ALGAE STUDY GUIDE
Relevant Sections of the Text: See Intro to protist and protozoan study guide
Objectives and study Questions:
1. Describe the common animal life cycle using the words: haploid, diploid, zygote, gamete,
unicellular, fertilization, and multicellular.
2. Describe the life cycle common to fungi and some protist using the terms: haploid, diploid,
zygote, gamete, unicellular, fertilization, and multicellular.
3. Describe the alternation of generations life cycle using the terms: sporophyte, gametophyte,
spores, haploid, diploid, zygote, gamete, unicellular, fertilization, and multicellular.
4. Does the term “algae” refer to a taxon? What are algae?
5. What types of algae are in supergroup achaeplastida?
6. What common characteristic is shared by algae in this group?
7. Explain how endosymbiosis lead to this group of algae (both red and green).
8. What types of algae are in the SAR supergroup?
9. What is different about the endosymbiotic history of this group compared to algae in
archeaplastida?
10. What is the difference between primary and secondary endosymbiosis?
11. Describe red algae in terms of their habitat and distribution, their cellular complexity,
reproductive modes, and life cycles. Give some examples of the relevance of red algae to
humans and consumer products
12. Describe green algae in terms of their habitat and distribution, their cellular complexity,
reproductive modes, and life cycles.
13. List the algae taxa within the SAR supergroup.
14. Descibe diatoms in terms of their habitat and distribution, their cellular complexity, cell
structure, reproductive modes, ecological importance.
15. Descibe dinoflagelates in terms of their habitat and distribution, their cellular complexity, cell
structure, reproductive modes, ecological importance, and life cycles.
16. Descibe golden algae in terms of their habitat and distribution, their cellular complexity, cell
structure, reproductive modes, ecological importance, and life cycles.
17. Describe brown algae in terms of their habitat and distribution, their cellular complexity,
reproductive modes, and life cycles. What are some brown algae substances that are important
commercially?
18. Describe the structure and function of holdfast, stipes, air bladder/air cyst, and blades
19. In regards to photosynthetic pigments, what is the relationship between the colors reflected by
the pigment and the colors absorbed by the pigement?
20. What is isogamy
21. What is oogamy
22. What is asexual reproduction?
23. What is sexual reprodcuction?
24. Compare and contrasts the pros and cons of asexual v. sexual reproduction.