Phycology

Phycology (or algology) (from Greek: φύκος, phykos, "seaweed"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge"), a subdiscipline of botany, is the scientific study of algae. Algae are important as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. Most algae are eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms that live in a wet environment. They are distinguished from the higher plants by a lack of true roots, stems or leaves. Many species are single-celled and microscopic (including phytoplankton and other microalgae); many others are multicellular to one degree or another, some of these growing to large size (for example, seaweeds such as kelp and Sargassum).

Phycology also includes the study of prokaryotic forms known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. A number of microscopic algae also occur as symbionts in Lichens.

A phycologist is a person who studies algae as described above. In a similar manner, a mycologist is a person who has been professionally trained in mycology, the study of fungi.