Question

What is the difference between primary algae and secondary algae? Six major groups of algae. How are they classified into these groups, and what is unique about each group? What is the difference between diatoms and coccoliths found in algae? What is the difference between foraminiferans and radiolarians found in protozoa? What characteristics differentiate the protozoan groups (foraminiferans and radiolarians) from the algal groups (diatoms and coccoliths) from a microscopic examination? Of what economic and academic value are these organisms?

Answer 1

1. Primary algae has eukaryotic cells which engulf a prokaryotic cell which can undergoes photosynthesis. While secondary algae has eukaryotic cells which engulf a another eukaryotic cell.

2. Major groups of algae.

- Euglenophyta

- Chrysophyta ( diatoms)

- pyrrophyta ( fire algae)

- Chlorophyta (green algae)

- Rhodophyta ( red algae)

- Paeophyta ( brown algae)

- Xanthophyta ( yellow-green algae)

3. They are classified according to the structure of choroplast, chlorophyll used in photosynthesis and type of reproduction.

Unique features-----

I) Euglenophyta - they can store carbohydrates in the body, use chlorophyll a,b. Pigments are caretenoids and xanthophyll.

ii) Chrysophyta - recovered from phytoplankton, it dominate productivity and biomass off the small phytoplankton.

iii) Pyrrophyta - Can store starch, achieve a great abundance which is called as red tides. It is toxic to the marine animal. It contains poison chemical.

iv) Green algae - it contains calcium carbonate.

v) Red algae - it contains chlorophyll a and d.

vi) Brown algae - it provide it's its surface for nutrition exchange. Sargassum weed can flot in the mid Atlantic gyre so it is called as sargasso sea. Sargassum weed is the example of brown algae.

Yellow-Green algae - it use carbohydrates as leucosin.

4. Difference between coccoliths and diatoms is coccoliths made of calcium carbonate but diatoms made of opaline silica in striking pattern

5. Difference between Foraminifera and radiolarians is foraminifera is round in shape and made of calcium carbonate but radiolarians mane of silica or strontium in needle shape.

6. Microscopic View------

Algae - pear shaped cells with chloroplast and represent as colonies.

Protozoa - locomotion can be visible and formation of spores as well.

7. Economic and academic value of algae-------

- food source

- soil binding

- fertilizer

- alkaline reclaiming

- many research purposes

- healthy marine ecosystems

Economic and academic value of protozoa----

- Sanitation

-water purification

- In laboratory for research purposes and medicines.