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- Recently, a group of botanists has discovered an algal species with an ‘umbrella head’ from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to Coral Reefs and are rich in marine biodiversity.
- In March 2021 two new red algal Seaweed species were discovered along India’s coastline.
Algae
- Algae are defined as a group of predominantly aquatic, photosynthetic, and nucleus-bearing organisms that lack the true roots, stems, leaves, and specialized multicellular reproductive structures of plants.
- Their photosynthetic pigments are more varied than those of plants, and their cells have features not found among plants and animals.
- They have ecological roles as oxygen producers and as the food base for almost all aquatic life.
- They are economically important as a source of crude oil and as sources of food and a number of pharmaceutical and industrial products for humans. The study of algae is called Phycology.
Important points:
- It is a bright green algae with a size as small as 20 to 40 mm.
- Named after the imaginary sea mermaid, Acetabularia jalakanyakae is very primitive and is a single-cell organism.
- Jalakanyaka in Sanskrit literally means mermaid and a goddess of oceans.
- It is the first species of the genus Acetabularia discovered in India.
- It resembles an umbrella or a mushroom. It has grooves on its cap measuring 15 to 20 mm in diameter.
- It is made up of one gigantic cell with a nucleus. Its nucleus forms a rhizoid structure, which facilitates the algae to attach itself to shallow rocks. It is highly regenerative in nature.
- Rhizoids are a structure in plants and fungi that functions like a root in support or absorption.
Significance:
As they have a giant cell it is advantageous for molecular biologists who study cellular processes; they can see it and manipulate it with naked eye. For this reason, Acetabularia is considered a model organism.
SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT
