Читать книгу Oceans For Dummies - Joseph Kraynak - Страница 26

Oceans aren’t exactly known for their floral arrangements, but they do have a few recognizable plants and plenty of other important photosynthetic microorganisms that provide food, oxygen, and habitats for other marine organisms. Here’s a list of some of the more notable marine plants and photosynthetic organisms covered in Chapter 8:

 Phytoplankton are single-celled photosynthetic organisms sometimes described as “floating plants.” Most are single-cell algae (micro-algae), but phytoplankton also include a type of photosynthetic bacteria called cyanobacteria.

 Macro-algae are several species of macroscopic, multicellular marine algae commonly referred to as “seaweed.” They look like plants and can be very large, but they have no vascular system for distributing nutrients. All the cells that make up the seaweed absorb liquids and nutrients from the surrounding water.

 Seagrass is a plant, complete with a vascular system, leaves, roots, and rhizomes (just like lawn grass); they’re pollinated under water, and they produce seeds.

 Mangroves are highly salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that grow along shorelines in tropical locations. In addition to providing food, shelter, and breeding areas for other marine organisms, mangroves play an important role in protecting and even building land.

 Zooxanthellae: Pronounced zo-uh-zan-thel-ee, these are single-celled photosynthetic organisms that live inside the cells of many marine animals, including coral polyps and some jellyfish, nudibranchs (sea slugs), and sponges, providing them with food in exchange for a place to live.