Algae

• live in water or a moist environment.

• common in pools, ponds, lakes and streams, along ocean shores and in surface ocean waters.

• range in size from microscopic to many metres long (seaweeds).

• contain chlorophyll - many also contain other pigments.

• food source of marine food chains.

• produce 70% of all oxygen released by photosynthesis.

• of minimal economic importance - used as thickeners in food (alginates) and medicines; some green, brown and red algae eaten by people from Pacific Ocean countries.

• some reproduce sexually, other asexually.

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