Seaweed
Seaweed
Journal of Ecosystem and Ecography is an international open access journal publishing the quality peer-reviewed research articles relevant to the field of Environmental Sciences. The journal selects the articles to be published with a single bind, peer review system, following the practices of good scholarly journals. It supports the open access policy of making scientific research accessible to one and all.
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Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to several species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. The term includes some types of Rhodophyta (red), Phaeophyta (brown) and Chlorophyta (green) macroalgae. Seaweed species such as kelps provide essential nursery habitat for fisheries and other marine species and thus protect food sources; other species, such as planktonic algae, play a vital role in capturing carbon, producing up to 90% of Earth's oxygen. Understanding these roles offers principles for conservation and sustainable use. Mechanical dredging of kelp, for instance, destroys the resource and dependent fisheries.
Taxonomy
"Seaweed" lacks a formal definition. Generally it is one of several groups of multicellular algae: red, green and brown. They lack a common multicellular ancestor, forming a polyphyletic group. Some bluegreen algae (Cyanobacteria) are sometimes considered to be seaweed.
Anatomy
Seaweed's appearance resembles non-arboreal terrestrial plants. Its anatomy includes:[3]
Thallus: algal body
Lamina or blade: flattened structure that is somewhat leaf-like
pneumatocyst, air bladder: a flotation-assisting organ on the blade
Kelp, float: a flotation-assisting organ between the lamina and stipe
Stipe: stem-like structure, may be absent
Holdfast: basal structure providing attachment to a substrate
Haptera: finger-like extension of the holdfast that anchors to a benthic substrate
The stipe and blade are collectively known as the frond.
Ecology
Seaweed covers this rocky seabed on the east coast of Australia
Two environmental requirements dominate seaweed ecology. These are seawater (or at least brackish water) and light sufficient to support photosynthesis. Another common requirement is an attachment point, although genera such as Sargassum and Gracilaria have species that float freely. Seaweed most commonly inhabits the littoral zone (nearshore waters) and, within that zone, on rocky shores more than on sand or shingle.
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Journal of Ecosystem and Ecography