As mentioned above, phycoerythrin can be found in a variety of algal species.

Many red algal species produce different types of carrageenans during their developmental history.

Further, the same algal species can occur in association with different fungal partners.

Lichens are known in which there is one fungus associated with two or even three algal species.

The most recent estimate suggests a total number of 72,500 algal species worldwide.

The water must be in a temperature range that will support the specific algal species being grown mostly between 25 to 35 degress C.

In addition, certain species seem to show a preference for specific algal species.

Volemitol occurs as a free sugar in many plant and brown algal species.

If the population size of these becomes too great, "barren grounds", with no large algal species, can develop and may remain in existence for years.

Variants have been cloned from other algal species, and more are expected.