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Microalgae or microphytes are microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye. They are phytoplankton typically found in freshwater and marine systems, living in both the water column and sediment. They are unicellular species which exist individually, or in chains or groups. Depending on the species, their sizes can range from a few micrometers (μm) to a few hundred micrometers. Unlike higher plants, microalgae do not have roots, stems, or leaves. They are specially adapted to an environment dominated by viscous forces.
Anabaena is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria that exist as plankton. They are known for nitrogen-fixing abilities, and they form symbiotic relationships with certain plants, such as the mosquito fern. They are one of four genera of cyanobacteria that produce neurotoxins, which are harmful to local wildlife, as well as farm animals and pets. Production of these neurotoxins is assumed to be an input into its symbiotic relationships, protecting the plant from grazing pressure.
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Chlorella vulgaris is a species of green microalga in the division Chlorophyta. It is mainly used as a dietary supplement or protein-rich food additive in Japan.
Aureoumbra lagunensis is a unicellular planktonic marine microalga that belongs in the genus Aureoumbra under the class Pelagophyceae. It is similar in morphology and pigments to Aureococcus anophagefferens and Pelagococcus subviridis. The cell shape is spherical to subspherical and is 2.5 to 5.0 μm in diameter. It is golden-coloured and is encapsulated with extracellular polysaccharide layers and has a single chloroplast structure with pigments.
References
- ↑ Razaghi, Ali; Godhe, Anna; Albers, Eva (2014). "Effects of nitrogen on growth and carbohydrate formation in Porphyridium cruentum". Open Life Sciences. 9 (2): 156–162. doi: 10.2478/s11535-013-0248-z . S2CID 10358541.
- ↑ Razaghi, Ali; Godhe, Anna; Albers, Eva (2014). "Effects of nitrogen on growth and carbohydrate formation in Porphyridium cruentum" (PDF). Open Life Sciences. 9 (2): 156–162. doi: 10.2478/s11535-013-0248-z .
- ↑ Tang, Zhihong; Jilu zhao; Ju, Bao; Li, Wenjun; Wen, Shaohong; Pu, Yang; Qin, Song (2016-07-01). "One-step chromatographic procedure for purification of B-phycoerythrin from Porphyridium cruentum". Protein Expression and Purification. 123: 70–74. doi:10.1016/j.pep.2016.01.018. ISSN 1046-5928. PMID 26851659.
- ↑ Copeland, H. F. (1956). The Classification of Lower Organisms. Palo Alto: Pacific Books, p. 41, .
