Chrysophytes are protists that resemble plants and are typically found in freshwater and marine habitats with low calcium. Diatoms (Bacillariophyta), Golden-brown algae (Chrysophyceae), and Yellow-green algae are the three main categories of chrysophytes (Xanthophyceae).

While the majority of chrysophytes are unicellular and free-swimming, others, like the dinobryon shown above, group together and form colonies. Chrysophytes have approximately 1000 identified species, yet due to their diversity, none of them shares a single-cell structure. While some species are amoeboid without any cell walls, others have cellulose cell walls that are reinforced by silica compounds.

Characteristics of Chrysophytes

• Two contrasting flagella.
• The Colour of golden yellow is caused by auxiliary pigment.
• Silica and cellulose are used to make cell walls.
• Adrift swimming.
• Unicellular.
• Present in bodies of water with the low calcium content.
• Diatoms and golden algae both are present in fresh water and salt water.
• Chrysophytes are photosynthetic. 

Chrysophyte Reproduction

• In chrysophytes, reproduction happens by cell division.
• Chrysophytes generate spores and reproduce asexually.
• The spores move around and have flagella. as well known as zoospores.
• Flagella are only present during reproduction in chrysophytes.
• Just diatoms exhibit sexual reproduction. 
• Chrysophyta members typically engage in photosynthetic growth, although some-particularly the golden algae-become heterotrophic in conditions of little light or abundant dissolved food.

Classification of Chrysophytes

It has classified into three groups, diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), golden-brown algae (Chrysophyceae), and yellow-green algae (Xanthophyceae).

• Diatoms: Diatoms are the members of the division bacillariophyte. Diatoms intend to split in half. The two-part cell wall of diatoms is the inspiration for the name of these organisms. Diatoms are members of the Protista kingdom. This kingdom contains the following types of living things: dinoflagellates, diatoms, euglenoids, slime molds, and protozoans.
  This kingdom only contains eukaryotic, unicellular species that have these characteristics.
• Golden brown algae: Golden algae, also referred to as golden-brown algae, is a group of roughly 33 genera and 1,200 species of algae (division Chlorophyta) that can be found in both fresh and salt water. Golden alga is a member of the class Chrysophyceae. The group has a somewhat varied morphology, and its taxonomy is up for debate. Most golden algae are biflagellates, single cells with two different flagella. They can be identified by the pigment fucoxanthin and the use of food reserves made of oil droplets. Many are protected by a silica cyst called a statocyst, also called a statospore, whose ornamentation can be used to distinguish between species. Rarely does sexual reproduction occur? It is possible for organisms to reproduce asexually by producing both motile and nonmotile spores as well as yellow-brown algae: an important family of heterokont algae is the Xanthophyceae (also known as xanthophytes), or yellow-green algae. However, some can be found in ecosystems on land and in the ocean. They range from filamentous and basic colonial forms to single-celled flagellates.

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By Team Learning Mantras