Algae: Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

320 Pages·2005·8.14 MB·English

by  Laura Barsanti

Algae
Anatomy, Biochemistry,
and Biotechnology

Algae
Anatomy, Biochemistry,
and Biotechnology
Laura Barsanti
Paolo Gualtieri
Boca Raton London New York
A CRC title, part of the Taylor & Francis imprint, a member of the
Taylor & Francis Group, the academic division of T&F Informa plc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gualtieri, Paolo, 1952-
Algae : anatomy, biochemistry, and biotechnology / by Laura Barsanti and Paolo Gualtieri.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8493-1467-4 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8493-1467-4 (alk. paper)
1. Algae. [DNLM: 1. Algae. 2. Biotechnology. QK 566 G899a 2005] I. Barsanti, L. II. Title.
QK566.G83 2005
579.8--dc22 2005014492
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Preface
This book is an outgrowth of many years of research aimed at studying algae, especially micro-
algae.Workingonit,wesoonrealizedhowsmallanareawereallyknewwellandhowsuperficial
our treatment of many topics was going to be. Our approach has been to try to highlight
those things that we have found interesting or illuminating and to concentrate more on those
areas, sacrificingcompleteness insodoing.
This book was written and designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students with a
general scientific background, following courses on algology and aquatic biology, as well as for
researchers, teachers, and professionals in the fields of phycology and applied phycology. In our
intention,itisdestinedtoserveasameanstoencourageoutstandingworkinthefieldofphycology,
especially the aspect of teaching, with the major commitment to arouse the curiosity of both
students and teachers. It is all too easy when reviewing an intricate field to give a student new
to the area the feeling that everything is now known about the subject. We would like this book
to have exactly the reverse effect on the reader, stimulating by deliberately leaving many doors
ajar, soas tolet new ideas springto mind bythe endof each chapter.
This book covers freshwater, marine, and terrestrial forms, and includes extensive original
drawings and photographic illustrations to provide detailed descriptions of algal apparatus. We
have presented an overview of the classification of the algae followed by reviews of life cycles,
reproductions, and phylogeny to provide conceptual framework for the chapters which follow.
Levels of organization are treated from the subcellular, cellular, and morphological standpoints,
together with physiology, biochemistry, culture methods and finally, the role of algae in human
society. Many instances of recent new findings are provided to demonstrate that the world of
algae isincompletely knownand prepared investigatorsshould be aware of this.
Each of the chapters can be read on its own as a self-containing essay, used in a course,
or assigned as a supplemental reading for a course. The endeavor has been to provide a
hybrid between a review and a comprehensive descriptive work, to make it possible for the
student to visualize and compare algal structures and at the same time to give enough references
sothattheresearchworkercanentertheliteraturetofindoutmoreprecisedetailsfromtheoriginal
sources.
Thebibliographyisbynomeansexhaustive;thepaperswehavequotedaretheoneswehave
found useful and which are reasonably accessible, both very recent references and older classic
references that we have judged more representative, but many excellent papers can be missing.
In our opinion, too many references make the text unreadable and our intention was to put in
only enough to lead the reader into the right part of the primary literature in a fairly directed
manner, and we have not tempted to be comprehensive. Our intention was to highlight the more
importantfacts,hopingthatthisbookwillcomplementthefewspecializedreviewsoffinestructure
already published and will perhaps make some of these known to a wider audience. Our efforts
were aimed at orientating the readers in the mare magnum of scientific literature and providing
interestingand useful Web addresses.
Wearegratefultothephycologistswhohavecontributedoriginalpictures;theyarecitedinthe
correspondingfigurecaptions.WearealsogratefultothestaffatCRCPress,BocaRaton,Florida,
particularly our editor, John Sulzycki, for his patience and human comprehension in addition to
his unquestionable technical ability, and to the production coordinators, Erika Dery and Kari
A.Budyk.
Oursinceregratitudeandaspecial thankstoValterEvangelistaforhisskillfulassistanceand
abilityinpreparingthefinalformofallthedrawingsandillustrations,andforhiscarefulattention
inpreparingallthetechnicaldrawings.Weappreciatedhiseffortstokeeppacewithusbothandto
cope with ourever-changing demands without getting tooupset.
WewillalwaysbegratefultoVincenzoPassarelli,whofrequentlysmoothedapathstrewnwith
other laboratory obligations so that we could pursue the endeavors that led up to the book, and
above all because he has always tolerated the ups and downs of our moods with a smile on his
face, and a witty, prompt reply. He lighted up many gloomy days with his cheerful whistling.
We are sure it was notalways an easy task.
For the multitudinous illustrations present in the book we are indebted to Maria Antonietta
Barsanti and to Luca Barsanti, the sister and brother of Laura. When the idea of the book first
arose, about four years ago, Maria Antonietta took up the challenge to realize all the drawings
we had in mind for the book. But this was just a minor challenge compared with the struggle
she had been engaged with against cancer since 1996. Despite all the difficulties of coping with
suchadisablingsituation,shesucceededinpreparingmostofthedrawings,withcarefuldetermi-
nation, interpreting even the smallest details to make them clear without wasting scientific accu-
racy, and still giving each drawing her unique artistic touch. She worked until the very last days,
when even eating or talking were exhausting tasks, but unfortunately last February she died
without seeing the outcome of her and our efforts. She will always have a very special place in
our hearts and our lives. Her brother Luca Barsanti completed the drawing work in a wonderful
way, making it very hard to distinguish between her artistic skill and his. His lighthearted and
amusing company relieved the last and most nervous days of our work, and also for this we will
always begratefultohim.
InJuly2004,MimmoGualtieri,theonlybrotherofPaolo,diedofanunexpectedheartattack.
He left ahuge empty room inhis brother’sheart.
In October 2004, our beloved friend and colleague, Dr. Patricia Lee Walne, distinguished
professor of botany of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, died after a long and serious
illness.
Thisbook isdedicated tothe threeofthem.
About the Authors
Dr.LauraBarsantigraduatedinnaturalsciencefromUniversityofPisa,Italy.Atpresentsheisa
scientistat the Biophysics Institute ofthe National CouncilofResearch (CNR) inPisa.
Dr.PaoloGualtierigraduatedinbiologyandcomputersciencefromUniversityofPisa,Italy.At
presentheisaseniorscientistattheBiophysicsInstituteoftheNationalCouncilofResearch(CNR)
in Pisa and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, University College, College Park,
Maryland.

