Green Algae: Phylum Chlorophyta
• Green algae belong to phylum (or “division”)
Chlorophyta
• Most green algae live in freshwater and
terrestrial environments; only ~10% of the
estimated 7,000 species are marine
• Nonetheless, many species of green algae
dominate bays and estuaries and isolated tidal
pools on rocky coasts
Green Algae: Phylum Chlorophyta
• Chlorophyll in both green algae and plants are
not normally masked by other pigments
• Land plants are believed to have evolved from
green algae; considered by many taxonomists
as belonging to Kingdom Plantae!
Common Long Island Chlorophytes
Codium fragile
(“Dead Man’s
Fingers”)
Ulva lactuca
(“Sea lettuce”)
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2007/10/codium_fragile_subsp_tomentosoides_1.php
Enteromorpha sp.
(“Gutweed”)
http://www.biopix.dk/Photo.asp?Language=la&PhotoId=11271