Brown Algae Katrina Koch
What Are They? Largest and most complex algae, called seaweeds Multicellular and form with branched filaments, tufts, fleshy ‘ropes’ or thick, flattened branches Some posses leaflike blades Photosynthesis occurs here Stemlike stipes Rootlike holdfasts
More About Brown Algae Bladders- gas-filled floats to provide buoyancy Photosynthetic, so they have chlorophyll Contain chlorophyll a and c Contain carotenoids, including fucoxanthin, in chloroplasts Many energy source-carbohydrate laminarin
Reproduction Varied Asexual zoospores and sexual gametes are flagellated Alternation Generation life cycles Portion of life spent as haploid organisms Other portion of life spent as diploid organisms
Where are they found? Cooler marine waters Rocky coastlines Intertidal zones Shallow offshore waters Kelp found in deeper waters and form kelp beds Provide food and habitat to other organisms
Algae in toothpaste? Cell walls contain polysaccharide algin Cements walls of adjacent cells together Used as thickening agent in ice cream, toothpaste, shaving creams, hair sprays and lotions Rich source of vitamins and minerals