Green algae: what are, characteristics, types and examples

If we refer to the Taxonomy of green algaethese are part of the Plantae kingdom and the viridiplantae subbre. Among them two clades or divisions are distinguished, among which are The Chlorophyta and Las Chaophyta.

• Chlorophytes are formed by marine filamentous green algae, epiphytes, unicellular algae and flagellates, among others.
• Charofíceas mainly comprise fresh water algae, with environments and land plants.

In which to Classification of green algae In respect, they can be differentiated by their reproduction, their biological cycles or their types. All these ways to classify them will see them in detail a little below. In addition, to know more about these organisms, we advise you to read this other article about the classification of algae.

As a summary, these are the main characteristics of green algae:

• The main and most distinctive characteristic of green algae is that they present AyB type chlorophyll In its structures. These pigments are responsible for giving them the green color that are usually called, although some of them may have other pigments.
• Thanks to chlorophyll they can perform Photosynthesiswhich allows them to extract biochemical energy from sunlight and water.
• The vast majority of them are fresh waterwhether it deals with unicellular and multicellular green algae. The habitat of green algae algae usually consists of Terrestrial areas with a lot of moisture Already covered from the direct sun, as well as rocks, trees or even snow benches and, sometimes, they are also in symbiotic association, giving rise to lichens.
• If we look at the different forms of reproduction of green algaewe find four great types: hologamia, conjugation, planogamy and oogamy.

Reproduction of green algae

• Those that are reproduced by hologamia, which are mainly unicellular green algae. In this reproduction the entire green algae does Gameto’s function, and merges with another equal.
• Those that are reproduced by conjugation, which is very common in green algae. In this type of reproduction, the subjects have two filaments in parallel, making one of the male and the other of the female. Then, they give rise to some tubes between both filaments, for which the male sends the female the cellular material, which will form a zigospora.
• The planogamia reproduction method is given through gametes with mobile capacity propitiated by flagella.
• Finally, oogamy reproduction occurs when the female gamete does not have scourge and therefore is still.

These are the Green algae types existing:

• Chlorophyta.
• Prasinophytina.
• Chlorophytina.
• Charophyta.
• Coleochaetales.
• Chlorakybophyceae.
• Charophyceae.
• Klebsormidophyceae.
• Mesostigmatophyceae.
• Zygnematophyceae.

They are the most numerous, with around 8,000 species. They store starch in their plastics and cover both multicellular and unicellular species. Both sweet and marine waters and even high humidity areas and have a haplodiploon life cycle. They are classified into two great types: Prasinophytina and Chlorophytina.

Prasinophytina

These are microscopic green algae, flagellate and unicellular. They are marine environments and are currently considered primitive organisms, very simple.

Chlorophytina

These are pluricellular green algae that are characterized by developing ficoplasts, their own microtubules.

As examples, some Chlorophyte green algae names They are mamielllophyceae (Prasinophytina), Chlorophyceae (Chlorophytina) and Pedinophyceae (Chlorophytina).

These algae are the ancestors closest to land plants. They have calcified cell walls, with cellulose, ayb chlorophyll, starch, xantofila and carotene. They are from both sweet and brackish waters.

Coleochaetales

These are green albuidal -type algae, which grow from the edges of the album itself. They are aquatic and both asexual reproduction by zoospores and sexual by oogamy.

Chlorakybophyceae

These are formed by a single species of algae, the chlorokybus atmophyticus, a unicellular green algae of terrestrial habitat that can be found in alpine areas.

Charophyceae

Also called coaral algae, these are free life organisms that can be found in fresh waters. They can reach sizes of up to 60 cm, being the only ones of the Charophyta that reach this size.

Klebsormidophyceae

These Carophytes comprise only 3 genres of multicellular algae with filaments without ramifications. They are the entransia, the concidiella and the Klebsormidium.

Mesostigmatophyceae

Here we find a single genus of unicellular algae, the mesostigma, with a single species too, the M. Viride Lauterborn, of fresh water.

Zygnematophyceae

In the latter type we find both unicellular and multicellular water algae. They reproduce by conjugation or isogamy, and are closely related to terrestrial plants.

To speak summarized about the great importance of green algaewe highlight these aspects:

• Green algae played a key role in the Evolution of plant organismsfirst colonizing the aquatic media to give way to the development of land plants. Here you can learn more about the origin and evolution of plants.
• In addition, they are part of the Food chain base In aquatic ecosystems and some land and, in addition, they are oxygen producers through photosynthesis.
• Currently, the Pharmaceutical and Food Industry They cultivate and use them both for their medicinal and nutritious properties, and that are foods of great nutritional value and with a very beneficial impact on human health.

If you want to learn more about green algae and other types, as well as their relationship with plants, we advise this other ecology article about similarities and differences between plants and algae.

If you want to read more articles similar to Green algae: what are, characteristics, types and exampleswe recommend that you enter our biodiversity category.