Overview
A taxonomic superclass.
Photos
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 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 member of the Laminariales or kelps, 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. This is one of the few areas where a large biomass of brown algae may be found in tropical waters. Many brown algae such as members of the order Fucales are commonly found along rocky seashores. Some members of the division are used as food for humans. [more]
Xanthophyceae
Yellow-green algae or xanthophytes are an important group of 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. Unlike other heterokonts, their chloroplasts do not contain fucoxanthin, which accounts for their lighter color. They appear to be the closest relatives of the brown algae. [more]
At least 452 species and subspecies belong to the Class Xanthophyceae.
More info about the Class Xanthophyceae may be found here.
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
- Photographs on this page are copyrighted by individual photographers, and individual copyrights apply.
- The GMapImageCutter is used under license from the UCL Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis.
- The technology underlying this page, including the Image Browser and controls behind Keep Exploring, is owned by the BayScience Foundation. All rights are reserved.