Overview
A taxonomic superclass.
Taxonomy
The Superclass Phaeistia is a member of the Infraphylum Chrysista. Here is the complete "parentage" of Phaeistia:
- Domain: Eukaryota
Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Chromista
T. Cavalier-Smith, 1981 - Chromists
- Subkingdom: Chromobiota
Cavalier-Smith, 1991
- Infrakingdom: Heterokonta
(Cavalier-Smith, 1986) Cavalier-Smith, 1995 - Heterokonts
- Phylum: Ochrophyta (Cavalier-Smith, 1986) T. Cavalier-Smith, 1995
- Infrakingdom: Heterokonta
(Cavalier-Smith, 1986) Cavalier-Smith, 1995 - Heterokonts
- Subkingdom: Chromobiota
Cavalier-Smith, 1991
- Kingdom: Chromista
T. Cavalier-Smith, 1981 - Chromists
The Superclass Phaeistia is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Class (2): Phaeophyceae · Xanthophyceae
Classes
Phaeophyceae
The Phaeophyceae or brown algae (singular: alga), is a large group of mostly marine multicellular algae, including many seaweeds of colder Northern Hemisphere waters. They play an important role in marine environments, both as food and for the habitats they form. For instance Macrocystis, a kelp of the order Laminariales, may reach 60 m in length, and forms prominent underwater forests. Another example is Sargassum, which creates unique habitats in the tropical waters of the Sargasso Sea. Many brown algae, such as members of the order Fucales, commonly grow along rocky seashores. Some members of the class are used as food for humans. [more]
Xanthophyceae
Yellow-green algae or xanthophytes are an important group of heterokont algae. Most live in freshwater, but some are found in marine and soil habitats. They vary from single-celled flagellates to simple colonial and filamentous forms. Xanthophyte chloroplasts contain the photosynthetic pigments Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, ?-Carotene, and the carotenoid . Unlike other heterokonts, their chloroplasts do not contain fucoxanthin, which accounts for their lighter color. Its storage polysaccharide is chrysolaminarin. Xanthophyte cell walls are produced of cellulose and hemicellulose. They appear to be the closest relatives of the brown algae. [more]
At least 500 species and subspecies belong to the Class Xanthophyceae.
More info about the Class Xanthophyceae may be found here.
Sources
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