Organic Waste Recycling

Algal production 221

Table 5.1 Summary of the major phyla of algae (adapted from Mitchell 1974)

Phylum Common name and
species
Pigmentation Other characteristics

Cynophyta Blue green algae;
Spirulina,
Oscillatoria,
Anabaena

Blue-green;

phycocyanin,

phycoerythrin

chlorophyll a and

b

Multicellular or
unicellular but
usually microscopic;
some forms become
unicellular in
turbulent media;
usually with
gelatinous sheath
Euglenophyta Euglenoids;Euglena Grass green Unicellular motile;
lacking cell wall
Chlorophyta Green algae; Chlorella,
Oocystis,
Scenedesmus

Grass green

Chlorophyll a

andb

Unicellular or
multicellular; a few
microscopic; cell wall
of cellulose and
pectins
Chrysophyta Yellow green or golden
brown algae
(diatoms); Diatoma,
Navicula,
Asterionella

Yellow green to

golden brown;

xanthophylls and

carotenes may

mask the

chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll a

andc

Microscopic, mostly

unicellular; includes

the large group of

diatoms which have a

cell wall containing

silica

Pyrrophyta Some are
dinoflagellates;
Peridinium,
Massarita

Yello green to

dark;

xanthophylls

predominant.

Chlorophyll a

andc

Unicellular motile;

cellulose cell wall

Phaeophyta Brown algae; Fucus Olive green to dark
brown;
fucoxanthin and
other
xanthophylls
predominant
Chlorophyll a
andc

Principally

multicellular and

marine (sea weeds)

cellulose and pectin

cell wall

Rhodophyta Red algae;
Polysiphonia

Red; phycocyanin,

phycoerythrin.

Chlorophyll a

Some unicellular,

mostly multi cellular;

marine-cellulose and

pectin cell wall