Plants and Algae

There are many plants that inhabit the intertidal zone.
  • seagrass, which are the only flowering plants submerged in the ocean, are abundant in the intertidal zone.include the following. 
    • surf grasses (Phyllospadix spp.) 
    • eelgrass (Zostera marina),
  • Marine algae 
    • Characteristics/about/general information 
      • One thing that sets them apart from land plants is their lack of true roots, stems, leaves and flowers. 
      • Most have a holdfast (the marine algae equivalent of roots), a blade/blades (the equivalent of leaves), and a stipe (which resembles the trunk of a tree or stems of other plants). 
      • Some have gas filled bladders - scientifically called pneumatocysts - that allow the blades to float close to the surface. This allows maximum exposure to sunlight, which maximizes photosynthesis. 
      • There is a wide range in size - marine algae ranges from microscopic phytoplankton, which are single celled organisms floating freely in the ocean, to giant kelp, which live in costal, under water forests.  
    • Types 
      • There are three phyla are characterized by the dominant pigment coloring the plants.
      • Green Algae (Phylum Chlorophyta)

        • There are over 7,000 species in this phylum, and they get their color from the photosynthetic pigments Chlorophyll A and B. Green algae grows near the surface, reflects green light while using red light.
        • Common green algae found in the intertidal zones include sea lettuce (ulva spp.) (characteristics include being bright green, very thin [ only two cell layers thick}, and translucent), gutweed/hollow green weeds (known as entermorpha spp), (which as flattened green tubes and inhabit  the high intertidal zones), and dead man's fingers (codium fragile), which is dark green with finger like blades and lives in the middle intertidal zone to the sub-tidal zone.

      • Brown Algae (Phylum Pheaophyta)
        • Brown algae get their color from the dominance of the xanthophyll pigment - called  fucoxanthin - over chlorophyll A and B. Brown algaw grows in medium depths, uses yellow and green light while reflecting red and blue light.
        • There are many species of brown algae that thrive in the rocky intertidal zone. Brown algae additionally has algen, which keeps the plants form drying out. Algen can be used for a wide array of man made uses. It is commercially harvested, and can be used for pharmaceutical uses, in cosmetics, waterproofing and fireproofing clothing, and more. It is also used in food as  a thickening agent. Example foods include ice creams, soups, and drinks. 
        • The types include 
          • sea potato (leathesia sp ), which is a light brown algae that forms light brown, hollow sacs 5-6 cm in diameter. It is found in the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. 
          Sea Potato!
          • sea palm (postelsia palaeformis), which are large green-brown algae that resemble land palm trees.  They have straight stipes that grow up to 100 stipe-like blades. It can grow up to 61cm - which is about 2 feet - tall. (1) It lives in the middle intertidal zone,  a place with high wave activity.  (2)
          Southern Sea Palm
          • Giant Kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera), which grow in the cold, costal waters of North America, South America, South Africa, South Australia. It forms dense underwater forests and grows best in water temperatures with a temperature range between 50-60 degrees Farenheight. (Fun fact: it can grow up to two feet per day.) While it doesn't always live in the intertidal zone, it frequently washes up there. 

http://www.norbertwu.com/nwp/landscape-subjects-for-calendars/CaliforniaCoast_web/originals/1245.JPG
      • Red Algae (Phylum Rhodophyta)
        • The pigments phycoerythrin and phycocyanin produce the red color seen in red algae. Red algae grows deep, reflects green,yellow, and red light while uses blue light.)There are two types 
          • Coralline Algae (Order Corallinales, Family Corallinaceae)
            • Coralline Algae
            • They contain calcium carbonate deposits within their cell walls, which give these organism a crusty af texture. Their growth structure may be branching or encroaching, depending on the species.
          • Nori
            • Natural Nori
            • Nori are single layer thick organisms that are typically a deep purple to black-ish color. Humans use it for the taste and for it's nutritional value. 
Sources:
  1. https://seaworld.org/animal-info/ecosystem-infobooks/tide-pools/intertidal-marine-plants/
  2. http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/natres/docs/algae.pdf 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Animals and Their Adaptions

Image
There are many different animals that visit the Rocky Intertidal Zones. A wide variety of   Vertebrates and in v ertebrate s visit or live here and because of this, I will go over the common phylums and then highlight three animals on three different trophic levels. In v ertebrate s Phylums Proferia (1) (2) This phylum is made up of sponges, the most basic of organisms.They lakc internal organs and nerves. There are over 5,000 living species divided into three categories - hexactinellda (glass sponges), demospongia, and calcarea (calcareous sponges). Ectoprocta (2) This phylum is comprised of small, clustering animals that live in rectangular or cylindrical boxes. They are called collectively called bryozoans and individually called zooids. They breed asexually and filter feed. Cnidaria (2) There are around 10,000 species in this phylum that includes jellyfish and anemones. They are somewhat more evolutionarily advanced - they have two cell layers, radial symmetry
Read more

Conservation

Pollution Coastal pollution poses a threat to tide pool animals and plants. Pollution such as discarded trash, oil spills, sewage spills and toxic chemical runoff all negatively effect the ecosystem. Organizations have set up local beach clean ups all around the world to pick up trash and prevent any pollution from affecting the marine life. This quote from Subtotal Marine Biology book calls for a ban on local thermal effluents. “It may be necessary to designate certain areas along California’s coast where no thermal effluent will be permitted, and establish other areas where subtropical water temperatures will be maintained by heated effluent.” (1) Climate Change Climate change is also having a massive impact on the rocky intertidal zones. Climate change has lead to rising sea levels and temperatures and the more common extreme weather events. The rise in temperature in the water effects how the marine life lives and many creatures aren't evolved to rising temperatures.
Read more

Oceanographic and Climatic Factors

Image
What does the Rocky Intertidal Zone look like, you might ask ponderously. Take a look at the photo below to find out! Photo taken by Martin Gabriel. What exactly is the Rocky Intertidal Zone? The rocky intertidal zone provides linkage between terrestrial systems and marine systems. They are high stress, high impact areas. " Conditions including wave action, changes in salinity, thermal stress, alternating periods of exposure and submersion, and exposure to winter ice have necessitated that organisms develop strategies to survive in this stressful environment". For example, some animals like mussels have hard  shells to protect themselves, and some algae can hide under rocks to protect from predation. Rocky intertidal zones do many things for the environment and planet, such as stabilizing shorelines, " protecting upland areas against the eroding action of waves and the impacts of storm surges and sea level rise; creating dramatic vistas; offering easily access
Read more