ALGAE AND ITS ROLE IN

ECOSYSTEM
 ALGAE:
• Member of aquatic photosynthetic organism
of kingdom protista.
• Lack true stem, leaves and roots.
• Ranges from microscopic to 200 feet.
• Defined as eukaryotic organisms that
photosynthesize but lack multicellular
reproductive structure like plants.
Distribution of Algae:
• Planktonic algae- Floats in water
• Neustonic algae- Grows on water surface
• Cryophilic algae- Occurs in snow
• Thermophilic algae- Lives in Hot springs
• Edaphic algae- Live on or in soil
• Epiphytic algae- Grow on fungi, land plants
• Epilithic algae- live on rocks
• Epizoic algae- Grow on animals
 Ecological importance:
• Forms organic molecules from Carbondioxide
and water through photosynthesis.
• Similar to land plants, algae are at the base of
the food chain.
• The existence of nearly all marine life depends
upon algae.
• Produces 30-50 percent of the net global
oxygen available to humans.
• Algae as processed and non-processed food have
an annual commercial value of several billion
dollars.
• The green aglae Monostroma is eaten as salads
or fish dishes.
• The microscopic green algae has high protein
content (53-65 percent) and has even been
considered as a possible food source during
extended space travel.
• Several companies have grown oil producing
algae to extract oil.