Final answer:
Chlorophylls are the main photosynthetic pigments found in plants and algae. Accessory pigments, such as carotenoids and bacteriochlorophylls, broaden the range of light wavelengths that can be absorbed and provide photoprotection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chlorophylls are the main photosynthetic pigments found in plants and algae. They come in different forms, with chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b being the most common types found in higher plant chloroplasts. Examples of accessory pigments include carotenoids, which are responsible for the orange, red, or yellow colors in plants, and bacteriochlorophylls, which are found in photosynthetic bacteria and can be green, purple, or red.
Accessory pigments have two main purposes in photosynthesis. First, they broaden the range of light wavelengths that can be absorbed, allowing organisms to capture energy from a wider spectrum of light. Second, they provide photoprotection by absorbing excess light energy and preventing damage to the photosynthetic machinery.