INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: ALGAE ARE PERTINENT

Jerome F. Fredrick, Ph.D.

The Research Laboxatories Dodge Chemical Compmy

Bronx, N.Y.

The publication, in 1917, of D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson’s classic On Growth And Form, foreshadowed today’s modern morphology. Thompson wrote:

Morphology is not only a study of material things and of the forms of material things, but has its dynamical aspect, under which we deal with the interpretation, in terms of force, of the operations of Energy.’

This was echoed some ten years ago at still another conference sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences, by E. W. Sinnott, when he stated:

Morphology, not merely descriptive or comparative, but dynamic and develop- mental, must be the concern of all biologists.z

Hence, today’s Academy Conference on Phylogenesis and Morphogenesis in the Algae may be looked upon as the logical culmination of this series of prophetic views.

The gestdlt of the organism, its material occupation of space and time is indeed an intriguing subject. The factors responsible for the development of those physical and chemical structures contributing totally to this material occu- pation of space and time, are even more fascinating subjects and will concern us during this Conference.

Many experimental organisms have been used in studies of developmental morphogenesis. And yet, one group of the most useful of organisms has been virtually ignored in spite of the fact that this group has adapted morphologically to all possible environments.

Algae are found in successful ecological niches from fresh water (Spiro- gyra) to extreme saline water (such as the giant brown kelps), from the warmth of natural hot springs (the cyanophytes) to the frozen reaches of the Antarctic, from totally aquatic habitats to land (Protococcus) , from completely free-living, independent forms to those existing in quasiparasitic environments (such as the ZoochloreNa and Cladophora of marine animals), and from conditions of alkalinity to those comparable with normal sulfuric acid (such as the enigmatic Cyanidium caldarium) .

It has been estimated by J. T. Bonner,3 that about 90% of the total photo- synthetic activity on our planet is performed by algae. Therefore, the abundance, as well as the wide ecological adaptation of these organisms can scarcely be questioned. There certainly is no doubt as to their availability.

Similarly, there is widespread agreement as to the very fundamental posi- tion of the algae in our synthetic evolutionary scheme. But, far from the general view of biologists that these are lowly, primitive plants that are retarded and unrefined, the modern-day phycologist views the algae as the ultimate divarica- tion of evolutionary processes within the oldest and the most ancient of extant

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416 Annals New York Academy of Sciences

plank4 And, although it is, in general, true that the processes of evolution, insofar as the algae are concerned, have not led to the development of the high degree of specialization of tissues found in the higher plant forms, today’s algae are, nonetheless, highly evolved and well-adapted organisms. So, it is in their physiology and in the biochemical processes of their adaptation that evolution has been actively operating.

Quite a number of years ago, Dr. Richard Klein first mentioned the idea for this Conference while we were visiting in his laboratory at the New York Botanical Garden. Being an old “algae man,” I must admit that my mind was immediately intrigued by the possibilities. For here, as any algologist knows, was a group of organisms fairly easy to propogate and manipulate, of simple body plan, with an amazing and widespread diversity, and sprinkled with just enough morphological and evolutionary “enigmas” to whet the experimental appetite. Whether these were objective observations on my part, or the result of subjective reactions to some 20 years involvement with these thallophytes, remained to be seen. The response to the invitations to this Conference cer- tainly indicates that other biologists and chemists share our view.

Particularly encouraging is the fact that another algal conference of major significance is dovetailing this one. The University of M a d r a ~ , ~ together with the International Union of Biological Sciences, will hold an international symposium within a few weeks on the biology of the blue-green algae. It is indeed reward- ing to see that these plants, ignored for so long and whose potential is SO promis- ing for the delineation of biological laws applicable to all lifeforms, are finally being recognized as such by the scientists involved in the Life Sciences.

I know that I express the sentiments of the participants, the audience, and especially the organizing committee for this Conference, consisting of Dr. Richard Klein, Dr. Philip Cook and myself, when I say that we are indebted to The New York Academy of Sciences and its excellent administrative staff for making the necessary arrangements. And, last but not least, I would like to thank Admiral Schanze, the Executive Director of the Academy, and Admiral Neville, the Associate Executive Director and the Scientific Council for their faith that indeed algae are pertinent.

REFERENCES

1. THOMPSON, D. W. 1961. In On Growth and Form. J. T. Bonner, Ed.: 14. University Press. Cambridge, England.

2. SINNOTT, E. W. 1958. Genetic basis of organic form. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 71: 1223.

3. BONNER, J. T. 1962. I n The Ideas of Biology. : 32. Harper & Rowe, New York, N.Y.

4. PRESCOTT, G. W. 1964. Contributions of current research to algal systematics. I n Algae and Man. D. F. Jackson, Ed. : 5. Plenum Press. New York, N.Y.

5. UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS. , 1970. First International Symposium on Taxonomy and Biology of Blue-Green Algae. Jan. 8-13. Madras, India.