Algae are a group of simple, or primitive, plants, found in salt- or fresh-water, or in damp habitats on land, the most familiar of which are the seaweeds.
Because they photosynthesise, algae are autotrophic and so are primary producers in the food chain.
Algae have various historical uses in food and cooking, the production of cosmetics, as fertilisers and pharmaceuticals.
Today, much research is going on into the cultivation of large quantities of minute marine algae which can be harvested, dried and the oil they contain used to manufacture biodiesel.
Anne Evans
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