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Algae and Bacterial Photosynthesis

Algae and certain bacteria photosynthesize just as plants do, but they use a different set of mechanisms. Biochemically, photosynthesis is processed in the same way inside the organism; however, chlorophyll is not always the primary pigment that processes energy. In algae, a wide variety of accessory pigments may be used to perform photosynthesis; that is why there are so many colors of algae, including blue-green, brown, and red. As in plants, photosynthetic pigments in algae are stored inside chloroplasts. Algae produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis, and many are autotrophic, dependent upon nothing but the sun to provide energy. A few, however, are heterotrophic.

In bacteria, the processes behind photosynthesis are a little different. Just as in algae, bacteria may depend on pigments in addition to chlorophyll to complete photosynthesis. However, completely unlike either plants or algae, photosynthesizing bacteria do not have chloroplasts. Their photosynthetic chemicals are loose in the cellular membrane, and can work from any point inside the bacteria.

Cyanobacteria, which are blue in color, contain both chlorophyll and oxygen, and are closer than any other bacteria to plant-style photosynthesis; it is believed that plants evolved directly from cyanobacteria. Other photosynthetic bacteria contain different pigments referred to as bacteriochlorophylls, and they do not produce oxygen.

Web Resources On Algae and Bacterial Photosynthesis

Impact of climate change on Antarctic ice algae photosynthesis
Bacterial Photosynthesis

Book Resources On Algae and Bacterial Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis in Algae by Larkum et. al.
Anoxygenic Photosynthetic Bacteria by R.E. Blankenship (Editor)

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