Table of Contents
Chapter1
GeneralOverview. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . 1
Definition . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 1
Classification.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 2
Occurrence and Distribution. .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 2
Structure ofThallus. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 3
UnicellsandUnicellColonial Algae. . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 3
Filamentous Algae.. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 5
Siphonous Algae. .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 5
Parenchymatousand PseudoparenchymatousAlgae. . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 6
Nutrition.. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 7
Reproduction.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 7
Vegetative andAsexual Reproduction .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 8
Binary Fission orCellularBisection. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 8
Zoospore, Aplanospore, and Autospore. .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 9
Autocolony Formation. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 9
Fragmentation.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 10
Resting Stages.. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 10
Sexual Reproduction . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 11
Haplonticor Zygotic Life Cycle. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 14
Diplontic orGametic Life Cycle . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 14
Diplohaplonticor Sporic Life Cycles . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 14
Summaries of the Ten Algal Divisions.. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 15
Cyanophyta andProchlorophyta. .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 16
Glaucophyta .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 19
Rhodophyta. .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 20
Heterokontophyta .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 20
Haptophyta. .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 21
Cryptophyta .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 23
Dinophyta. . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 24
Euglenophyta . . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 26
Chlorarachniophyta. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 26
Chlorophyta .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 27
Endosymbiosis andOriginof EukaryoticAlgae . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 29
Suggested Reading . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. 33
Chapter2
Anatomy . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . 35
Cytomorphology and Ultrastructure . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . 35
Outsidethe Cell . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. 35
Type1: Simple Cell Membrane. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 35
Type2: Cell Surface with AdditionalExtracellularMaterial .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . 36
Mucilages andSheaths. .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . . 36