Habitat Diversity in Algae

Algae includes more than 30000 species.They are almost cosmopolitan.They are mainly aquatic.some forms are terrestrial and grow at moist places on land.some algae grow in  special habitats.
1.Aquatic algae: Aquatic forms occur in marine as well as fresh-water habitats
The algae that float at surface of  water bodies and are drifted by water currents.These fall under category of phytoplanktons.examples of phytoplanktons are Diatoms,Chlorella,Chlamydomonas,Volvox,Microcystis etc.excess of a particular species of algae can change the colour of water body.This is called water bloom.Alga Trichodesmus erythrium imparts red colour to sea surface.Excess growth of Microcystis makes water surface blue-green in colour
Benthic algae are found attached at the bottom of water bodies.eg,Chara,Melosina,Stephanodis,Cyclotella,Oscillatoria amphibia.the form attached to the bottom mud are called epipellic and forms attached to rocks are called epilithic.
2.Terrestial algae : Terrestrial algae growing on surface of damp soil are called edaphophytes.eg,Fritschiella .algae growing below surface of soil are called cryptophytes eg,Nostoc.
3.Algae growing in special or unusual habitat: some algae are found at unusual habitat are placed under title special habitats
cryophytes are algae that in polar regions on snow eg,Scottiella.cryophyte alga Haematococcus imparts red colour to snow.green snow is caused by Chlamydomonas yellowstonesis
Thermophyte algae grow in hot water springs eg,Oscillatoria brewis
some algae like Oedogonium,Ulothrix,Bulbochaete grow on surface of other plants.These are called epiphytes.
Nostoc colonies are found inside Anthoceros thallus.such algae that grow within other plants are called endophytes.
 Zoochlorella,an alga lives inside body of Hydra.the algae that inhabit inside bodies of animals are called endophytes.
Alga that inhabit outside bodies of animals are called epizoophytes eg,Cynoderma grows on body of sloth.Cladophora grows on snail
symbiotic algae grow in association with othe plants eg,lichens.coralloid roots of cycas contain blue green algae Nostoc and Anabaena
Parasitic forms of algae are parasites on about 145 species of land plant species and cause diseases.eg,Cephaleuros virescens causes red rust disease of tea.other parasitic algae are Phycopeltis,Physolinum,Stomatochroon sp.

 An article by:Vigyan Tutorials.Biology Coaching Classes by Ashwani kumar,,Biology teacher NewPatel Nagar opp Anoop hospital Phagwara