Phycology is the study of algae, the primary photosynthetic organisms in freshwater and marine food chains. Since the publication of the first edition in 1981, this textbook has established itself as a classic resource on this subject. Aimed at upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in phycology, limnology and biological oceanography, this revised edition maintains the format of previous editions, whilst incorporating the recent developments in the field such as: the potential and challenges of producing algae biofuel; the proliferation of algal toxins; and the development of new molecular tools and technologies on ancestry, phylogeny, and taxonomy of algae.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Basic characteristics of the algae Part II. The Prokaryotic Algae: 2. Cyanobacteria Part III. Evolution of the Chloroplast: 3. Glaucophyta 4. Rhodophyta 5. Chlorophyta Part IV. Evolution of One Membrane of Chloroplast Endoplasmic Reticulum: 6. Euglenophyta 7. Dinophyta 8. Apicomplexa Part V. Evolution of Two Membranes of Chloroplast Endoplasmic Reticulum and the Chlorarachniophyta: 9. Cryptophyta 10. Heterokontophyta, Chrysophyceae 11. Heterokontophyta, Synurophyceae 12. Heterokontophyta, Eustigmatophyceae 13. Heterokontophyta, Pinguiophyceae 14. Heterokontophyta, Dictyochrophyceae 15. Heterokontophyta, Pelagophyceae 16. Heterokontophyta, Bolidophyceae 17. Heterokontophyta, Bacillariophyceae 18. Heterokontophyta, Raphidophyceae 19. Heterokontophyta, Xanthophyceae 20. Heterokontophyta, Phaeothamniophyceae 21. Heterokontophyta, Phaeophyceae 22. Prymnesiophyta 23. Algae and the environment Glossary