Ch. 5 Marine Algae & Plants

5.1 Marine Algae Seaweeds- multicellular algae that live in the sunlit waters of the ocean Deposited along the strandline which is composed of the seaweed and debris that are washed up by the incoming tide Over 500 species

Life Cycle of Ulva

I. Green Algae

Class chlorophyta Grow attached to rocky substrates on or near the surface No specialized tissues that conduct water Water passes directly into algae’s cells from its surroundings

Enteromorpha

Enteromorpha Grow abundantly in shallow coastal waters Carpets rocks and hard substrates Can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and conditions

Codium

Codium Spongy, branching green algae Can grow more than 6 meters in length Has been known to prevent harvesting of scallops, mussels and oyster beds

Acetabularia

Acetabularia Very large single cell that grows about 8 cm long Shaped like a miniature umbrella Grows in warm waters of Gulf of Mexico and coast of Florida

Benefits We can extract beta-carotene (yellowish) and xanthophyll (yellowish or brownish) pigments Can be used as food coloring

II. Brown algae Phylum phaeophyta Provides shelter or nutrients for other organisms Eaten raw or cooked in some cultures Used in food preparation

Fucus

Fucus Tough, fibrous pad of tissue called a holdfast anchors it to rocks Easily found on rocky coasts at low tide

Kelp

Kelp Largest seaweeds in the ocean Growth rate found to be 1/3 meter per day Produces algin (used in foods, medicines, paints, and paper products)

Sargassum

Sargassum Floats on water’s surface

III. Red algae Phylum rhodophyta Most abundant and commercially valuable type of algae Round on rocky shores Many species are thin and delicate

Red Algae Irish Moss

Irish moss Short, bushy seaweed that carpets rocks with a dense, spongy growth Harvested for carrageenan (used as a binding agent in ice cream, puddings, and toothpaste)

Agar

Agar Chemical used to make food and medicinal products or as a medium for growing bacteria

5.2 Beach Plants Location- upper beach Protected from tides and surf Winds create small hills called dunes that are held in place by the roots of beach plants

Adaptations to the upper beach Waxy covering minimizes water loss in desert-like conditions Grow on side of the dune that faces away from the ocean and are sheltered from the winds off the ocean Vascular tissues conduct food and water through the plant’s body

Beach plants