Phycology

 Phycology is the systematic study of algae and also a branch of life science most frequently regarded as a subdiscipline of botany. The term phycology is also known as algology. In aquatic ecosystems algae are important as primary producers and most of the algae in a wet environment are eukaryotic and photosynthetic organisms. Through the lack of true roots, stems or leaves these are distinguished from the higher plants. Including phytoplankton and other microalgae most of the species of algae are single-celled and microscopic. Many others such as seaweeds and Sargassum are multicellular to one degree or another. Phycologists typically focus on either freshwater or ocean algae, and supplementary within those areas, either diatoms or soft algae.