Red and brown algae are common in marine environments. Some green algae are multicellular. The scum found on ponds are algae. They are the green hairy growth on things found underwater objects. Algae releases oxygen into the water as it manufactures it food.
Algae forms the broad base on which the food pyramids in ponds and lakes is built.
In manufacturing food, algae release oxygen, increasing the amount dissolved in the water. However, when algae becomes overabundant the decaying algae depletes oxygen levels. Now do some research in the library. The Evergreen Project, Inc.