When people think of marine life, they most often tend to think of an animal like fish, dolphins, or sharks. However, a cornerstone of any marine ecosystem is the marine plant. Marine plants and algae, though classified together with land plants, behave somewhat differently than the trees and flowers we are used to. While some, like kelp and sea grass, have root-like structures that anchor them to the ground, these anchoring devices do not absorb nutrients like they do on land. Additionally, some marine plants contain pockets of air that help them to stay afloat as they move throughout the water. Despite living underwater, marine plants still require sunlight to live and perform photosynthesis, and therefore must exist at depths that are still breached by sunlight. While they may appear less exciting than sharks, marine plants and algae provide about 70-80 percent of all the oxygen on Earth, as well as provide homes and protection for many fish and sea animals. The next time you are talking about marine life, be sure to give credit to the plants that live underwater!