Algae play a huge role in nature and human life. Firstly, they are active participants in the cycle of substances in the environment (the simplest unicellular species).
Secondly, by indispensable natural sources of vital trace elements (vitamins, minerals). They are also used in medicine, cosmetology, food industry and other industries.
Their breeding does not require difficult conditions, but they grow at a depth of several meters to 40-100.
The life cycles of algae have several stages of flow - depending on the complexity of the structure. The same with the ability to reproduce.
What species, groups, names exist, in which sea algae is cultivated, photographs and other interesting information are discussed in this article.
Description
Algae, unlike plants, grow in an aquatic environment (although there are plants that live in a similar environment). There are also soil, rocky representatives.
Life in water has relative stability: the presence of liquid, constant illumination and temperature, as well as a number of other advantages. And as a result, each cell that is part of the algae is identical to the rest. And therefore, these water "plants" (conventional name) practically do not have any pronounced features in their appearance (except for some more "highly developed" ones).
Most algae live in coastal areas of the seas - rocky shores, less often - sand or pebbles. The maximum height at which these aquatic "plants" can live is slightly wetted by sea drops of the surface (an example of almost planktonic - Sargassus), the minimum is a few meters in depth (an example of deep-water - red).
There are algae that live in tidal ponds of rocky surfaces. But such species of marine inhabitants must withstand the lack of moisture, variable temperature and degree of salinity.
Algae are used in medicine, agronomy (soil fertilizer), food production for humans, industry and so on.
Body
Algae in their structure consist of one or many cells.
This is a single system, which is the same type of cells layered on each other. Dissection may be present here, but the presence of vegetative organs and other parts of the body of this aquatic "plant" is ruled out.
The appearance of algae is a bit similar to terrestrial non-wood plants.
The body of the alga consists of:
- thallus (thallus);
- trunk (may or may not be present);
- captures (for fastening to surfaces - rocks, bottom, other similar plants);
- trailers.
Types of Algae
There are a huge number - from unicellular to complex (resembling higher plants). There are also different sizes - huge (up to 60 meters) and microscopic.
In total, there are about 30,000 species of algae. They are divided into the following departments:
- blue-eyed;
- prochlorofitic;
- cryptophytic;
- reds;
- golden;
- dinophytic;
- diatoms;
- brown;
- green
- yellow green
- euglenic;
- char.
Also, the division is carried out into such groups of algae (according to the degree of complexity of the structure):
- amoeba-like (examples: golden, yellow-green, pyrophytic);
- with a monadic structure - unicellular, move due to flagella, some have an intracellular primitive structure (examples of algae: green, yellow-green, golden, euglena, pyrophyte);
- with a coccoid structure - unicellular, without any organoids, form colonies;
- with palmeloid structure - the connection of several coccoid masses into a common mass, are large, attached to the substrate;
- with a filamentous structure — these are already transitional from unicellular to multicellular algae; they look like a branched thread;
- with a lamellar structure - multicellular, which are formed from filaments, which are combined with subsequent layering in various planes, forming plates (there are single-layer and multi-layer);
- with a siphon structure - they consist of a multi-core giant cell, similar to branching threads and balls.
Names and photos
Types of algae in the images:
- Unicellular - consist of a cell, nucleus and flagella (trailers). You can see them only under a microscope.
- Multicellular - kelp, which are known to man under the name "sea kale".
Life cycle
In algae, development occurs according to a cycle or cyclomorphosis (this depends on the complexity of the structure of the water "plant" and, accordingly, the method of reproduction).
Algae that do not have (or have in exceptional cases) the ability to reproduce sexually, due to development, change only the structure of the body. The concept of cyclomorphoses applies to such aquatic plants (examples of algae: hyella, blue-green, glenodynamium).
Cyclomorphosis is characterized by a high degree of plasticity. The passage of stages depends largely on the environmental conditions. The manifestation of strictly all stages of cyclomorphosis does not always occur, some may even “fall out” of the general sequence.
Strict passage of all stages of the life cycle of algae (in the diagram above) is exclusively for those aquatic plants that occupy the upper stage of evolution (for example, brown ones).
Brown algae
These are multicellular aquatic "plants" that belong to ochrophytes. The name comes from the color of the pigment substance contained in the chromatophores: green (which means the ability to photosynthesis), as well as yellow, orange and brown, which, when mixed, form a brownish tint.
