606-203 Phytoplankton and Seaweeds of Australia

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This subject introduces the major groups of the kingdom Protista, concentrating on their diversity, structure, biology, systematic relationships and evolution. Emphasis is placed on Australian species. Topics covered include:

• the classification, morphology and cytology of the protistan phyla: 1) the macroscopic green, brown and red seaweeds; 2) the microalgal and phytoplankton classes: diatoms, dinoflagellates, chlorophytes, chrysophytes and other lesser-known but ecologically and phylogenetically significant groups;
• the evolutionary history of protistan organisms;
• the economic impacts, positive and negative, of algal organisms; and
  
• the importance of algae to biodiversity and marine ecosystems.