2. By: Mayra Miramontes 2/17/12

3. What are Seaweeds?  Seaweeds is a loose colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae.  The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae. Seaweeds can also be classified by use as food, medicine, fertilizer, industrial, etc.

4. Seaweeds are classified into three major groups; the green algae, the brown algae, and the red algae. Placement of seaweed into one of these groups is based on the pigments and coloration existing in the plant. Other seaweed features that are used to classify algae include: cell wall composition, reproductive characteristics, and the chemical nature of the photosynthetic products. Plant structure, form and shape are additional characteristics used to classify seaweed. As these three groups are not thought to have a common multicellular ancestor, the seaweeds are a polyphyletic group.

5. Scientific classification name: Domain: Eukaryota In addition, some tuft-forming bluegreen algae (Cyanobacteria) are sometimes considered as seaweeds. “Seaweed" is a colloquial term and lacks a formal definition

6. Seaweeds' appearance somewhat resembles non-arboreal terrestrial plants. Body parts of a algae: seaweeds Thallus: the algae body (A thallus usually names the entire body of a multicellular non- moving organism in which there is no organization of the tissues into organs) Lamina: a flattened structure that is somewhat leaf-like (A Lamina in the algae is a generally flattened structure which typically forms the principal bulk of macroscopic plants.) Sours: Spore cluster (A sours is a structures producing and containing spores) (A spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for disposal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions)

7. On Fucus, air bladders: float-assist organ (on blade) (Fucus is a genus of brown algae found in the intertidal zones of rocky seashores almost throughout the world.) On kelp, floats: float-assist organ (between lamina and stipe) (Kelp are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae.) Stipe: a stem-like structure, may be absent (Stipe is a stalk that supports some other structure.) Holdfast: specialized basal structure providing attachment to a surface, often a rock or another alga. (Holdfast is a root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate) Haptera: finger-like extensions of holdfast anchoring to benthic substrate. The stipe and blade are collectively known as the frond. ( Frond refers to a large, divided leaf.)

8. Algae are a form of plant life and as every other form of life play’s a part in the natural scheme of things. It is food for some creatures and converts sunlight into usable energy. It is also responsible for producing a sizable amount of oxygen and reducing the amount of Carbon dioxide.

9. Ecology Seaweed is an algae and not only is grazed by fish but is a valuable fertilizer for use in farming. Algae may also be responsible for kick starting the generation of oxygen in the atmosphere of the early Earth. Photosynthesis is a clever trick that algae and plants have developed to turn sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen.

10. The North Sea oil deposits are believed to have been formed from coccolithophore algae (class Prymnesiophyceae), and the Colorado oil shales by an alga similar to Botryococcus (a green alga). The most well-known use of algae is in food. Consumption of algae is obvious when you're eating the wrapping of your sushi roll, or seaweed on your salad. But did you know that algae can also be found in desserts such as ice cream and milk shakes, in dressings and sauces, baked goods and toothpaste. On continues on the benefits of algae for medicine. Some claims about algae include the ability of red algae to improve our immune system, treat respiratory ailments and skin problems, and cure cold sores. Algae also contains abundant amounts of Iodine, an element required by humans and necessary for proper thyroid functioning.

12. Tiny algae can be found floating or swimming in lakes and seas. Large seaweeds can stretch from the ocean bottom to the water's surface. Most algae are found in fresh water or seawater, but they can also be found growing on soil, trees and animals. They can even grow inside rocks. Algae can withstand boiling hot as well as freezing cold temperatures. Such algae can be found growing in hot springs, in snow-drifts or deep down inside polar ice

13. Chlorophyta: Enteromopha Kingdom: Protista Phylum: Chlorophyta Class: Chlorophyceae Order: Ulotrichales Family: Ulvaceae Genus: Enteromorpha Enteromorpha attaches to rocks or ships in clusters, holding on with disc-shaped suckers. It has long hair-like fronds that are from 8 to 16 inches long. The green seaweed is highly adaptable and is found in the world's major oceans, in salt marshes and on inland waterways. Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Hawaii and California are among those dealing with its sometimes invasive nature. In coastal regions near heavy residential and industrial developments, changes in the ocean favor excessive growth of enteromorpha. High levels of fertilizr runoff increase the salinity and nutrients in ocean waters, creating ideal conditions for the seaweed to grow rapidly. Enteromorpha

14. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Rhodophyta Class: Florideophyceae Order: Rhodymeniales Family: Rhodymeniaceae Genus: Rhodymenia  Rhodymenia is to be found growing from mid-tide of the intertidal zone (the area between the high tide and low tide) to depths of 20 m or more in sheltered and exposed shores  Is also found on the coast of Atlantic Europe. It is to be found from Portugal to the Baltic coasts also on the coasts of Iceland and the Faroe Islands.  It also grows on the shores of Arctic Russia, Arctic Canada, Atlantic Canada, Alaska, Japan and Korea. Rhodymenia

15. Phaeophyta: Dictyota Kingdom: Chromalveolata Division: Heterokontophyta Class: Phaeophyceae Order: Dictyotales Dictyota is a large order in the brown algae (class Phaeophyceae) dominates 70% of the benthos biomass in the Florida Keys reef tract.

16. marinelifephotography.com wildsingapore.com www.wildsingapore.com/.../dictyota.htm seasonsinthesea.com/mar/kelp.shtml horta.uac.pt 117.240.93.2/psp/phycopedia/gallery.html mbari.org dailymail.co.uk taiwantrade.com.tw