Pediastrum is a genus that belongs to the phylum of green algae, the Chlorophyta. Green algae can consist of singular cells, colony-forming cells with flagella, thread-forming types or seaweed. Pediastrum typically forms colonies of multiple cells.
Pediastrum is a genus that belongs to the phylum of green algae, the Chlorophyta. Green algae can consist of singular cells, colony-forming cells with flagella, thread-forming types or seaweed. Pediastrum typically forms colonies of multiple cells.
Green algae
Pediastrum forms flat, star-shaped colonies consisting of 8, 16 of 32 cells with horn-like projections. Pediastrum boryanum can form colonies of up to 128 cells. These algae are non-motile, meaning they float in water in the direction of the flow. Pediastrum are green algae, which means that just like plants, they use sunlight as their energy source to make sugars (autotroph). Oxygen is produced as a byproduct. The algae use this sugar as food. Green algae get their color from a green pigment, called chlorophyll, that absorbs sunlight in the photosynthetic process.
Part of the chain
Pediastrum plays an important role as a primary producer by converting light energy and carbon dioxide into usable nutrients and oxygen. In this way algae act as a food source for many animal-like organisms, and play an important role in many larger food chains.
Would you like to know more about the importance of algae within the food chain? Come and visit Micropia to find out.