noun
- A single-celled aquatic organism belonging to the phylum Chrysophyta, characterized by golden-brown pigments and flagella; a golden alga.
Usage: biology; technical
Examples
- Chrysophytes are commonly found in freshwater lakes and oceans worldwide.
- The golden color of chrysophytes comes from their carotenoid pigments.
- Marine biologists study chrysophytes to understand phytoplankton communities.
- Chrysophytes play an important role in aquatic food webs as primary producers.
- Under the microscope, chrysophytes display their characteristic flagella and silica scales.