Scientific Names of Green, Yellow, Black Algae

[Sandarsky]

Are there more scientific names for Green, Yellow, and Black Algae?

Thanks

 

[chem geek]

Those are general categories of algae types rather than specific species. Green algae are in the Chlorophyta division of the plant (Viridiplantae) kingdom. They contain green chlorophyll a and b. A typical common green algae found in pools is the genus Oocystis.

Yellow/mustard algae aka yellow-green in the class Xanthophyceae in the kingdom Chromalveolata. They contain chlorophyll a and c, but not b. A typical yellow-green algae found in pools is Pleurochloris pyrenoidosa.

Black algae isn't actually algae but is in the phylum Cyanobacteria in the domain of bacteria so do not have nuclei. It is more commonly called blue-green algae, but the type found in pools usually looks black until swiped on white paper at which point it looks dark green. They usually contain phycocyanin instead of chlorophyll for photosynthesis. A typical black algae found in pools is in the family Phormidiaceae.

 

[Sandarsky]

Thanks for the explanation.

So black algae is really a form of bacteria. Interesting.