Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)

The brown algae are almost exclusively marine, the few fresh water species being quite rare.

One kind, Heribaudiella, is of particular note. It forms a relatively large disc shape crust of dark color on stones in rapidly flowing upland streams. The pigments of Phaetophytes include chlorophyll A and C, carotene and xanthophylls, including fucoxanthin. The last mentioned pigment predominates to give the characteristic brown color.

Food reserve is maintained in brown algae in forms of sugar.

Next Topics about Algae…
Red Algae
Significance of Algae

Next Topics…
Fungi
Liverworts and Mosses
Vascular Plants

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Physical Water Quality
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Biological Water Quality
Water Basics 101