Charcoal algae: description, structure, reproduction and functions

The ecosystem, by and large, depends to a negligible degree on the vital activity of the vegetation of the lower groups. Some of the top class representatives have a positive influence on it. There are exceptions among algae. These include the department of the Chalks Algae, which has existed since ancient times. Another thing is that for today this group by species is not represented as widely as other representatives of the kingdom. By the way, algae of this category is called charophytes.

General information about the group of char

Outwardly, algae are massive branching plants, which have many differences from other representatives of the kingdom. If we approach superficially the analysis of the structure of representatives of this group, it is quite possible to confuse them with higher classes of vegetation. This is due to the fact that hari combine the signs of lower algae and higher plants, which is manifested in their functions. It is important to note that there are different types of this group, united in the genus. To date, the following examples of chara algae are distinguished: Hara Aspera, Nitella Flexilis, Nitella Sinkarpa, etc. Some species gravitate towards life near water bodies, while others are found in sea bays, continental brackish lakes. More often than not, crocks grow in arrays of several representatives, rather than singly. Thus, they form thickets, covering vast areas on the bottom of the reservoir.

Systematics of the plant

For a long time scientists could not determine with a high accuracy to which systematic group of plants the charous algae belong in their basic genera. The fact is that the presence of groups A and B in the cells of chlorophylls gave grounds for attributing plants to representatives of the Chlorophyta department. In favor of this classification, the presence of starch as a reserve enzyme also testified. According to other studies, algae had to enter the Charophyta department. The basis for such statements was the early separation of plants from green algae. There was also a point of view that the group could be considered as an intermediate link from bryophytes to green algae. Modern results of biochemical, molecular and ultrastructural analyzes determine the charovye as representatives of the Streptophyta department. The same category includes zygnematal plants.

Basic genus

To begin with, it should be noted that there are three main types of plant data. This is directly Hara, as well as Nitella and Tolipella. Representatives of the first kind are characterized by cosmopolitan distribution and prefer shallow water bodies. Their natural habitat is a depth of 1-1.5 m. At the same time it is important that the water is clean, rather than cloudy. In some aspects, this genus can be called the most unpretentious - for example, plants can live in both brackish and freshwater conditions. However, contaminated water is not good for them. As for the genus Nitella, its representatives are more predisposed to fresh water, and also occur in ponds with a sandy bottom. If the algae of the first kind do not like substrates, then this genus completely admit such a neighborhood - for example, with muddy fragments. Tolipella is also sensitive to pollution, while it readily breeds on sandy soils and predominantly in shallow conditions.

Habitat

In Russia this group of algae lives within the West Siberian plain and in the Altai. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, scientists have regularly discovered new populations and places in which algae breed. It is noteworthy that, in some conditions, the cows can even have advantages over representatives of higher plants. For example, this is observed in the drying and watering areas of water bodies. To date, 17 species of Chara have been found in the south of the West Siberian Plain, as well as four varieties of Nitella. There are also less common species, which can also have competitive advantages for their development over other vegetation. At the same time, water reservoirs and swampy terrain are not limited to harrow algae. Representatives of the genus Nitella, for example, are found only in valleys of large rivers and forest steppes. And this despite the fact that in general the variety of harrow plants in such places is significantly lower in comparison with the same reservoirs.

Structure

Harovs have one of the most complex structures of the thallus, which in some way determined their similarity to higher plants. Their body is differentiated into interstices and full nodes, in which the whorls of branches are located. In slightly salty and fresh lakes, they are attached to the ground by means of rhizoids. As for the common features with higher vegetation, in this context we can mention hornwort and horsetail. The height of thallus reaches an average of 30 cm, although there are specimens at 120 cm. The lateral branches are very limited, so the plant inhabits the bottom not very tightly. But this is not all the features that charcoal algae have. The structure of the internode is distinguished by the presence of a long cell that overcomes the bark from other narrow and small cells. It is noteworthy that the envelope of such cells is calcified.

Reproduction of algae

Harvest group of plants is characterized by sexual and vegetative reproduction. The vegetative way is realized with the help of nodules located on the rhizoids. In addition, for this function, star-shaped cellular accumulations are located on the caulineous lower nodules. They are the ones who give life to a new thallus. Higher development in the process of plant life reaches the sex organs represented by oogony and antheridium. These are multicellular structures that often develop on a single plant. However, there are also known dioecious harvous algae, but their distribution is not so great. Due to its unpretentiousness to the habitat conditions, hara can cover a huge area in just a few years, forming a continuous thicket.

Reproductive organs

Antheridia looks like a ball, the diameter of which can be 0.5 mm. Initially, it has a greenish tint, but in the process of life it changes to red or orange. It is located on a unicellular short stem and contains 8 flat cells in the structure, which closely contact each other with jagged edges. From the central part of each shield cell, an original cylindrical handle is guided into the antheridium, which ends with a round head, on which several more cells with a smaller fraction are placed. Each of them produces several hundred cells with the help of spermatogenic filaments. In turn, each of the newly formed cells also creates an anterozoid. As for oogonia, it has rather large dimensions, when compared with antheridium. The corpus cages encircle it with a spiral and form a kind of crown. In this organ, charcoal seaweed contains one large egg. The spermatozoon passes to the corona cells and is screwed into the oogony. Further, a zygote is formed by means of karyogamy.

Functions of wild plants

In the biosystem the significance of the vital activity of these algae is insignificant, although experts note some influence on the hydrological background and biological qualities of the reservoirs in which they live. In particular, the water regime becomes more stable and the formation of a special biocenosis also takes place there. Plant thalli in the process of development acquire a large number of epiphytes. These are microscopic bacteria and algae, which serve as food for invertebrates. In addition, thick algae can act in some way as a shelter for small fish that are found in the thickets of the place of protection from predators. In reservoirs with dense development of such vegetation, more small mosquito larvae are observed. This is due not only to the provision of protection, but also to the action of the specific antibiotics that plants exude. At the same time, algae can become food for birds. This is observed during the periods of autumn spans over water bodies. Waterfowl are mainly used by zygote oospores, which at this time are filled with droplets of fat.

Application in the economy and science

The nature of the use of plants in human life is determined by the substances contained in it. For example, the presence of lime makes algae attractive for use as fertilizers. In particular, the Charophyta Charcoal Division is useful, in terms of feeding heavy soil layers. And even without further processing, natural accumulations with deposits of harsh form therapeutic mud. In recent years, interest in this group of plants is shown by specialists in the field of biophysical studies. Large cells that form internodes allow a deeper study of cytoplasmic membranes for their permeability.

Conclusion

Charnov gradually lose their positions in the plant hierarchy. Despite the stability of some types of algae data to external influences, the spread of pollution in hydrological resources still hinders their development processes. Also do not forget that the charcoal algae are a group of inferior algae, which is a transitional link between different departments. And although scientists today systematically systematize this group, many signs of its representatives indicate an evolutionary change in the same thallus. On the other hand, experts acknowledge that, compared to the oldest fossils, modern hogs do not differ in such a rich variety.