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Red Algae. By: Carly Muller and Jess Lin. Description. Around 6,000 species Few simple, unicellular Majority complex, multicellular , and plant-like Body composed of interwoven filaments (feathery) Some have flattened sheets of cells Phylum: Phodophyta Attach to rocks by basal holdfast
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Red Algae By: Carly Muller and Jess Lin
Description • Around 6,000 species • Few simple, unicellular • Majority complex, multicellular, and plant-like • Body composed of interwoven filaments (feathery) • Some have flattened sheets of cells • Phylum: Phodophyta • Attach to rocks by basal holdfast • No flagella • Reproduce in alternation of sexual and asexual stages
Pigmentation • Chloroplasts contain Phycoerythrin • Provides red color by absorbing blue light and reflecting red • Allow to live deeper in ocean • Same pigment composition as cyanobacteria
Uses • Sticky polysaccharides in cell wall • Used to produce agar and as a food thickener • Carrageenan: food additive to stabilize chocolate milk and for creamy texture in ice cream • Eaten by fish, crustaceans, worms • Help treat herpes simplex virus
Habitat • Primarily warm tropical ocean waters • Some fresh water and soil • Most commonly in tide pools and coral reefs