1. 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)

2. Phaeophyta Brown/yellow pigment Diverse morphologies Fast growing kelp
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

3. 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

4. Chorophyta Green pigments Diverse morphologies Chl a & Chl b
Same as plants
Diverse morphologies
Filamentous
Sheets
Spongy
Calcareous
Important component of coral reef environments

5. 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.