The primary role of algae in the ecosystem is the generation of food, as well as the creation of oxygen gas. Fungal hyphae are a type of cell chain that is produced by fungi. The creation of the thallus is the result of the interaction between algae and fungi. The algae are autotrophs, which means they produce food for themselves. It contains chlorophylls, which are necessary for photosynthesis to take place in plants. Fungi, on the other hand, are heterotrophs, which means that they obtain organic material from sources in the external environment.
Algae
Algae are plant-like organisms that are mostly unicellular in nature. They are diverse and can be found on every continent on the planet. They play a vital role in ecosystems because they contribute to the creation of aquatic food chains. It emits oxygen gas into the atmosphere as a result of this activity. It contributes to the production of approximately 70% of oxygen.
Algae have a single chloroplast in each cell of their body. It is essential for the process of photosynthesis to take place. However, there are some algae that can thrive in complete darkness as well as in the light. Heterotrophic algae are those that feed on other organisms.
Microalgae such as Cyanobacteria, which are not related to eukaryotic algae, are a form of microalgae. It is also referred to as blue-green algae in some circles. It is through the mixing of gametes that sexual reproduction takes place in this case.
Due to the sexual dimorphism of eukaryotic algae, male and female gametes are produced by distinct individuals in a same population. Algae reproduce asexually through the formation of motile spores and division through the process of mitosis. It is classified as macroalgae, and it is distinguished by the presence of a multicellular thallus-like structure.
Classification of Algae
The three principal types of algae are classified as Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Phaeophyta. The Chlorophyta are the most varied category of algae on the planet. Among the pigments present in the Chlorophyta are chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and xanthophylls, among others. It is also referred to as green algae in some circles. Rhodophyta are plants that produce phycoerythrin, which is a photosynthetic pigment. It is also referred to as red algae. Phaeophyta is composed of the photosynthesizing pigments chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin, which are found in high concentrations in plants. Brown algae is another name for this type of algae.
Fungi
In the kingdom fungi, fungi are classified as organisms that grow on other organisms. Eukaryotic organisms can be classified as either unicellular or multicellular. Fungi are mostly stationary, and their growth occurs in the form of fungal hyphae. They are cell chains that are cylindrical and thread-like in appearance. Each cell in the chain is separated from the others in the same chain. The chitin cell wall is the most distinctive characteristic.
Fungi are organisms that live on and decompose dead plants. Digestive enzymes are created by fungus, which absorb sugar and other basic nutrients through fungal hyphae, similar to how bacteria digest food. Fungi spread through the release of reproductive spores, which are carried by the wind or carried by water.
Classification of Fungi
Fungi are classified into six groups: Microsporidia, Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Glomeromycota, Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, and Blastocladiomycota. Microsporidia are classified into five groups:
Microsporidia are unicellular parasites that can be found in both protists and animals. Basidiomycota play an important role in the production of meiospores in basidiomycota. Ascomycota are important in the development of spores within the ascus. Glomeromycota is a fungal hyphae-infested fungus that travels with plants and colonises the roots of the host plant. Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, and Blastocladiomycota are the fungi that produce mobile zoospores (spores on the move).
Difference between Algae and Fungi
| Character | Algae | Fungi |
| Kingdom | Algae belong to the kingdom Protista. | Fungi are considered to be members of the kingdom Fungi. |
| Habitat | They are primarily aquatic in nature and can be found in both fresh and saltwater. | They are terrestrial in nature, and they are most commonly found on decaying organic materials where there is sufficient temperature and moisture. |
| Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic | Cyanobacteria are the only prokaryotic algae that exist. Eukaryotes are a type of algae that includes other types of algae. | All fungi are classified as eukaryotes. |
| Photosynthetic pigment | It contains chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis. | It does not have any pigments that aid in photosynthesis. |
| Nutrition | Algae are photosynthetic organisms that produce their own chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments. | The fungi are heterotrophs, which means that they digest their food by secreting enzymes. |
| Darkness | They are unable to function in the dark. | They are able to survive in the dark. |
| Food storage | Food is stored in the form of starch by this organism. | Food is stored in the form of glycogen and oil globules in the liver. |
| Body | The filamentous or parenchymatous nature of the algal body is evident. | The filamentous or pasedo-parenchymatous structure of the fungal body is present. |
| Nucleated | It is made up of cells that have not been nucleated. | It is made up of cells with several nuclei. |
Relationship between Algae and Fungi in Lichen
In lichens, the link between algae and fungi is referred to as a symbiotic relationship. The fungi, on the other hand, help algae survive by protecting them and assisting them in the absorption of water. The converse is also true: algae supply nourishment for fungi that do not contain chlorophyll pigments. Everyone benefits from this form of connection because no one is harmed and both parties profit from one another.
Conclusion
Algae are autotrophs, meaning that they produce their own food. They are an important component of the ecosystem because they provide nearly 70% of the oxygen required by other organisms. Their nutrients are essential for the survival of the ecosystem’s main producers, which include the majority of aquatic creatures. They do not have well-developed root, leaf, and shoot systems, as do other plants. Fungi, on the other hand, are decomposers that obtain their nutrition by breaking down organic matter that has been dead or decaying over time. They have structures that resemble branches, which are only found in multicellular creatures, and they are referred to as hyphae. They are also important from an ecological standpoint, as the decomposition of dead stuff helps to clean the environment while also providing nutrients for the soil to develop on. Furthermore, because yeasts are employed in the food industry and because mushrooms are an integral part of both human and animal cuisine, they are also of economic significance.
Also see:
- Economic Importance Of Fungi
- Characteristics Of Fungi And Protista