Students learned about the three types of seaweed. Seaweed and algae are the same thing and they are classified by pigment type - red, brown, or green.
Red seaweeds are the most common, but we don't see a lot of them because they like tropical waters and deep waters.
Brown algae is the most common seaweed on our coast, whereas green algae is the most common in the freshwater of Virginia.
There is also cyanobacteria - or the blue green algae which we discussed during the plankton part of the unit.
There is also cyanobacteria - or the blue green algae which we discussed during the plankton part of the unit.
Some algae is calcareous - meaning it stores calcium carbonate in its tissues. This makes it crunchy and deters herbivores. The most common is a calcareous red algae that makes a pink crust on just about everything left in the ocean.
A lot of seaweed has air bladders to help it float towards the surface. Air bladders ensure adequate sunlight for photosynthesis. Other important adaptations include flexibility and gels to stay hydrated when the tide goes out. Students observed samples of dried seaweed.
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