where do they fit in?
Algae are a diverse group of organisms that cause mayhem
even when professional
systematists and
biologists try to define them in relation to other organisms.
There are sufficient morphological, physiological and ecological
similarities between them to make the term 'algae' an acceptable
one, yet it seems that the term 'algae' means different things to
different people. However, this does not mean that we should shy
away from naming them aptly, nor does this mean that we should
stop trying to understand the taxonomic relationships amongst the
algae, and between algae and other organisms.
Through
the years, algal classification has been very unstable.
Placements at the kingdom and lower levels, are currently still
dynamic. 
It is interesting to trace the changes in
their position in the hierarchy of life.
Click on
the buttons below to find out more about their classification.
