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5/14/2017 DifferenceBetweenAlgaeandBryophytes|Definition,Classification,Characteristics
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Home»Science»Biology»Taxonomy»DifferenceBetweenAlgaeandBryophytes
DifferenceBetweenAlgaeandBryophytes
May14,2017 •byLakna •7minread
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MainDifference–Algaevs
Bryophytes
Algae and bryophytes are two types of primitive autotrophs
found on earth. Both organisms exhibit undifferentiated,
thalloidbody structure. Algae play avital role in ecosystems
likefreshandmarinewater,as primaryproducersandoxygen
producers. The most primitive land plants are bryophytes,
living in intermediate of aquatic and terrestrial environment.
Bryophytes are considered to be evolved from algae. Cell
wallsofboth algae and bryophytes aremadeup of cellulose.
Bothalgaeandbryophyteslackavascularsystem.Themaindifferencebetweenalgaeandbryophytesisthedivision
of the plant body; no division of labour is observed in the plant body of algae whereas the plant body of
bryophytesinternallydividesintophotosyntheticandstoragezones.
Thisarticleexplores,
1.WhatareAlgae
–Definition,Classification,Characteristics
2.WhatareBryophytes
–Definition,Classification,Characteristics
3.WhatisthedifferencebetweenAlgaeandBryophytes
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5/14/2017 DifferenceBetweenAlgaeandBryophytes|Definition,Classification,Characteristics
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WhatareAlgae
Algae are the plantlike organisms, which are classified under kingdom Protista. They are mostly unicellular and
foundinfresh,marineandwastewaterhabitats.Mostofthealgaeareautotrophs,containingphotosyntheticpigments
intheircells.Heterotrophic and mixotrophic algae types are found as othernutritionmodes.Mixotrophicalgaeuse
nutrition modes, autotrophy and heterotrophy. Autotrophic algae serve as the primary producers of aquatic food
chains.Around70%ofbreathingoxygenisproducedbyalgae.
Allcells in the plant bodyof algae are capable ofgrowing and reproducing. The sizeof algal body is variedfrom
microalgaeto macroalgae. Cyanobacteriaareprokaryoticmicroalgae. Theyarecalledbluegreen algaeaswell.Sea
weedsaremacroalgae. Algae produce motile sporesduringasexualreproduction.Sexualreproductionofeukaryotic
algaeoccursbytheunionofmaleandfemalegametes,whichareproducedindifferentindividuals.Hence,eukaryotic
algaearesexuallydimorphic.Freshwateralgaeinapondareshowninfigure1.
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Figure1:Freshwateralgae
ClassificationofAlgae
Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta are the three morphological types of algae. Chlorophyta is the most
diversegroup of algae. Chlorophyll, betacarotene and xanthphylls are the pigments found in Chlorophyta. Hence,
Chlorophyta is called green algae. Rodophyta are red algae, containing phycoerythrin as the main photosynthetic
pigment. Phaeophyta are brown algae, containing chlorophyll c and fucoxanthin as the photosynthetic pigments.
Laminariasaccharina,whichisabrownseaweed,isshowninfigure2.Itiscommonlycalledaskelp.
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Figure2:Laminariasaccharina
WhatareBryophytes
Bryohytesareadivisionofnonvascularlandplants,which
are classified under kingdom of Plantae. They are spore
producing plants in which the gametophyte stage is
dominant in the life cycle. Bryophytes are not seed
producingorfloweringplants.Theyaremostlyautotrophs.
Some bryophytes like liverworts do not contain
chlorophyll;hence,they rely on a fungal partnerforfood.
Bryophytesgrowinmoistshadyplaces,producingphenolic
compounds which deter herbivores. Other plants are also
benefitedbythewatercollectedbybryophytes.
Bryophytesare macroscopicplantsandtheir sizevariesfrom amilimetertallto longstrandsabout onemeter.Root
likestructurescalledrhizoidsallowtheplanttoanchoronasurface.Rhizoidsarenotwaterabsorbingunits.Wateris
conductedinternallyintheplantbodywhichisabsorbedbytheplantbodyitself.Asexualreproductionofbryophytes
occurs by fragmentation and small aggregations called gemmae. Water carries sperms to the eggs during sexual
reproduction.Fertilization ofgametesformsthe gametophyte withthesporecapsules calledsporophyte.Sporophyte
producesspores,whicharedispersedthroughthewind.ThegametophyteofOedipodiumgriffithianumwithgammae
isshowninfigure3.
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Figure3:Oedipodiumgriffithianumgametophytewithgammae
ClassificationofBryohytes
Marchantiophyta (liverworts), Bryophyta (mosses) and Anthocerotophyta (hornworts) are the three divisions of
bryophytes. Liverworts are flattened mosslike leafy plants. The leaves of the liverworts do not contain costa. But
marginalciliaarepresentinliverworts.Mossesconsistofonecellthick,simpleleaves,whichareattachedtoastem.
They grow in dense green clumps. Mossses contain costa, which is a midrib, running lengthwise through the leaf.
Hornworts consist of a hornlike, elongated sporophyte on the gametophyte. Jamesoniella undulifolia, which is a
liverwortisshowninfigure4.
