 2008 (the one given in 2008 is followed here))
Introduction to Marine Botany:
Before diving into these classifications, we need to know some basic things about nomenclature and bases
Plankton
of classification.
1 The word ‘plankton’ has
been derived from a Gr.
Nomenclature of Algae word ‘planktos’ means
drifting. So, plankton …
The Greek word for algae is ”phykos” and according to International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
(ICBN), a group of algae should necessarily be incorporated by the word ”phykos”. Because of such
incorporation, the words such as Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Rhodophyceae (phyceae derived
Division: phyta
Class: phyceae
Order: ales
Family: aceae
So, as the words like Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta end with ”phyta”, they are equivalent to
the status of a division; words like Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae and Rhodophyceae end with ”phyceae”
Sub-division: phytina
Sub-class: phycidae
Sub-order: inales
Sub-family: oideae
The history of classification of algae dates back to Carolous Linnaeous, who first classified plants into 25
classes based on “sexual system” considering the number of stamens and carpels in their flowers. Out of
his 25 classes, in “Cryptogamia” which contains plants with “concealed reproductive organs”, Linnaeus
proposed 14 algal genera of which only 4, Conferva, Ulva, Fucus and Chara are now considered as algae
(Dixon 1973 ).
W. H. Harvey is considered as one of the first algologist who proposed the first descriptive algal
classification. Since W. H. Harvey several classifications have been proposed based on a variety of
characters including morphological, physiological, biochemical and more recently the molecular
characters have also been considered. The main characters which are being widely used for algal
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classification are:
IV. Flagella
Basis of classification
Classification is the systematic grouping of organisms into categories on the basis of relationships
In case of classifying algae, the taxonomists consider rarely one, and generally a combination of a few or
:
more of the following characters.
In normal microscope-
Types of pigments
Cell structure
Flagella hair
Flagella swellings
Eyespot
Thylakoid grouping
External scales
Pit connection
Silification vesicles
Theca or scales
Storage products
Schools of Thought
The algae should be divided first into several divisions (i.e. phyta such as Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta etc.)
and then in each division, there should be different classes (i.e. phyceae such as Chlorophyceae,
:
Phaeophyceae etc.).
Supporters of the first view classified algae into divisions as they considered:
Base of classification
Pigmentation
Storage product
Cellular organisation
Flagellation
Algae is itself equivalent to a division, and therefore it can only be further divided into classes (i.e.
phyceae) and not into divisions (i.e. phyta). So in this school of thought there is no word like ”phyta”.
Base of classification
As the following characters are common in all algae, Fritsch and his followers are disinclined to form any
divisions rather considered Algae itself as a division.
1. Chlorophyll-a is ubiquitous to all algae, and so there is definitely a common origin from a common
3. Product of assimilation may be different but the process of assimilation is same in all.
Whereas the above two classifications were proposed basing on some physical and chemical
characteristics of algae, there is a third classification as proposed by Robert Edward Lee based on the
CER membrane
Phycobilins
Chlorophyll
Carotenoid pigment
Bold and Wynne (1985) recognized ten divisions of algae retaining the nomenclature given by Papenfuss
(1946), except for blue-green algae. They considered Cyanophyceae as a division and called it
5. Euglenophyta
8. Pyrrhophyta (Dinoflagellates)
9. Cryptophyta
Fritsch’s classification
Fritsch (1935, 1945 and his followers) opined that algae is itself equivalent to a division, and therefore it
can only be divided into classes (=phyceae). So there is no word like phyta (e.g. Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta
etc.) in classification proposed by him and his followers. There are in total eleven classes in Fritsch’s
classification.
He was the first phycologist who suggested a most comprehensive and authoritative classification of algae
in his book ”The Structure and The Reproduction of The Algae”.
Eleven classes as proposed by Fritsch:
:
The classes are based on
Pigmentation.
Types of flagella.
3. Chrysophyceae
5. Cryptophyceae
6. Dinophyceae
7. Chloromonadineae
8. Euglenineae
10. Rhodophyceae
Robert Edward Lee divided the algae based on evolution and formed 4 evolutionary groups of algae
2. Eukaryotic algae-with chloroplast surrounded only by the two membranes of the chloroplast envelope
(Glaucophyta, Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta)
4. Algae which have two membranes of Chloroplast Endoplasmic Reticulum (Cryptophyta and
Heterokontophyta)
The following table provides a useful scheme of the differences among the three schools of thought which
may come handy while studying the three classifications together.
N.B: Our team is working on the differences. We will add more of them shortly.
15 divisions in 4
Number of divisions 10 No divisions
groups
Number of classes – 11 –
Pigmentation Pigmentation
Storage product The metabolic or
Evolution of
Cellular organisation assimilatory food
Classification basis chloroplasts
Cell wall chemistry products
The above discussion avouches (=certify) well that the science of classification is a complicated one and in
case of algae it has reached its apogee (=highest point). Besides, we believe the more detailed study on
algae would give rise to more accurate (or inaccurate?) classifications.
This article will be incomplete if the author doesn’t quote the words of Prescott (1969) about the
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stepper
Open
…..ideas concerning classification systems continually vary as more and more facts are disclosed which
require modifications of the previous concepts. Further, we may come to realize that as long as there are
three men on the earth, there will be at least two different interpretations of the facts, possibly three, and
we may find that none of them is correct…
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