Marine Biology: May 12, 2006



Marine Biology: May 16, 2007

Kelp Forests

I. Introduction

II. What are seaweeds and kelp?

A. Classification

1. Generally considered to be in “Kingdom Protista”…

B. Major groups of algae [Various figures in Ch. 6]

1. Phylum Chlorophyta: green algae

a. Why found only in the intertidal and very shallow subtidal?

b. Examples: Ulva (sea lettuce) and Codium (dead man’s fingers)

2. Phylum Rhodophyta: red algae

a. What makes them red? Adaptive value?

b. Example: Corallina

3. Phylum Phaeophyta: brown algae (including kelp, the large brown algae)

a. What makes them brown? Adaptive value?

b. Example: Fucus (rockweed) and Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp)

C. Parts of a kelp “thallus” and their significance [Fig. 6.1].

**Be able to create/label a diagram and know the key functions of these parts!

1. Holdfast

2. Stipe

3. Pneumatocyst

4. Blade (or “frond”)

D. Life cycle of Macrocystis pyrifera [Fig. 13.24]

1. Sporophyte generation

a. Appearance

b. Spore production (within sporophylls)

• What do the spores become?

2. Gametophyte generation

a. Appearance

b. Gamete production

c. Fertilization

• What does the zygote (fertilized egg) become?

E. Distribution of kelp (West coast of North America) [Fig. 13.25]

1. Egregia (feather boa)

2. Laminaria

3. Pterygophora

4. *Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp)

5. *Nereocystis (bull kelp)

6. *Pelagophycus (elk kelp): deep forests, huge fronds (10 meters long!)

*Indicates those that form the kelp forests.

III. Where are kelp forests found and what conditions do they need to thrive?

A. Locations

B. Requirements of kelp

1. Cold water ( ................
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