Transcript Multicellular Protists

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
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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.