Cyanobacteria vs. Green Algae

Main Difference

The main difference between Cyanobacteria and Green Algae is that cyanobacteria is recognizing as Cyanophyta is a phylum that obtains their energy over photosynthesis Whereas green algae are the photosynthetic algae which comprise chlorophyll and store starch in distinct chloroplasts mostly live in fresh water.

Difference Between Cyanobacteria and Green Algae

Comparison Chart

Cyanobacteria vs. Green Algae

Cyanobacteria denote to any photosynthetic bacteria, which repeatedly form colonies in the form of spheres, filaments, or sheets and arise in diverse environments whereas green algae indicate to any green color algae present in freshwater habitats. Cyanobacteria are prokaryotes whereas green algae are eukaryotes. Cyanobacteria do not contain membrane-bound organelles whereas the green algae contain membrane-bound organelles laterally with a nucleus. Cyanobacteria do not comprise chloroplasts whereas green algae comprise one or more chloroplast per cell. Cyanobacteria include phycoerythrin, chlorophyll a, and phycocyanin as photosynthetic pigments while green algae contain carotenoids, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and xanthophyll as photosynthetic pigments. Cyanobacteria display a similar color throughout the cell whereas green algae can categorizing by the presence of chloroplasts in the cells. Cyanobacteria are either photoautotrophs or heterotrophs whereas green algae are photoautotrophs. Cyanobacteria are involving in the nitrogen fixation by using gaseous nitrogen as a nutrient whereas green algae do not fix gaseous nitrogen. Cyanobacteria show adequate storage of nutrients whereas green algae contain less capacity to store nutrients. Cyanobacteria cannot swim but, they can change their buoyancy, changing the depth in water whereas green algae can swim through water.

What are Cyanobacteria?

The term cyanobacteria denote to any photosynthetic bacteria. Certain cyanobacteria can live as heterotrophs. Cyanobacteria are present in the soil, and freshwater and marine water habitats. They form spherical-shape, filamentous or sheet-like colonies. Some of the territories of cyanobacteria are a shield with sheet-like structures. Some cyanobacteria are adept of fixing gaseous nitrogen. Cyanobacteria can either unicellular or multicellular. Cyanobacteria are a type of prokaryotic organisms, as they contain vacuoles inside the cell. Cyanobacteria accumulate food as starch. The cyanobacteria lack flagella, but they display a sliding movement which arises by the trichome to alter the depth inside the water. The photosynthetic pigments in cyanobacteria are phycocyanin, chlorophyll a, and phycoerythrin. Phycoerythrin is a red color pigment, and phycocyanin is a blue color pigment. The asexual reproduction of cyanobacteria arises by cell division and the formation of a plate, separating the two cells. Cyanobacteria do not experience sexual reproduction.

What are Green algae?

The green algae denote to the green color algae present in freshwater habitats. The green color is owing to the photosynthetic pigment, the chlorophyll. The two types of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are present in green algae. The genetic material of green algae arises in the nucleus. Green algae comprise beta-carotene and xanthophyll. Green algae are photoautotrophs, and the foodstuff is storing as starch and fats. Algae are eukaryotic organisms as they contain membrane-bound organelles in their cells. The photosynthetic pigments are arranging into chloroplasts. A single cell may cover one or more chloroplasts. Green algae are unicellular, multicellular or living in colonies. Some green algae display a coenocytic growth in which several green algae are creating a one, large cell, without cross walls. The large cell can either uninucleate or multinucleate. Certain green algae live in symbiotic relationships with fungi, making lichens. The asexual reproduction of green algae happens by budding, fission, fragmentation or by the formation of zoospores. The sexual reproduction arises by the creation of isogamous or anisogamous gametes. The green algae are classifying into two phyla; Chlorophyta and Charophyta.

Conclusion

Above this discussion, it concludes that and cyanobacteria and green algae are two variations of algae. Green algae are eukaryotes and cyanobacteria are prokaryotes. Green algae and cyanobacteria are primarily photosynthetic organisms.