Algae (main)

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Algae



  • Algae Might Replace Some U.S. Oil Imports Featured News Article Algae Might Replace Some U.S. Oil Imports Algae Might Replace Some U.S. Oil Imports
    ?Main Image: A June 2010 photo shows raceway ponds in Southern California was taken by the QuickBird satellite. A PNNL study shows that 17 percent of the United States’... More »
  • Red tide Featured Article Red tide Red tide (Algae)
    A "red tide" is a common term used for a harmful algal bloom. Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae — simple ocean plants that live... More »
  • Ocean acidification troubles Featured Article Ocean acidification troubles Ocean acidification troubles
    The seas in which corals and other calcifying species dwell are turning acidic, their pH slowly dropping as Earth's oceans acidify in response to increased carbon dioxide... More »
  • Algae Featured Article Algae Algae (Algae) (Algae)
    Algae comprise a diverse group of typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms. The largest and most complex marine forms are generally... More »
Recently Updated
800px-Frog in pond among aquatic plants.jpg Aquatic plants (Algae) Last Updated on 2014-11-09 18:55:53 Aquatic plants grow in shallow to deep water zones. The three main types of aquatic plants are (1) single-celled phytoplankton, (2) periphyton (algae growing attached to substrates) and (3) multicellular macrophytes. Phytoplankton includes several groups of algae (e.g., green algae, golden brown algae, euglenophytes, dinoflagelates, and diatoms) and one group of photosynthetic bacteria (Cyanobacteria). Planktonic algae may be either benthic (attached to a substrate) or planktonic (floating in the water column). There are large numbers of phytoplankton (> 400 species) in many bodies of freshwater; phytoplankton are most common in habitats with high nutrient levels. Periphyton may grow attached to other plants (ephytic periphyton) or on rocks and other substrate (epibenthic periphyton). Typically, periphyton is made up of a diatoms, a variety of filamentous algae... More »
Chandler grass.jpg Macrophytes (Algae) Last Updated on 2014-10-01 11:04:52 Macrophytes are the conspicuous plants that dominate wetlands, shallow lakes, and streams. Macroscopic flora include the aquatic angiosperms (flowering plants), pteridophytes (ferns), and bryophytes (mosses, hornworts, and liverworts). An aquatic plant can be defined as one that is normally found growing in association with standing water whose level is at or above the surface of the soil. Standing water includes ponds, shallow lakes, marshes, ditches, reservoirs, swamps, bogs, canals, and sewage lagoons. Aquatic plants, though less frequently, also occur in flowing water, in streams, rivers, and springs. Macrophytes constitute a diverse assemblage of taxonomic groups and are often separated into four categories based on their habit of growth: floating unattached, floating attached, submersed, and emergent. Floating unattached plants are those in which most of the plant is... More »
Lichenes.jpg Lichen (Algae) Last Updated on 2014-08-28 00:58:22 The lichen has traditionally been referred to as a prime example of a symbiotic relationship. Each lichen consists of an intimate association between a fungus and a species of algae. The algae within the lichen photosynthesizes, providing food for both symbionts. The fungus protects the alga from harmful light intensities, produces a substance that accelerates photosynthesis in the algae, and absorbs and retains water and minerals for both organisms. There is physiological and ultrastructural evidence that suggests the fungus parasitizes the algae in a controlled fashion and, in some instances, actually destroys the algal cells. There are about 25,000 species of lichens known and they are capable of living in environmental conditions that kill most other forms of life. The number of aquatic lichens is limited as most live under the blazing sun often on bare rocks. Aquatic... More »
Garden pond 1.jpg Backyard pond (Algae) Last Updated on 2014-06-25 17:01:23 A pond or water garden will likely become the focal point for all your backyard conservation. Backyard ponds and water gardens are for birds, butterflies, frogs, fish, and you and your family. These ponds are typically small, sometimes no larger than 3 to 4 feet in diameter. They may be built in barrels or other patio containers. Water is effective in drawing wildlife to your backyard. It is also a natural, relaxing, and scenic addition that can provide interest and enjoyment. Consider locating your backyard pond where you can see it from a deck or patio. Have it blend in with its natural surroundings. Elevate the soil around the pond slightly so that excess water will flow away from the pond, not into it. Make sure that any drainage from the pond is away from your house. Plan to landscape around the pond to provide habitat for frogs and birds that need land and water.... More »
Prof. Th. W. Engelmann.jpg Engelmann, Theodore Wilhelm Last Updated on 2014-06-15 19:05:28 Theodore Wilhelm Engelmann (1843 - 1909), a German physiologist, showed that the light reactions of photosynthesis, which capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy, occur within the chloroplasts and respond only to the red and blue hues of natural light. His experiments involved a modified microscope condenser that allowed him to expose parts of photosynthetically active cells of the green alga Spirogyra to a thin ray of light. His aim was to discover which components of the cell functioned as light receptors. Further Reading Energy Luminaries: Theodore Engelmann (National Science Teachers Association) Photosynthesis: The Light Reactions (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Photosynthesis: The Dark Reactions (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) More »
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