algae and marine plants

seaweed and stuff

why are algae not considered to be plants?

they do not have leaves, stems, or roots

a

stipe

b

pneumatocyst

c

blade

d

holdfast

the entire thing

thallus

green algae

a vital food source, produce a significant portion of the world’s oxygen, and are closely related to plants

brown algae

have a unique pigment called fucoxanthin, which gives them their color and aids in photosynthesis

red algae

have the ability to thrive in deep water thanks to pigments like phycoerythin, their lack of flagella, and their unique cellular features like pit connections

human uses for green algae

taken as nutritional supplements and is in bio-fuels

human uses for brown algae

produces alginic acid, which is used as a stiffening agent for pastry fillings, instant puddings, salad dressing, milk shakes, whipped cream, ice cream, adhesives, explosives, and lotions

human uses for red algae

sushi “seaweed”, cheese, yogurt, laxatives, and has many uses in medicine

seagrasses are most closely related to what type of common land plant?

lilies, orchids, and ginger

in what general type of environment are seagrasses found?

shallow, coastal marine environments

what likes to eat seagrass?

manatees, green sea turtles, and dugongs

what purpose does arenchyme serve?

allow for flotation

what are the 4 main types of mangroves?

red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove, and buttonwood

where are mangroves found?

along tropical shores with limited wave action, subtle slope, and high rate of sedimentation

what ecological roles do mangrove forests play?

protect the coast from storms, provide a nursery for juvenile marine life, help filter sediment which keeps water near coral reefs clear, and remove carbon dioxide from the environment

how do mangroves maintain proper salt balance?

black mangroves have salt glands and salt is concentrated in old leaves that are shed in others

how does algae reproduces asexually

fragmentation, when the thallus can break up into smaller pieces which can then grow into new algae, and spore formation, when haploids spores are the result of meiosis from sporangium and diploid spores are produced by sporophytes

how does algae reproduce sexually

gametophytes produce gametes which fuse to form diploid cells

how do sea grasses reproduce

sexually and asexually by spreading through seeds and cloning themselves

how do mangroves reproduce

pollination of flowers which occurs via wind of bees; they release buoyant seeds that can drift in the water and stay buoyant for up to 100 days; they also produce propagules which are embryonic plants that grow on the parent plant and they fall from the parent tree and drift in currents

how might an increase in pollution affect the primary producers in the ocean? (claim)

an increase in pollution might lead to algal blooms, reduced sunlight, and direct toxicity

how might an increase in pollution affect the primary producers in the ocean? (evidence)

excess nutrients can cause rapid growth of algae, microplastics on the surface block sunlight, and pollutants inhibit photosynthesis

how might an increase in pollution affect the primary producers in the ocean? (reasoning)

algal blooms consume so much oxygen they produce dead zones, sunlight cannot reach the producers, and growth will be reduced