Algae are photosynthetic organisms that contain chlorophyll as their primary pigment and lack a sterile cell covering around their reproductive cells. They are classified into different types including euglenophyta, pyrrophyta, chlorophyta, rhodophyta, and paeophyta. The classification of algae is based on the same rules as for land plants but above the order level has changed substantially since 1960 due to differences observed using electron microscopes. Algae belong to the plant and monera kingdoms, with green, brown, and red algae in the plant kingdom and cyanobacteria in the monera kingdom.