Phycology (or algology), 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 and leaves. Many species are single-celled and microscopic; many others are multicellular to one degree or another, some of these growing to large size (for example, seaweeds such as kelp). Phycology also includes the study of prokaryotic forms known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria.
http://www.brphycsoc.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_culture Wikipedia on "Algae culture" http://www.intphycsoc.org/ International Phycological Society http://www.schweizerbart.de/j/algological-studies/ Algological Studies is an international journal of phycology which publishes peer reviewed scientific papers of international significance from the entire field of algology (phycology) http://www.psaalgae.org/ Phycological Society of America