They grow at depths of 6-15 and 40-100 meters in all marine reservoirs of the globe.
Brown algae, in comparison with the others, have a more complex structure: they have a similarity of organs and different tissues in the body.
Cell surfaces consist of a cellulose gelatinous substance, in which proteins, salts, carbohydrates.
In every algae cell there is a core, chloroplasts (in the form of disks), and a nutrient (polysaccharide).
Brown algae life cycle
This group of water "plants" distinguishes several types of growth: through the apex or cell division.
Brown algae reproduce sexually and asexually. This means that some of them are recreated through the fragmentation of their body (thallus), the formation of the so-called kidneys or thanks to disputes.
Zoospores have flagella and are motile. And also give a gametophyte, thanks to which germ cells are formed.
There are gametes obtained from sporophyte and having eggs and spermatozoa in the haploid stage.
And these water "plants" emit pheromones, which contributes to the "meeting" of male and female germ cells.
Thanks to all of these processes, brown algae have alternating generations.
Brown algae application
The most popular representative of this group is kelp, or "sea kale". This algae grows along the coast, forming thickets. The composition of kelp contains a fairly large number of macro- and microelements vital for a person, the most important of which is iodine. In addition to food, it is also used as fertilizer for soils.
Brown algae is also used in medicine and in the manufacture of cosmetics.
Characteristics of unicellular algae
These varieties of water "plants" are an independent system that is able to grow and develop, as well as self-reproducing.
In size it is the microscopic size of algae (not visible to the naked eye), which in fact can be considered a “factory” for the extraction of useful raw materials: through the process of absorption of carbon dioxide and mineral salts from the environment, followed by their processing into proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
The life-support products of unicellular algae are oxygen and carbon dioxide, which allows them to be active participants in the natural cycle.
Algae breeding
In which of the seas is the widest breeding of these marine "plants" carried out? According to reference data, the maximum amount of algae is contained in the White Sea. On the shore there is the village of Rebolda (in the Solovetsky Island area), where they are engaged in the extraction and harvesting of these water gifts.
There are 2 types of brown algae: the famous kelp and fucus ("sea grapes").
In addition to eating, biologically active substances that are used in medicine are made from these “plants”. These are very useful preparations, since they contain environmentally friendly algae of the White Sea.
Such products reduce blood cholesterol, improve the functioning of the thyroid gland, prevent the development of age-related diseases associated with blood vessels, and so on. “Sea grapes” are well used for problems with varicose veins, cellulite, wrinkles.
Role in nature and human life
Algae are studied by specialized science - algology (or phycology), which is a branch of botany.
The collection of information about these aquatic "plants" is necessary to solve such important problems: general biological problems; business tasks and so on.
This science is developing in the following areas:
- The use of algae in medicine.
- Use in solving environmental issues.
- The accumulation of information about algae in order to solve other problems.
These marine "plants" currently both live in natural reservoirs and are grown on special farms.
Interesting information
- Seaweed, as food and not only, is popular in many countries of the world: Indonesia (annual collection of 3-10 million tons), Philippines, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, Chile, England, USA ( California) and others.
- In the Philippines, a new food product has now been discovered - seaweed noodles (contains calcium, magnesium, iodine).
- Many beloved Japanese nori seaweed, which is dried by leaves and looks like square thin plates, is applicable in making sushi, rolls, and soups.
- In Wales, they make a popular oversaw bread and red seaweed laver.
- Edible gelatin, additives, alginates (dressings, used in dentistry) are made from algae.
- The agar made from these water "plants" is used in the preparation of confectionery, desserts, drinks, meat dishes.
- Algae concentrates are used in drugs to lose weight. Also included in toothpastes, cosmetics and paints.
- Alginates are used in industry (paper coatings, paints, gels, glue, textile printing).
Summary
The types of algae considered in the article (with photos), names, groups, breeding and application only indicate that these are really important components of not only nature, but also many aspects of human life (health, beauty, industrial raw materials, food, and so on) . Without them, there would be no notorious "sea kale", marmalade, sushi and other such familiar dishes.
At first glance, it may seem that these simple natural "plants" are primitive (in their structure, life cycle) algae, but in reality everything is different. It turns out that even these aquatic “plants” have sexual reproduction, emit pheromones and support the circulation of substances in nature.