Fact : #1

                                                                   Algae 

                                                               

• Algae are not really plants. 

• They don't have roots, stems, or leaves like real plants do.

• They are plant-like organisms.

• Because photosynthesis produces oxygen, Algae are an important source of air we breathe.

• Without Algae, the world would be a much tougher place to live in.

• Algae are divided into a bunch of different categories.

• Green algae are the most common type and almost half of our oxygen comes from green Algae.

• Red algae have a red pigment which helps them absorb sunlight from deep in the ocean.

• Red, brown, and green algae include both, single and many-celled species.

• Euglenoids, diatoms, and dinoflagellates, are all single-celled, some of these organisms are pretty weird.

• Euglenoids often have animal-like features and eyespots that are sensitive to light!

• The cell wall of diatoms is rich in silica - the main element in glass.

• Some algae actually secrete poison into the water.

• Cyanobacteria are single-celled organisms and may actually not be algae at all.

• They don't have any cell organelles.

• Scientists think that Cyanobacteria are more related to bacteria than Algae.

• You may be eating red and brown algae without even realizing it.

• Carrageenan, a substance found in red algae makes everything from pudding to toothpaste nice and smooth!

• Dinoflagellates are responsible for red tide, that's when they cover the surface of the sea and discolor it.

• Algal blooms like red tide can cover huge areas of water and devastate ecosystems.

• A bloom can block out the sunlight from other organisms and deplete oxygen levels in the water.  

      Notes taken from : BrainPOP.com