In the past fifteen years, research on the red algae has greatly advanced and diversified; new technologies have extended the range of questions being studied and have yielded findings that would have been previously unobtainable. The first comprehensive monograph concerning the rhodophyta in over fifteen years, this volume presents an authoritative review on the current state of knowledge on the biology of the red algae. The eighteen chapters range from molecular and cellular to biochemical, physiological, organismal and ecological aspects of this important group of algae. This is a much needed reference text for students, researchers and teachers concerned with aquatic biology, phycology, limnology, oceanography and plant evolution.