Macroalgas: What are, types and examples

The algae are photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms They are able to live and reproduce in aquatic ecosystems. They have one Very wide distribution And they occupy a wide variety of habitats: there are marine, sweetAcuícoles, coastal species and some survive even in extreme environments, such as in Antarctica.

Algae constitute a very diverse group that presents a great variety of shapes and sizes which cover from microscopic unicellular organisms (microalgae) to macroscopic organisms (macroalgas), which can reach several meters in length. This last group corresponds to macroalgae, organisms that live attached to some type of substrate in aquatic funds or coasts, can reach a large size and greater morphological complexity.

Next, we present a list of the main characteristics of the macroalgas:

• They are considered cosmopolitan speciessince they are distributed worldwide. Here you can read more about the cosmopolitan species: what is and examples.
• They are capable of produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.
• They constitute the Base of complex trophic networks.
• They are important primary producers in the ecosystems where they live.
• They provide food, protection and refuge For many animal species.
• They provide protection against erosion of the coasts.
• Its vegetative body is called talo and has neither roots, stem nor leaves.
• The accumulation of dead macroalgas on the coasts after strong currents or sudden movements in aquatic ecosystems, is known as arrivals.

On the other hand, macroalgae have been used for a long time by the human being to fulfill numerous functions, including:

• Are used in the food industry To make dairy products, jams, gelatins, soups, fruit juice to sushi.
• Are used in the textile industry.
• They serve as raw material to elaborate gelifying substances, such as The agar.
• In cosmetology they are used to do Creams, shampoos and dental pastes.
• Due to its high protein and mineral content They are used as fertilizers.
• Due to their high calcium carbonate content they are used to Correct the acidity of soils.
• In biomedicine They are used due to their healing properties.
• They are considered ornamental, so they are used in decoration.

We recommend you take a look at this other article on the classification of algae.

Algae, in broad strokes, are classified according to the photosynthetic pigments they possess in their chloroplasts: cell organelles where the photosynthesis process occurs. The macroalgas are classified into three large groups:

• Green algae (Chlorophyta): There is a great diversity of green algae species in the world. These have AyB, carotenoid chlorophyll and store reserve substances such as starch. In general, marine species are larger than those that inhabit freshwater bodies, but in both environments microscopic and macroscopic species can be found. As in this article we are interested in macroalgas we will emphasize them. In this other article you can learn more about green algae: what are, characteristics, types and examples.
• Red algae (Rhodophyta): Most of these algae are marine and live on rocks, although some are epiphytes. They have in their chloroplasts pigments such as chlorophyll A, carotenoids and ficobiliproteins and the latter are responsible for providing them with the characteristic red color. Some of Rodophyte’s species can measure up to 4 meters long.
• Brown algae (Phaeophyta, Phycophyta or Phaeophyceae): Most species within this group live in marine environments, only a few genera are found in fresh water ecosystems. They have differentiated tissues equivalent to the roots, stems and leaves of the vegetables. They have pigments such as Aycy Fucoxiantina chlorophyll, responsible for the distinctive brown color of these algae. There are species that can measure up to 60 meters in length and that are KELP forest formators.

There are a large number of macroalgas species classified within the three types, here we will present five examples of each of them:

Green macroalgas

• Sponge algae or velvet horn (Codiumtomentosum): Native to the northeast of the Atlantic Ocean, it can grow up to 30 centimeters.
• Percebe algae or sea fingers (Codiumfragile): widely used in gastronomy, this algae can measure 40 centimeters in length.
• Sea lettuce (Ulva Lactuca): Edible algae distributed in almost all oceans in the world, reaches 20 centimeters in length.
• Chara (Chara Fragilis): Common species distributed worldwide, can measure 30 centimeters in length.
• Smooth stone (Nitellaflexilis): Species of fresh water that can measure 1 meter.

Red macroalgas

• Ireland moss (Chondruscrispus): Red algae distributed in Europe and North America widely used by the human being.
• Hildenbrandia: Genus of red algae that grow attached to rocks.
• CORALLINAOFFICINALIS: Native to the North Atlantic, grows in rocky coasts and provides a refuge site for small animals.
• Nothogeniafastigiata: small red algae that measures between 4 and 5 centimeters inhabitant of the average portion of the marine coast.
• Ceramiumvirgatum: Marina red seaweed that grows up to 30 centimeters.

Macroalgas brown

• Macrocystispyréfera: Giant brown algae capable of forming underwater forests (quelpos) that can reach up to more than 45 meters in length.
• Durvillaaantarctica: Inhabitant of the coast of sub -antarctic seas is a edible species that reaches up to 15 meters.
• Laminaria Hyperborea: Native of the Northeast of the Atlantic Ocean can reach 3 meters in length.
• Ligulata Desmastia: Widely distributed, this algae is one of the most abundant and is associated with Kelps forests.
• Lessonianigrescens: Endemic of South Pacific coast This brown algae reaches up to 4 meters long.

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