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Simple Explanation of Algae

The University of Texas-Austin reports there is no "simple" definition that defines algae. However, algae are generally recognized as organisms that use photosynthesis to make their food. They usually lack the roots, leaves and stems found in plants, but are the most photosynthesizing organisms on Earth. Algae produce more oxygen and capture more sunlight than all other plants combined on the planet, according to Colorado University. Algae make up the very foundation of the food web, giving life to a diverse range of animal. However, the classification of algae can include organisms that defy these typical attributes sometimes.

Algae are Highly Adaptable
- Algae live in a diverse range of habitats and come in all sizes from microscopic to hundreds of meters. For example, phytoplankton, which live in lakes and oceans, can accumulate in the thousands just on a small pinhead. Other the other hand, seaweed can grow from the bottom of the ocean floor all the way to the surface, stretching hundreds of meters. Aside from aquatic environment, you can also find algae in the soil, on rocks, in trees and on animals. Algae also appears in hot environments or cold environments from the extremes of hot springs to the extremes of polar ice.
Partnerships are Important
- Algae often form partnerships in nature, partnerships that are usually mutually beneficial. For example, Colorado University reports that algae is often found in coral reefs, embedded in the cells of reef-building coral. They also live hand-in-hand with fungi growing along rocks, trees, cliffs and boulders. In both cases the algae benefits from protection and nutrients for sustainability, but in turn will provide oxygen and complex nutrients, allowing the partner to survive.
Possible Building Blocks of Life
- Algae produce an immense amount of oxygen and has existed on Earth for somewhere around 3 billion years, according to Colorado University. The ancestors of cyanobacteria are thought to represent the earliest form of life on Earth, forming at a time when the Earth's atmosphere was devoid of oxygen. This has lead scientists to conclude that algae are responsible for the early accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere, paving the way for other plants and eventually animals to evolve.
Types of Algae
- There are two categories cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae, according to some scientists. Others, however, disagree and feel that such classification is too simplistic due to the sheer number of algae and their diverse characteristics. In 1997 some scientists introduced a classification system that breaks all algae down in 11 different phyla classifications, reports Colorado University. The most common are green algae, red algae, brown algae, dinoflagelletes and cyanobacteria.

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