INTRODUCTION TO PHYCOLOGY

Suratman
Jurusan Biologi FMIPA UNS Surakarta

About Phycology
Phycology (from Greek, phykos, "seaweed"; and
logia (logos), science) is the scientific study
of algae.
Phycology is a branch of life science and often
is regarded as a subdiscipline of botany.
A phycologist is a person who studies algae and
Phycologists are discovering new types of algae
even today.
The development of phycology as a branch of
botanical science has occurred over several
hundred years.

History of Phycology
While both the ancient Greeks and Romans knew of
algae, and the ancient Chinese even cultivated
certain varieties as food.
The scientific study of algae began in the midle
18th century with the description and naming of
Fucus maximus (now Ecklonia maxima) in 1757 by
Pehr Osbeck.
The study of algae began in earnest after the
invention of the microscope in the 17th century.
In the 1700s, Carl von Linne placed plants and
animals into a classification system. He included an
order called algae.
Lichen and fungi were members of the algae order,
as well as the aquatic specimen.

Pehr Osbeck (17231805)

Ecklonia maxima

History of Phycology
Great gains in phycology were made during the 1800s,
as interest increased around the world in the study of
algae.
This was followed by the descriptive work of scholars
such as Dawson Turner and Carl Adolph Agardh, but
it wasn't until later in the 19th century that efforts
were made by J.V.Lamouroux and William Henry
Harvey to create significant groupings within the
algae.

Harvey has been called "the father of modern

phycology in part for his division of the algae into
four major divisions based upon their pigmentation.

History of Phycology

Dawson Turner (17751858)

Carl Adolph Agardh (17851859)

William Henry Harvey (1811-1866)

History of Phycology
William Henry Harvey of Trinity
College in Ireland was perhaps the
father of modern phycology.
He was born in 1811 and traveled the
world collecting and studying algae.
He died in 1866 after publishing
authoritative works on the subject.

Sejarah Fikologi
Kumpulan herbarium alganya yang terkenal
disimpan di Trinity College di Dublin,Irlandia
Karya-karyanya yg telah diterbitkan
diantaranya 'A Manual of the British Algae'
(1841), Phycologia Britannica' (4 volume,
1846-1851), dan 'Phycologia Australica
Ia menjadi kurator di Trinity College
Herbarium (TCH) serta menjadi guru besar
botani di Royal Dublin Society.

Sejarah Fikologi
Bukunya yg berjudul 'Phycologia
Britannica' diterbitkan tahun 1846-1851.
Reputasinya meningkat setelah ia
menerbitkan bukunya 'Nereis Australis Or
Algae of the Southern Ocean' tahun 18471849.
Bukunya yg berjudul 'His Phycologia
Australica' adalah salah satu buku
terpenting dalam ilmu fikologi pada abad ke
19

William Henry Harveys Books

History of Phycology
It was in the late 19th and early 20th
century, that phycology became a recognized
field of its own.
Men such as Friedrich Traugott Ktzing
continued the descriptive work.
In Japan, beginning in 1889, K. Okamura not
only provided detailed descriptions of
Japanese coastal algae, he also provided
comprehensive analysis of their distribution.

History of Phycology

Friedrich Traugott Ktzing (18071893)

History of Phycology
Although R. K. Greville published
his Algae Britannicae as early as
1830, it was not until 1902 with
the publication of A Catalogue of
the British Marine Algae by
Edward Arthur Lionel Batters
that the systematic correlation
of records, extensive distribution
mapping and the development of
identification keys began in
earnest.

History of Phycology
As early as 1803 Jean Pierre Etienne Vaucher had
published on the isogamy (sexual conjugation) in the
algae, but it was in the early 20th century that
reproduction and development began to be
extensively studied.
The 1935 and 1945 comprehensive volumes of Felix
Fugen Fritsch consolidated what was then known
about the morphology and reproduction of the algae.
This was followed in the 1950s by the development
of area checklists, led by Mary W. Parke with her
1931 Manx Algae and followed in 1953 by her "A
preliminary check-list of British marine algae.

History of Phycology
Although Lily Newton's 1931 Handbook
provided the first identification key for the
algae of the British Isles, in wasn't until the
1960s that the development of such keys
became routine.
The 1980s with the new emphasis on ecology
saw increased study of algal communities,
and the place of algae in larger plant
communities, and provided an additional tool
for explaining geographical variation.

Significance
Algae are the basic members of
the plant kingdom (formerly);
this group is one of the largest
of the Plant Kingdom
The presence of sunlight is
necessary for algae to survive.
Many species of animals depend
on algae as a food source.

Significance
Algae are important plants as
primary producers in aquatic
ecosystems.
Most algae species are
necessary members of the
food chain and are a vital food
source for aquatic life.

Significance
A few species are harmful
and can produce toxins
that are dangerous to
animals and humans.
Occasionally these algae
are called "red tides"
because of their color.

Significance
Phycologists study these harmful algae
to prevent people and animals from
becoming sick or dying from eating
contaminated food.
Other types of algae are being studied
as to their usefulness in medicine,
including treatment of cancer and
bone-replacement therapy.

Significance

Many species are single-celled and

microscopic (including phytoplankton and
other microalgae); many others are
multicellular to one degree or another, some
of these growing to large size (for example,
seaweeds such as kelp and Sargassum).
Phycology includes the study of prokaryotic
forms known as blue-green algae or
cyanobacteria.
A number of microscopic algae also occur as
symbionts in lichens.

Significance

Kelp

Anabaena (blue-green algae)

Lichens

Significance
Most algae are eukaryotic,
photosynthetic organisms that live
in a wet environment.
They are distinguished from the
higher plants by a lack of true
roots, stems or leaves.

Function

Phycololgy seeks to understand the

harmful and beneficial aspects of
algae.
According to the New York Times, a
legislative bill was introduced in
August 2009 to recognize algae-based
fuel as a biofuel and to receive tax
credits for production.
Phycology includes the important areas
of human life: food, medicine and fuel.

Education
Students who want to pursue phycology
should consider obtaining a PhD for teaching
and advanced research positions.
Studying a foreign language could be
beneficial for international researchers.
University students can assist professors
with algae research to gain valuable
experience.
Research fellowships are available at some
universities.

Employment
Career opportunities exist in botanical
research, universities, federal and
state agencies, and chemical and
petrochemical companies.
Jobs can also be found in
pharmaceutical companies, food
production, biotechnology firms, and
medical research.

Important Links
Algae: The World's Most Important "Plants" video lecture
by Russell Chapman from 2006.
http://www.algaefuel.org/ : Algae Fuel research and
development company in California bay area.
http://www.brphycsoc.org/ : British Phycological Society
http://www.intphycsoc.org/ : International Phycological
Society
http://www.schweizerbart.de/j/algological-studies/ :
Algological Studies is an international journal of phycology
which publishes peer reviewed scientific papers of
international significance from the entire field of algology
(phycology)
http://www.psaalgae.org/: Phycological Society of America
http://www.algaebase.org/: AlgaeBase
http://www.seaweed.ie/ : Seaweed Site

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