Chrysophytes: apects and problems

This book is the first of its kind to present a comprehensive treatment of the biology of the chrysophytes. The 'golden algae', a group of predominantly fresh water microorganisms, have distinctive features that present much information about their taxonomic classification, their place in evolution and their role in the environment. The occurrence of silica scales, identified only by electron microscopy, is a unique characteristic of some members of the group. Paleobiologists and geologists have found the cysts of chrysophytes fossilised in sediments. The ecological significance of the chrysophytes is evident from their abundance in acid bogs and lakes, a condition that has created a new group of investigators concerned with these unique algae and the changing environment. These are just some of the aspects of chrysophyte biology that are dicussed here. This book provides a strong foundation towards understanding today's living forms of chrysophyte algae and sheds light on the probable aquatic ecosystems of the past. The papers collected here are a result of the First International Chrysophyte Symposium held at the University of North Dakota in 1953.