Kelp Forest are Marine Ecosystems that can be uniquely identified because of their different algae species that can potentially grow hundreds of feet long in height. Kelp Forests are ecosystems formed around densely populated algae in the shallow water of the Photic (vertical) close to shore (6ft-90ft+). Algae require sunlight for photosynthesis limiting them to growth in cold shallow water in multiple different oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, etc.). Giant Kelp, Red Algaes, Brown Algaes, Green Algaes, etc. are examples of the plethora of types of species of algae that form kelp forests and are the most essential part of any kelp forest ecosystem. The different coloring of algae is due the variations of pigmentation in different species of algae, but uniform throughout all algae is the use of photosynthesis to create energy. The photosynthesis of algae is an important step of the Carbon cycle, but algae is also very important for humans economically due to the fact that a type algae extract is used in manufacture many common foods. Without algae, the whole kelp forest ecosystem would cease to exist due to the fact that algae serves as a source of food and protection for countless marine organisms and animals.

Rhodophyta (red algae)

Coralline Algae

Lithothamnion

Prionitis lanceolata

Phylum: Rhodophyta Class: Florideophyceae Order: Halymeniales Family Halymeniaceae

Habitat: Prionitis lanceolata is a specific red algae that is most commonly found in mid-low tidal zone (due to its need for sunlight for photosynthesis). Prionitis lanceolata much like other algae tend to grow in coastal regions of the ocean where the ocean tides won’t tear them from their holdfast attached to the ocean floor.

Species role: Prionitis lanceolata as a species itself has no specific role in Kelp Forests, but red algae is a primary producer that is need by most other marine organism and animals to function because the red algae produces oxygen as a by products of photosynthesis.

Lifecycle (description/ diagram): The lifecycle of Prionitis lanceolata is the same os the coralline algae with the diagram shown above.

Survival adaptation: Prionitis lanceolata gives off a red color due to the fact that the pigment phycoerythrin is present, this pigment absorbs blue light and reflects red light. As many other algaes, Prionitis lanceolata has a holdfast instead of roots to latch itself on the ocean floor/rocks, this holdfast allows Prionitis lanceolata to stay in moving tidal water where the most sunlight can be obtained through photosynthesis.

Species adaptation: Lithothamnion algae is of the Crustose species, but both Articulated and Crustose species have adapted to use calcium carbonate to get the appearance and texture of coral. This adaption protects Lithothamnion algae from predators because herbivores do not prefer eating an algae which is as hard as marble. Coralline algae is a prime example of algae species that have adapted because the use of calcium carbonate in a body structure is unique to this order of algae

Phaeophyta (brown algae)

Giant Kelp

Macrocystis pyrifera

Phylum: Phaeophyta

Habitat: They live in temperate coastal areas. When males and females grow together they form the kelp forests.

Species role: They provide the shelter for many species within the forest and are also a food source for species. Since the kelp use photosynthesis to get their energy they act as primary producers.

Lifecycle: The species is one of the fastest growing and grow up to 2 feet every day. Once they reach the surface of the ocean they begin to grow horizontal. Meiosis within the sporangium of the diploid sporophyte produces haploid microscopic flagellated zoospores, which settle and germinate into male or female haploid gametophytes. These gameteophytes produce male and female gametes, which combine via fertilization to form diploid sporophytes which then grow from microscopic to macroscopic size. It takes 12-14 months to complete the sexual cycle.

Survival adaptation: Since kelp isn’t a plant it doesn’t have roots. Instead it has a holdfast which attaches the kelp to the rocky bottom so that the kelp doesn’t get carried away by the ocean current.

Sea Lace

Chorda filum

Habitat: Found is rocky pools offshore and attach to the ground by a holdfast that buries into the sand. It prefers to be in moderate strong tidals.

Species role: It produced energy through photosynthesis and is food to many sarine species.

Lifecycle: The species has a macroscopic diploid sporophyte and a microscopic haploid gametophyte. The gametophytes consist of clumps of prostate, branched, filaments approximately 100 micrometres long. Female gametophytes are less branched than male ones and may be distinguished by their larger more densely pigmented cells. The male gametophytes are smaller, paler in colour and more densely branched than the females. Chorda filum exhibits a protracted reproductive period. Visible sporophytes appear on shores between February and mid-March and develop into secondary sporophytes between April and June. The sporophytes are washed away from October to February, leaving behind zoospores or gametophytes. The size of plants is not related to their state of maturity, although the smallest plants to bear sporangia have been observed to be 36.6 cm long. When the meristem becomes indistinct it is likely that fruiting has begun. During the period of fertility the whole plant except the lowermost 5-10 cm, is covered in unilocular sporangia.

Survival adaptation: The adult frond is a hollow tube, the walls of which are spirally constructed. The frond is frequently inflated with gases in the terminal region.

Chlorophyta (green algae)

Grass kelp

Ulva rigida

Phylum: Chlorophyta

Habitat: Found on rocks and can grow as an epipthyte, meaning that they can grow on other plants or algae but they are not parasitic. Sea lettuce is located at depth of 75 feet or more. They grow in both high and low intertidal zones.

Species role: Sea lettuce is photosynthetic and is a primary producer eaten by things like urchins. They provide shelter to small invertebrates, for example amphipods. Sea lettuce is also used by humans in food and even in things like medicine.

Lifecycle: Sea lettuce goes through two reproductive phases. The first is when adults produce spores through meiosis. The spores then settle and grow into both male and female plants. The second phase the male and female plants produce gametes through mitosis. Those gametes then unite and become adult plants. When sea lettuce die they sink to the sea bottom to decompose by bacteria. The bacteria consume oxygen until there is little to none left in the bottom water.

Survival adaptation: Sea lettuce is fragile and can be detached from the rocks they attach to and still photosynthesize as a free floater. Sea lettuce is adapted to utilize the most intense sunlight. The sea lettuce is able to put its blades out of the water on intertidal rocks and can appear dried out. Once they are exposed the ocean water again they are just fine.

Sea Lettuce

Ulva lactuca

Habitat: High and low intertidal zones in places that are at least 75 ft deep. Attach themselves to rocks and shells through the holdfast

Species role: Ulva lactuca They are used as an indicator species because of their tolerance and bloom in the presence of pollution.

Lifecycle: Ulva lactuca is very similar to the other sea lettuce species ulva rigida because they both use the same reproductive cycle.

Survival adaptation: sea lettuce can thrive in places with nutrient pollution while other plants would suffocate. They are used as an indicator species because of this.

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