Rhodophyta (Red algae)
Students at Hopkins
Marine Station have done research projects on these red algae:
Antithamnion,
Ceramium, Pugetia,
Porphyra,
Gelidium, Corallinales
(
articulated or
non-geniculate),
Mastocarpus, Mazzaella, Prionitis, Chondracanthus,
Gracilariopsis,
Fauchea,
Botryocladia,
Plocamium,
Microcladia,
Polysiphonia,
Delesseria,
Botryoglossum.
With over 4,000 species, most from marine habitats, the red algae range
in morphology from simple unicells to unbranched and branched filaments
to complex multiaxial uprights and crusts. Their pigments include
chlorophyll a and the phycobiliproteins, red phycoerythrin (often
the dominant pigment) and blue phycocyanin, as well as carotenes, lutein,
zeaxanthin. Most reds have a complex life history with three phases:
tetrasporophyte,
gametophyte and
carposporophyte. In
fact, the post-fertilization development of the carposporophyte is the
best part of each species' story. Red algae have no flagellated stages;
their non-swimming sperm are called "spermatia." What
are the odds of their success?
Seaweeds
Last updated: Feb. 05, 2009
