Freshwater Algae

Census of Freshwater Algae in Australia

 

 

 

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INTRODUCTION

What Are 'Algae'?

Classification System

Where Do 'Freshwater Algae' Grow?

How Do I Collect, Preserve & Observe Freshwater Algae?

 

What are 'Algae'?

The term 'algae' is one of convenience and it includes simple photosynthetic organisms not included among the mosses, liverworts (and other bryophytes) or the vascular plants. Strictly, the algae are either unicellular organisms or, if multicellular, then with one-celled sporangia (they never produce multicellular embryos inside the female reproductive organ).

In recent years, the simple division of the living world into ‘plants’ and ‘animals’ has been replaced by a more accurate and ultimately useful suite of kingdoms.

The eukaryotic algae (those with compartmentalized cells) are part of a diverse group of organisms called protists. The kingdom Protista (once included partly in the animal kingdom and partly in the plant kingdom) is now divided into a number of as yet not adequately circumscribed kingdoms.

The prokaryotic algae (the cyanobacteria) are included with bacteria in the kingdom Monera.

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Freshwater
Algae