Red algae

Plant-like Protist

These organisms contain red photosynthetic pigments called phycobilins that give them a red color. These pigments enable the red algae to absorb green, violet, and blue light that can penetrate water to a depth of 100 m or more.

The cell walls of the red alga Coralline contain calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate binds together the bodies of other organisms called stony coral to form coral reefs.

Most red algae in phylum Rhodophyta are multicellular.

Brown algae

They get their brown color from a secondary carotenoid pigment called fucoxanthin

The bladder is filled with air and keeps the alga floating near the surface of the water where light is available for photosynthesis.

algae live along rocky coasts in cool areas of the world.

Brown algae are members of phylum Phaeophyta

The holdfast is the rootlike structure

Kelp is an example of a brown alga.

The blades are the flattened portions

The bladder is the bulging portion

The stipe is the stalklike part

The body of a kelp is called the thallus

Green algae

Green algae, of phylum Chlorophyta. Most live in freshwater, some live on damp ground, in snow, and even in the fur of some animals.

When the daughter cells have matured, they digest the parental cell and become free-swimming.

Green algae can have one cell or many cells.

Green algae share some traits with plants. Both contain chlorophyll, have cell walls, and store their food as carbohydrates.

The flagella of all cells beat at the same time to move the colony.

Smaller daughter colonies form balls inside the larger colony.

The one-celled species Volvox forms colonies that look like a hollow ball.

cytoplasm hold the colony together.