What are algae? Algae is a common name for a group of taxonomically unrelated organisms sharing a number of traits. Algae include cyanobacteria, eukaryotic microalgae and seaweeds. Common traits are: oxygenic photosynthesis (use of visible light to fix CO2 with O2 release); chlorophylls as main photosynthetic pigment; lack of differentiated tissues; primary producers in aquatics ecosystems. There are exceptions as some algae can grow in the dark using simple organic compounds while others do not possess photosynthetic organelles, being thereforeunable to perform photosynthesis (1). This definition includes a large range of organisms found in the oceans, from nanoplankton 100 times smaller than 1 millimeter to large kelp seaweed reaching 30 meters. Not forgetting extreme temperature organisms like Mastigocladus laminosus, which grow in hot springs at 64 °C, or Chloromonas typhlos, that can grow in the snow at 0 °C. (2).
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