Green Algae
(Chlorophyta)
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/6/7/89677435/published/pict0103.jpg?1483484915)
Green algae is a microorganism that is able to use the sun to create its own energy.
There are thousands of species of green algae, and many of these live in salt or fresh water. Others live on tree trunks or moist rocks.
While most types of algae create energy using the sun, there are types that live in deep water and create energy using sugar.
Algae provides a very important role in many ecosystems, including providing the foundation for the food chain in all the oceans. Algae creates about 70% of the oxygen we breath.
(Picture from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-90DH7CpR_-Q/T9EMEaNh0vI/AAAAAAAABc0/dpH2PqdWzJk/s1600/PICT0103.JPG)
There are thousands of species of green algae, and many of these live in salt or fresh water. Others live on tree trunks or moist rocks.
While most types of algae create energy using the sun, there are types that live in deep water and create energy using sugar.
Algae provides a very important role in many ecosystems, including providing the foundation for the food chain in all the oceans. Algae creates about 70% of the oxygen we breath.
(Picture from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-90DH7CpR_-Q/T9EMEaNh0vI/AAAAAAAABc0/dpH2PqdWzJk/s1600/PICT0103.JPG)
Sea Grasses
(Angiosperms)
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/6/7/89677435/published/300px-posidonia_1.jpg?1483485703)
Seagrasses are flowering plants that make their own food. They have chloroplasts in their tissues that use the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar using photosynthesis.
Since seagrasses rely on sunlight for food, they live mostly in shallow waters between 1-3 meters. However, there is one species of seagrass that lives 58 meters deep.
Seagrasses provide food and shelter for many different animals.
Seagrasses are found in shallow salty water around the world, from the tropics to the Arctic Circle. In the Apo Reef there are 7 different species.
(Picture from https://seagazing.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/300px-posidonia.jpg)
Since seagrasses rely on sunlight for food, they live mostly in shallow waters between 1-3 meters. However, there is one species of seagrass that lives 58 meters deep.
Seagrasses provide food and shelter for many different animals.
Seagrasses are found in shallow salty water around the world, from the tropics to the Arctic Circle. In the Apo Reef there are 7 different species.
(Picture from https://seagazing.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/300px-posidonia.jpg)
Sea Lettuce
(Ulva)
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/6/7/89677435/published/ulva-growing_1.jpg?1483485719)
Sea lettuce is a common green seaweed with broad, translucent leaves. The leaves are usually bright green or dark green. It attaches to something with a small disk-like holdfast, but it can live as a free floating mass.
Sea lettuce uses sunlight to make its own energy in a process called phtosynthesis.
Sea lettuce is found worldwide, save for very exposed rocky shores. They are found and all levels of shore and can tolerate brackish water.
In some parts of the world, sea lettuce is eaten. It is used as a medicine in China.
(Picture from https://foragersyear.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ulva_growing.jpg)
Sea lettuce uses sunlight to make its own energy in a process called phtosynthesis.
Sea lettuce is found worldwide, save for very exposed rocky shores. They are found and all levels of shore and can tolerate brackish water.
In some parts of the world, sea lettuce is eaten. It is used as a medicine in China.
(Picture from https://foragersyear.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ulva_growing.jpg)
Red Algae
(Rhodophyta)
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/6/7/89677435/published/red-algae-on-bleached-coral.jpg?1483487194)
There are about 6500 species of red algae, most of which are marine. They are found in intertidal or subtidal zones to depths of up to 40 meters, but red algae is occasionally found at depths of up to 250 meters.
Red algae uses sunlight to create its own energy.
Several different types of red algae- Kappaphycus and Betaphycus-are consumed by humans. Red algae is an important source of carrageenan, which is a commonly used ingrediant in food, particularly yogurt, chocolate milk, and pudding.
Other types of red algae-Gracilaria, Gelidium, and Pterocladia- are used as growth for microorganisms, for food, and biotechnological applications.
A very important group of red algae-coralline algae-secreats calcium carbonate onto the surface of their cells. These corallines have been used in bone replacement therapies
(Picture from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Red_Algae_on_bleached_coral.JPG)
Red algae uses sunlight to create its own energy.
Several different types of red algae- Kappaphycus and Betaphycus-are consumed by humans. Red algae is an important source of carrageenan, which is a commonly used ingrediant in food, particularly yogurt, chocolate milk, and pudding.
Other types of red algae-Gracilaria, Gelidium, and Pterocladia- are used as growth for microorganisms, for food, and biotechnological applications.
A very important group of red algae-coralline algae-secreats calcium carbonate onto the surface of their cells. These corallines have been used in bone replacement therapies
(Picture from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Red_Algae_on_bleached_coral.JPG)
Zooxanthellae
(Symbiodinium)
![Picture](/uploads/8/9/6/7/89677435/published/zooxanthellae-santos.jpg?1483488622)
Zooxanthellae are a single celled marine organism. They live inside many different animals including jellfish and giant clams. They play their most important role when living within coral polyps. Just like all other plants, zooxanthellae need sunlight to photosynthesise and grow.
When zooxanthellae photosynthesise, they create enough sugar for the plant to live, however they create enough to share some with their host. In return, the host will help the zooxanthellae grow by passing on some of its dissolved organic waste. A lot of the times, a host animal cannot survive without zooxanthellae present.
Host animals do not have zooxanthellae present in their larval form, so they must get them from the water. The host must filter zooxanthellae into its body along with its food, and once in the host animal's stomach, zooxanthellae is passed to the surface flesh.
Zooxanthellae can provide up to 90% of a coral's energy. In return, the coral provides the zooxanthellae with protection, shelter and nutrients.
When corals are subjected to stress they can loose their zooxanthellae by either explusion or digestion, which causes the coral to die. Corals bleach when the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in zooxanthellae become low.
Zooxanthellae is a Keystone species. This means that if zooxanthellae were to disappear, there would be little to no coral, no coral reefs, and even some animals wouldn't exist.
(Picture from http://old.agsci.oregonstate.edu/aquatic-bt/sites/default/files/zooxanthellae_SANTOS.jpg)
When zooxanthellae photosynthesise, they create enough sugar for the plant to live, however they create enough to share some with their host. In return, the host will help the zooxanthellae grow by passing on some of its dissolved organic waste. A lot of the times, a host animal cannot survive without zooxanthellae present.
Host animals do not have zooxanthellae present in their larval form, so they must get them from the water. The host must filter zooxanthellae into its body along with its food, and once in the host animal's stomach, zooxanthellae is passed to the surface flesh.
Zooxanthellae can provide up to 90% of a coral's energy. In return, the coral provides the zooxanthellae with protection, shelter and nutrients.
When corals are subjected to stress they can loose their zooxanthellae by either explusion or digestion, which causes the coral to die. Corals bleach when the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in zooxanthellae become low.
Zooxanthellae is a Keystone species. This means that if zooxanthellae were to disappear, there would be little to no coral, no coral reefs, and even some animals wouldn't exist.
(Picture from http://old.agsci.oregonstate.edu/aquatic-bt/sites/default/files/zooxanthellae_SANTOS.jpg)