seaweed web quest

Here is a picture of seaweed under water. 

http://en.es-static.us/upl/2012/03/seaweed.jpeg

Pre-Lab: Diversity of Algae and Seaweed Questions:

Why are seaweeds assigned to the Protista rather than Plantae?

They aren't  plants because they don't have a vascular system like regular plants have.

List, describe, and state the function of the four basic parts of a seaweed. Also, state the name for the entire seaweed body. 

The stalk or stem of a seaweed is called a stipe and its main function is to support the rest of the plant. Blades function is to provide a large surface area for the absorption of sunlight. Holdfasts, attach them to the sea floor. Floats or pneumatocysts help to keep the photosynthetic structures of the seaweed buoyant so they are able to absorb energy from the sun.

What are the most important ecological roles filled by seaweeds?

They provide shelter for other organisms and they are also a source of food for other organisms.

List several types of environmental stress seaweeds encounter.

seaweeds can have stress by many things.  one they can be exposed to the weather and air.  also changes in temperature in the water can cause stress along with the constant motions of the water.

Briefly describe sexual and asexual reproduction in seaweed.

They  reproduce asexually through fragmentation or division.Seaweeds can reproduce sexually, by the joining of specialized male and female reproductive cells, called gametes. 

Upon what characteristic are seaweeds classified?

The red algae , the green algae , and the brown algae .

1) What are diatoms?

Diatoms are photosynthesizing algae

a) Explain the role of diatoms in the carbon cycle.

They reduce the amount of CO2 in the air during photosynthesis.

b) What are the major characteristics of diatoms?

 Diatoms are unicellular eukaryotes that are microscopic in appearance. For the most part, they are photosynthetic micro-organisms, although some may live heterotrophically

c) Describe the life cycle of a diatom. 

When a cell divides each new cell takes as its epitheca a valve of the parent frustule, and within ten to twenty minutes builds its own hypotheca; this process may occur between one and eight times per day.

d) List five human uses for diatoms. 

 clean the human colin, reduce one's weight, lowers cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure, and finally strengthens hair, nails, gums, and teeth.

e) To what division and class diatoms assigned?

Division Chrysophyta, Class Bacillariophyceae

Algae Type	Brown	Green	Red
Division	Phaeophyta	Chlorophyta	Rhodophyta
Specific Example	Egregia menziesii	Codium fragile	Chondracanthus exasperatus
Form(s)	Large and complex	single-celled	simple, fleshy plants
Pigment(s)	chlorophyll	chlorophyll	chlorophyll, phycocyanin and phycoerythri
Habitat(s)	intertidal zone,	intertidal zones	Deep water
Human Uses	food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals fertilizer	food	toothpaste
Useful Substances	food and medicinal use	lettuce	toothpaste, canned meats