Marine Plants Review Study Guide Vocabulary
diatoms
common type of phytoplankton (algae)
benthic algae
consists of four groups: Blue-green algae, green algae, red algae, and brown algae.
green algae
far less common. only 13 percent species are marine. large enough to be seen without microscope. variety of shapes. common at higher interidal zones or subtidally in shallow water
sea bottles
green seaweed. grows in shallow water in southern florida and carribbean. large thin walled sac resembling clear green marble. single cell with many nuclei. largest single cells known. grows attached to hard objects in clear water and good currents.
sea lettuce
grows in dirty, flaky green patches in spray and upper interidal zones from newfoundland to capecod.
red algae
has the most species in comparison to other seaweeds. vast majority are marine. less than 2 percent live in fresh water. grow under low light conditions. can be found at depths as great as 600 feet. tropical and subtropical regions. commercially important
blue green algae
have lived on earth for over two billion years. found on temperate shores, interidal rocks, surface layer of mud flats and sand grains
marine plants
important source of oxygen. During photosynthesis they release vast quanities of oxygen into water
kelp
large brown seaweeds found along temperate coastlines worldwide. commercial uses. better known seaweed.
rockweeds
large slippery brown seaweeds that grow in dense beds along atlantic coast. account for most of the seaweed in rocky interidal zone of new england.
blade
leaf like structure
pelagic algae
living in water column (phytoplankton). Free floating unattached plants that are unnicellular and microscopic
brown algae
makes up most of our familia large seaweeds. grow along rocky shores in oceans, temperate and cold seas. found near shore and water not deeper than 60 feet
algae
makes up the greatest bulk of marine life. diverse group of non vascular plants. Do not have roots, stems, leaves, or flowers. importatn producers of organic matter in the ocean
holdfast
may resemble root system of vascular plants. anchors the plant
sargassum
one of the few brown seaweeds that grows in tropics. also known as gulf weed. air bladders on short stalks and golden brown color. grow from maine to florida. benthic.
mangroves
partially submerged along shallow tropical and subtropical seashores around world. grow along southcoast of florida. the roots filter salt out of water.
sargasso sea
south of bermuda where surface currents converge in area of calm water. covers area two thirds siz of united states.
stipe
stem like structure
sea lettuce
ulva lactuca. grows near and below low tide mark from maine to florida. bright green alga made of double layer of cells in flat or ruffled sheets. edible seaweed.
rhizomes
underground stems. penetrate three to six inches below substrate.
calcerous algae
algae that deposits limestone within their tissues. algae become very hard if enough limestone accumulates. livign tissue decomposes when it dies but limestone skeleton remains.
seaweeds
almost all are attached plants fixed to substrate by structure known as holdfast
marine grasses
approximately seven species of this has grown along coast of north america. true flowering plants. have roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. wholly submerged in salt water.
