All About Algae

Algae are organisms of various color, including greens, blue-greens, reds, browns and shades in between. The common name for algae is seaweed, probably because seaweeds are the largest and most complex form of algae. Although algae are simple organisms, their classification system is not. Over time, classifications have changed so that today algae are actually placed in three kingdoms--Plantae, Chromista and Protista. With species numbering in the thousands, algae can be found in marine environments, on land and even in snow from the mountains of California to the Antarctic.

 Blue-green Algae (Cyanobacteria)

• Introduction to Cyanobacteria: The basics about blue-green algae, including the fossil record, life history and ecology.
• Division Cyanophyta: How many are there? How old are they? Where are they found? All about blue-green algae.
• Cyanobacteria Images: Page with links to images of 12 different types of cyanobacteria. Also links back to a directory that includes other algal images.
• Cyanobacterial Blooms: Research study of tastes, odors and toxins of blue-green algal blooms.
• The Microbial World: Cyanobacteria and the "cryptobiotic crust" from the University of Edinburgh.

Rhodophyta (Red Algae)

• Coralline Red Algae: New Zealand site with downloadable guides to coralline algae that include extensive information on what they are, where they're found and more.
• Phylum Rhodophyta: All about red algae, with large images and descriptions.
• Introduction to Rhodophyta: Red algae in depth, with characteristics, systematic and classification with images.
• Digital Library: Excellent Rhodophyta tide pool images. 
• Rhodophyta: Algae projects, including red algae at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Chlorophyta (Green Algae)

• Smallest Page on the Web: Green algae from drops of pond water. Select green algae on the right side of the page. For lots of additional images and text available by following all links on the green algae page.
• Freshwater Algae: Great images, morphology, ecology and reproduction, along with QuickTime movie for each.
• Grass of the Sea: Lecture that includes green algae (II. E.) Evolution, habitat, structure and commercial variety addressed.
• Watermelon Snow: About the pink or red streaks in snow caused by chlorophyta.
• Antarctic Snow Algae: Green algae and the colorful snows they produce. The cause of different colors from green algae on snow is explained in the Extreme Life Cycle section toward the end of the article. 
• Green Algae: What is the economic significance of algae? What are key algal features?

Euglenophyta

• Phylum Euglenophyta: Large gallery of images of euglenophyta. 
• The Euglenoid Project: Multi-level resources for learning about euglenophyta.
• Kingdom Protista: Division euglenophyta of the Kingdom Protista, overview and background history.
• Tree of Life: The euglenida page in the Tree of Life web project. Lots of information and images.
• Plant-like Protista: Brief overview of kingdom protista, including euglenophyta.

Chromista

• Kingdom Chromista: Explains chromista and the distinguishing characteristics.
• Chromista Groups: Basic information with links to more information at the bottom of the page.
• Chromista Gallery: Images of chromists from the Institute for Watershed Studies.
• Kingdom Chromista in New Zealand: About the six phyla of chromists. Answers the question "What are chromists?" and more.
• Chromista: Brief description with links to types of chromists.

Seaweed

• Marine Algae: Lots of information about seaweed, with fascinating facts in the "Did you know?" section.
• Seaweed Site: Extensive resources for seaweed in general, includes seaweeds in Ireland.
• Seaweed Beyond Sushi: What does the future of seaweed farming look like?
• Kelp Forests: About kelp forests, ecology and monitoring.
• Gifts from the Seaweed: What's happening with seaweed at Northeastern University?
• Seaweeds: Some common seaweeds, including green, brown and red seaweeds, plus sea grasses.

Fossil Algae

• The Oldest Fossils: What are stromatolites? How were they formed? Where are they found?
• Fossilized Algae: Stromatolites along the "Going to the Sun Road" in Glacier National Park.
• Paleontology Laboratory: From the collections at the Texas Natural Science Center--fossil algae.
• Coralline Algae: All about coralline fossils and present-day corallines.
• Utah's Cambrian Life: Gallery of algae fossils from the Cambrian of Utah.

Toxic & Harmful Algae

• Toxic Cyanobacteria: The Toxic Cyanobacteria Home Page offers information about harmful algae, a list and description of known cyanobacteria toxins and methods of toxin research.
• About Algae Blooms: Frequently asked questions about harmful algal blooms.
• Harmful Algal Bloom Programme: Toxic algae, why are they harmful? How do they affect marine food sources?
• Harmful Algae: Comprehensive site about harmful algae blooms. Includes extensive information on the impacts on humans, wildlife and ecosystems, along with world and U.S. distribution maps.
• Harmful Algal Blooms: The CDC offers information on how microscopic algae can bloom and produce harmful effects. 
• Red Tide: Explains what red tide is, what causes it and where they are found.