Note
Marine macroalgae are an important autotrophic component in many coastal and estuarine ecosystems. These algae are considered to belong to three distinct divisions (Bold and Wynne, 1978): Chlorophycophyta (green algae), Phaeophycophyta (brown algae), and Rhodophycophyta (red algae). While the basis for this systematic delineation is primarily color (i.e., pigmentation) , there are also other significant differences in chemical composition among these three groups.