Red Algae

Porphyridium cruentum

What is it?

Porphyridium cruentum, or red algae is sub-species of algae. As per the name, it has a reddish-pinkish appearance and very much resembles coral reefs. The scientific name Porphyridium cruentum refers to a species of red algae in the family Porphyridiophyceae.

What makes it different?

What sets this kind of algae apart from other species within its classification is the different types of chlorophyll found in each species. For example, red algae contains chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and phycoerythrin. On the other hand, brown algae contains chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c, and fucoxanthin. Finally, green algae contains chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and xanthophylls. To learn more about each of these elements within each type of algae, click on the collapsable text below.

Chlorophyll A

This is the type of chlorophyll that gives most plants their green colour. It absorbs energy in the form violet to red light, and reflects yellow-green light, which explains why most plants are green.

Chlorophyll B

This form of chlorophyll absorbs light energy. Due to this, it plays a key role in photosynthesis. Although the substance itself is green, it absorbs blue light.

Chlorophyll C

This type of chlorophyll appears to be a blue-green colour. It is considered an accessory pigment, as it can be found in conjunction with chlorophyll b, expanding its wavelength.

Phycoerythrin

Phycoerythrin is a group of red protein cells, which provide the colour red to species such as red algae and other cyanobacteria.

Fucoxanthin

Much like chlorophyll c, fucoxanthin is a accessory pigment. In fact, when present in conjunction with xanthophyll, it increases the cartenoid production by 10%.

Xanthophylls

Xanthopyhll is a part of a group of pigments that contain oxygen. This pigment is responsible for warmer tones, such as the colours red, orange, and yellow.

What are carotenoids?

Carotenoids, or also known as tetraterpenoids, are organic pigments produced by plants, animals, and many species of bacteria and algae. These pigments provide a red to yellow hue range, providing many species with their signature colour.

Uses of Red Algae

Red algae is known to be the primary source of food for many species. This is because they contain a high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and provide copious amounts of calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants.

The documents embedded below contain information that we used in our project. The first document, was the research document constructed for this topic. This was where most of our information about red algae was. Additionally, we linked 3 PDF's below. We read these documents for additional knowledge on the subject matter.

Red Algae Research (Porphyridium cruentum)

[Open Life Sciences] Effects of nitrogen on growth and carbohydrate formation in Porphyridium cruentum.pdf

Effects of Nitrogen on Growth and Carbohydrate formation in Porhyridium Cruentum

023c3c7059de100358d81438972023959e96.pdf

Observations in Cellular Structures of Porhyridium Cruentum

marinedrugs-17-00124 (1).pdf

Growth and Biochemical Composition of Porhyridium Cruentum

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