Fungi and algae are both members of the Protista and fungi kingdoms. These organisms are small and are at the base of their kingdoms, but they play huge roles in the ecosystem. They share some similarities but differ in their classification, nutrition, and ecological roles.
There is a lot more to algae than the green slimy matter you see at the bottom of pools. Similarly, fungi are more than mushrooms. In this fungi vs algae comparison, you will learn more about their nature, classification, habitat, and ecological roles.
What are fungi?
Fungi (singular, fungus) are a group of living organisms that can be found in water, air, and soil. They tend to look and grow like plants but are not plants in any way. They lack chlorophyll and cannot produce their food. As a result, they rely on other living organisms for their food.
What are algae?
Algae (singular, alga) refers to a group of plant-like eukaryotic aquatic organisms from the protists kingdom. However, they are not true plants. They are referred to as plants because of their ability to carry out photosynthesis and produce their food.
Fungi vs algae: Similarities
- Both organisms have eukaryotic cells
- Both are also multicellular organisms
- Algae and fungi belong to the Thallophyta division in the plant kingdom because they are not differentiated into root, stem, and leaves
- Algae and fungi do not have vascular tissues
- Their bodies are filamentous or parenchymal
- Their cell walls are made of polysaccharides
- They carry out asexual reproduction via fragmentation and the production of motile and non-motile spores
- In addition, their reproductive organs do not have a protective covering
The Differences
Fungi vs algae: Nature
All fungi are multicellular organisms except for unicellular yeast. They are eukaryotic heterotrophs and have cell walls like plant cells. The cell walls in fungi are made of chitin, the protein present in the exoskeletons of insects and arthropods.
On the other hand, algae comprise both unicellular and multicellular organisms. They are also eukaryotic and have cell walls. But unlike fungi, the algal cell walls contain cellulose, the protein present in the cell walls of plants. Therefore, algae are more plant-like than the fungi.
Furthermore, algal cells are unadulterated and uninucleated, while fungal cells are multinucleated. While most algae are green, fungi are usually colorless or brightly colored (in a few species).
Fungi vs algae: Classification
Algae belong to the protist kingdom and fungi belong to the fungal kingdom.
Algae are classified into three based on the pigment present in them. The chlorophyta are the green algae with chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and xanthophyll pigments. Phaeophyta, the brown algae, has chlorophyll and fucoxanthin pigments. Rhodophyta, the red algae, contains phycoerythrin.
These pigments are responsible for the photosynthetic activities in these algae.
Fungi do not have pigments and are not classified as such. They are classified under seven phyla. They are:
- Microsporidia – unicellular parasites present in protists and animals
- Ascomycota – spore-producing fungi within the ascus
- Glomeromycota – parasites found in the roots of plants
- Basidiomycota – fungi that produce meiospores in basidia
- Chytridiomycota, neocallimastigomycota, and blastocladiomycota – fungi that produce mobile zoospores
Fungi vs algae: Habitat
Algae are aquatic organisms and cannot live in the dark. They are predominantly present in fresh and marine water.
In contrast, fungi are terrestrial organisms. You will find them mainly on rocks, in soil, wood and leaf litter, grassy places, animal dung, and tree roots. They can thrive in dark environments with adequate heat and humidity.
Fungi vs algae: Mobility
Fungi are not mobile. They move and spread by releasing their spores through air or water. They land in new habitats, grow, and produce new hyphae if the conditions are favorable.
In contrast, algae are mobile. Some of them have flagella, which they use to create whip-like movements in water to move the cell. They also move through spores in the air and water.
Fungi vs algae: Feeding and food storage
Fungi are heterotrophic organisms. They do not possess chlorophyll or any other photosynthetic pigment. They depend on other living organisms for food and use secreting enzymes to digest their food.
Algae have chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments. They are autotrophs and carry out photosynthesis to manufacture their food. They store the food they produce in the form of starch, while fungi store the food they get in the form of glycogen and oil globules.
Fungi vs algae: Ecosystem
Both organisms have ecological importance. Algae are producers. They are responsible for 70% of the Earth’s oxygen through photosynthesis.
There are some edible algae species, and they are a source of food and nutrition across many cuisines in the world. Algae are rich sources of lipids. They are also useful in the production of biofuels.
On the other hand, fungi are decomposers or nutrient recyclers. They break down dead organic matter and redeposit the nutrients into the soil. They also form mutual relationships with other living organisms. An example of such association is the mycorrhizal association with plant roots.
Additionally, just like algae, fungi find applications in various industries. They are useful in the production of food and medicine. Some species have negative effects on plants, animals, and humans.
Fungi vs algae: Reproduction
Both organisms can undergo sexual reproduction. In higher classes of algae, sexual reproduction is more complicated. Conversely, sexual reproduction becomes easier in higher classes of fungi.
Both can also reproduce asexually via fragmentation. Fragmentation is a process whereby a parent organism splits into smaller fragments and each fragment grows into a new individual.
Asexual reproduction in algae mainly occurs through cell division, but some species reproduce through spores like fungi. The spores are spread by water, wind, and animals.
Also, fungi produce fruiting bodies like ascocarp and basidiocarp, but algae do not produce any fruiting bodies.
Examples
Some examples of algae are Diatoms, Sargassum, Chara, Spirulina, Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas, Oscillatoria (BGA), Oedogonium, and Polysiphonia.
Examples of fungi include Agaricus (mushrooms), Rhizopus, Albugo, Aspergillus, Phytophthora, Pythium, and Puccina.
FAQs
Are lichens fungi or algae?
A lichen is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga. Lichens look more and have more of the physiology of the fungus because it is the dominant partner in the relationship.
The fungus grows around the alga cells, providing protection and getting food supply while the alga carries out photosynthesis and produces food.
Do fungi eat algae?
No, they do not. Fungi and algae form a symbiotic relationship where the fungi provide protection and shelter to the algae. They also aid water absorption in algae.
Are algae antibiotics?
Algae have antibacterial properties. Some of them contain active compounds such as fatty acids, polysaccharides, peptides, polyphenols, and terpenes which have pharmacological effects and can help combat bacteria.
Conclusion
Algae and fungi are complex multicellular organisms. But there are some simple and unicellular algae. Unlike fungi, algae have chloroplasts and can carry out photosynthesis independently. That is, they are autotrophic, while fungi are heterotrophic.
Algae are major producers because they carry out photosynthesis to produce sugar and oxygen for all living things. On the other hand, fungi are recyclers/decomposers, pathogens, and mutualistic organisms in the ecosystem.
In addition, because of their mode of nutrition, algae store food in the form of starch, while fungi store food in the form of glycogen and oil globules.
Also, learn about the reproduction of fungi, their classification based on reproduction, and factors that affect their reproduction.
Thanks for reading.