Post on 05-Jan-2016
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Multicellular Protists (algae)• Primary producers• “ Plant-like” seaweeds
– Lack true leaves, stems & roots
– May be filamentous, grow in mats or crusts, sheets, or kelp
• Phaeophyta (browns)• Rhodophyta (reds)• Chlorophyta (greens)
Phaeophyta
• Brown/yellow pigment– Fucxanthin (& chl)
• Diverse morphologies– Simple to large &
complex• Upto 100m
• Fast growing kelp– 1 to 2 feet a day– Important source of algin
• Thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier in many products
Rhodophyta• Red pigments
– Phycobilins
• As a group, expands to greater depths than other algae– Why?
• Coralline algae– CaCO3 in cell walls
• Defense and structure
– Encrusting• Important component of coral
reef environments
• Source of carrageenan & agar (emulsifiers & gel thickeners)
• Nori from Porphyra
Chorophyta
• Green pigments– Chl a & Chl b– Same as plants
• Diverse morphologies– Filamentous– Sheets– Spongy– Calcareous
• Important component of coral reef environments
Kingdom Plantae• Photoautotrophs• Mostly terrestrial, few have
adapted to marine environments– Seagrasses
• Eelgrass (subtidal), surf grass (rocky intertidal; surf zone)
• Provides home and protection to many spp.
– Cordgrasses• Tolerant land plants• Salt marsh habitats
– Mangroves• Tolerant tropical trees & shrubs• Provides habitat & protection for
many tropical estuarine & intertidal spp.