Difference Between Algae and Seaweed
Table of Contents
Micro-organisms are available in large-scale diversity at the global level. It can combat the exceptional chemical and context background. Abundant of microorganisms are in primeval places in undersea ecosystems, by capturing the sun’s stamina through photosynthesis and with their performance in decomposition, dispensing of the minerals stored in organic tissue.
Autotrophic creatures are labeled as “Algae”. “Micro-organism” is the term used to be defined as the organisms that carry out photosynthesis. The cyano-bacteria are termed as algae. They vary in size from small (microscopic) to large groups (macrophytes).
Algae and seaweed are well-defined and contrasting relation of aquatic entities that are both photosynthetic. Both of them are eukaryotes that come under the kingdom of “Protista”. Their cell walls are incorporated with cellulose. By the process of diffusion, both of them excerpts nutrients from the water.
Algae vs Seaweed
The main difference between algae and seaweed is that algae are a giant, manifold category of photosynthetic eukaryotic plants, spanning from unicellular Micro-algae to Macro-algae. But, seaweed is defined as the macroalgae that are macroscopic in nature, multicellular in structure, and has marine habitation.
Algae are found eminently in water bodies, while seaweed grows in shallow marine waters, which is of 100 m depth. Moreover, both of them play a crucial role in ecosystems as primary and essential producers.
Comparison Table Between Algae and Seaweed
| Parameters of Comparison | Algae | Seaweed |
| Definition | Chlorophyll consisting of organisms present in Aquatic habitats like the sea, marine water and freshwater bodies | Similar to a plant structure that binds oneself to other rigid and impenetrable substances in Aquatic habitat. |
| Comprises of | About 3,20,500 breeds/species | About 10000 breeds/species |
| Bestows as | Prime producers in Aquatic food chain | Crucial breeding ground for fisheries and marine varieties. |
| Type of habitation | In sea, marine and freshwater habitation | Only in marine habitation |
| Type of plant | Either heterotrophic or autotrophic | Completely Autotrophic |
| Found as | Free-floating or beneath the water | Beneath the water |
| Appearances | Either Macroscopic or microscopic | Particularly macroscopic |
| Type of micro-organisms | Both multi-cellular and unicellular | Solely multi-cellular |
| Grows eminently in | Deep and Shallow water | Shallow marine waters (below 100m) |
| Example of species | Unicellular ‘Micro-algae’ like Diatoms and Chlorella to ‘Macro-algae’ like Large brown algae | Macro-algae |
What is Algae?
Algae are one of the most basic or paramount organisms of the world, comes under the kingdom of “Protista”. Algae are said to be both prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic organisms. Their structure can be defined as unicellular or multicellular. They can be macroscopic and microscopic in nature.
They can live in any aquatic environment, which can be freshwater, marine, and even in brackish water. All the Algae bodies are photosynthetic and autotrophic, with a few heterotrophs as well.
They conjointly produce an ample amount of energy by photosynthesis because of the presence of Chlorophyll in them. There are abundant species of their type in the world. Additionally, they produce a huge value of about 70% of the earth’s atmospheric oxygen. They have very simple cellular structures.
There are totally three divisions of algae are:
All of the above usually vary because of the amalgamation of photosynthetic pigments endowed in the plant bodies. The Green algae are a diversiform class of algae that has chlorophyll, xanthophylls, and beta-carotene.
Although, phycoerythrin is an important type of photosynthetic pigment present in Rhodophyta. On the other hand, the two key pigments found in Phaeophyta are chlorophyll and fucoxanthin.
What is Seaweed?
Seaweeds are the elementary plants that belong to the family of “Algae”. It is also called “Marine macroalgae”. They can survive only in Marine water (seawater).
It can be defined as an assertive class of plants with dissimilar properties. These are plant-like organisms that are adhered to rock or another solid substrate in sea-side areas. They reside with over 10,000 species, which is generally classified into three groups:
Both brown and red algae are completely found in Marine water, while Green algae are found commonly in freshwaters such as lakes, and rivers and in terrestrial areas like walls, houses, tree barks, rocks, and in any damp places.
Humans use seaweeds in copious ways as they have ample amount of vitamins and nutrients like:
The structure of seaweed is somewhat simple and insignificant. They use the diffusion process to extract nutrients from the water for the need of transportation.
Main Differences Between Algae and Seaweed
Conclusion
Algae are a divergent class of aquatic organisms that are mostly photosynthetic, as microalgae or macroalgae. These can be unicellular or multicellular.
Generally, unicellular algae are present in both marine and freshwater, which is beneath the water or free-floating.
Contrarily, seaweed is termed as macroalgae, which is multicellular in structure and can survive in marine water. They are benthic and can grow in surface water.
Also, algae serve as premier producers in aquatic food chains, while seaweed offers the needed immediate dwelling place for fisheries and other marine creatures. The main difference between algae and seaweed depends on their size, environment, and the reason for their survival.
References
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