Download Golden Algae

Golden Algae
Brittney Jackson and Kaylee Kraft
Basics
• Phylum: Chrysophyta
• Both freshwater and marine
• Majority are photosynthetic
– Pigments
• Chlorophylls a & c
• Carotenoids
– Fucoxanthin
• Energy reserves
– Oils
– Carbohydrates
Acquiring Food
• Some species eat bacteria
– Others food particles
• Most photosynthesize
Classification and Importance
• Extremely important in marine ecosystems
– Large portion of nanoplankton
– Nanoplankton: extremely minute algae that are
great producers because of their abundance
• Controversial Classification
– Diatoms and golden algae
– Brown algae
– Golden algae divided
• coccolithoporids
Movement
• Biflagellated
• Some have no flagella
– Similar to amoebas (physical characteristics), but
have chloroplasts
Structure
• Unicellular
• Small scales may coat the cells
– Silica
– Calcium carbonate
Reproduction
• Mostly asexual
–Zoospores: Flagellated, motile
spores