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Figure4:Jamesoniellaundulifolia
DifferenceBetweenAlgaeandBryophytes
Definition
Algae:AlgaeareplantlikeorganismsclassifiedunderkingdomProtista.
Bryophytes:BryohytesareadivisionofnonvascularlandplantsclassifiedunderkingdomPlantae.
Habitat
Algae:Algaegrowinaquatichabitats.
Bryophytes:Bryophytesgrowinmoist,shadyplaces.
RoleinEcosystems
Algae: Algae serve as the primary producers in aquatic food chains while releasing high proportion of breathable
oxygenintotheatmosphere.
Bryophytes:Bryophytesproduceimportantbuffersystemsforotherplants.
Unicellular/Multicellualr
Algae:Bothunicellularandmulticellualralgaearepresent.
Bryophytes:Allbryophytesaremulticellular.
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PlantBody
Algae:Algaecanbeunicellularormulticellularandfilamentous,thalloidorleafy.
Bryophytes:Bryophytesarealwaysmulticellularthalloidorleafy.
DivisionofLabour
Algae:Algalplantbodyexhibitsnodivisionoflabour.
Bryophytes:Plantbodyofbryophytesinternallydividesintophotosyntheticandstoragezones.
PoresorStomata
Algae:Poresorstomataareabsentinalgae.
Bryophytes:Gasexchangeoccursthroughporesorstomatainbryophytes.
Rhizoids
Algae:Rhizodsareabsentinalgae.
Bryophytes:Twotypesofrhizoidsarefound:smoothwalledandtuberculated.
GrowthandReproduction
Algae:Eachandeverycellinthebodyiscapableofgrowthandreproduction.
Bryophytes:Onlyapicalcellsarecapableofgrowthandreproduction.
AsexualReproduction
Algae:Zoospores,aplanosporesandhypnosporesareproducedduringasexualreproductionofalgae.
Bryophytes:Asexualreproductionisabsentinbryophytes.
SexualReproduction
Algae:Sexualreproductionofalgaeoccursthroughisogamous,anisogamousoroogamous.
Bryophytes:Sexualreproductionoccursonlythroughoogamous.
SterileJacket
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Algae:Sterilejacketisnotfoundcoveringsexorgansofalgae.
Bryophytes:Sterilejacketisfoundsurroundingsexorgansofbryophytes.
FemaleSexOrgan
Algae:Oogoniumisthefemalesexorganinalgae.
Bryophytes:Archaegoniumisthefemalesexorganinbryophytes.
Zygote
Algae:Algalzygoteisliberatedfromthemotherplant.
Bryophytes:Zygoteinbryophytesremainsinthearchegonium.
Embryo
Algae:Noembryoformationoccursinalgae.
Bryophytes:Embryoisformedfromthezygoteofbryophytes.
Sporophyte
Algae:Algalsporophyteisindependentofgametophyte.
Bryophytes:Sporophyteofbryophytesdependsonthegametophyteofbryophytes.
SporophyteDifferentiation
Algae:Nodifferentiationofsporophyteintodistinctstructuresisfoundinalgae.
Bryophytes:Thesporophyteofbryophytesdifferentiatesintoroot,setaandcapsule.
Mitospores
Algae:Mitosporesarepresentinalgae.
Bryophytes:Mitosporesareabsentinbryophytes.
AlterationofGeneration
Algae:Alterationofgenerationinalgaeisisomorphic.
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AbouttheAuthor:Lakna
Bryophytes:Alterationofgenerationinbryophytesisheteromorphic.
Conclusion–Algaevs.Bryophytes
Algae and bryophytes are two types of primitive plants, which are classified under kingdom Protista and kingdom
Plantae.Bothalgaeandbryophytesgrowinmoisturehabitats.Mostalgaeandbryophytesareautotrophs.Themost
prominent photosynthetic pigment in bryophyta is chlorophyll, while algae contain several other types of
photosynthetic pigments. Both algae and bryophytes posses thalluslike plant body, which lack roots. Bryophytes
exhibit the division of labour into photosynthetic and storage structures. Rhiziods are rootlike structures found in
bryophytes, which allow the anchoring to the surface. The main difference between algae and bryophytes is the
organizationoftheplantbodyineachgroupoforganisms.
Reference:
1.Vidyasagar,Aparna.“WhatAreAlgae?”LiveScience.Purch,04June2016.Web.08May2017.
<http://www.livescience.com/54979whatarealgae.html>.
2.”Whatisabryophyte?”Whatisabryophyte?–bryophyte.N.p.,n.d.Web.08May2017.
<https://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/whatisbryophyte.html>.
3.Whatisabryophyte?N.p.,n.d.Web.08May2017.<http://rbgweb2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Learning/whatis.htm>.
ImageCourtesy:
1.”864600″(PublicDomain)viaPixabay
2.“fish0183″via(CCBY2.0)viaFlickr
3.“GametophyteofOedipodiumgriffithianumwithgemmae”ByUser:Des_Callaghan–Ownwork(CCBYSA4.0)
viaCommonsWikimedia
4.“Jamesoniellaundulifolia”ByDes_Callaghan–Ownwork(CCBYSA4.0)viaCommonsWikimedia
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Lakna,agraduateinMolecularBiology&Biochemistry,isaMolecularBiologistandhasa
broadandkeeninterestinthediscoveryofnaturerelatedthings
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