Enteromorpha spp. a
tubular green algae, is commonly found in tidepools that
form in the Upper Intertidal zone.
Clicking on the image above will provide a close up view.
This algae may grow in thick mats. Enteromorpha
spp. has a very high tolerance for nutrient rich
waters and can be used to indicate nutrient enrichment
in coastal waters. When you find Enteromorpha you
might notice lots of gas bubbles trapped inside the algae.
This is oxygen trapped inside the algae, a product of photosynthesis.
These bubbles also keep the algae buoyant so
that it remains at the surface to capture sunlight to continue
photosynthesis. The white patches to the right in the
image above, indicate strands of Enteromorpha that
have been dried and bleached by the sun. |
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A filamentous, red algae, Bangia (pronounced
ban-gee-ah), shares the winter growing season with Porphyra.This
algae is about as thick as a horsehair and can get up
to 8 inches long. Its color fades upon drying as you
can see happening in the image above. When Bangia is
wet it has a brownish-purple or maroon appearance on
rock surfaces.
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Click on this microscopic view of a Bangia filament
to take a closer look at its cellular structure. |
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