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Seaweed
Phycologists consider seaweed to refer any of a large number of marine benthic algae that are multicellular, macrothallic (large-bodied), and thus differentiated from most algae that tend towards microscopic size (Smith, 1944). Seaweeds are found among the green, red, and brown algae. Some cyanobacteria may also be counted as seaweeds. Seaweeds are named after terrestrial "weeds", and are not to be confused with things like seagrass which are vascular plants and not algae.
Structure
Seaweeds may have an appearance that resembles non-arboreal terrestrial plants.
- thallus: the algal body
- blade: a flattened structure that is somewhat leaf-like
- sorus: spore cluster
- on Fucus -- Air bladders: float-assist device (on blade)
- on kelp -- floats: float-assist device (in between blade and stipe)
- stipe: a stem-like structure
- holdfast: specialized basal structure providing attachment to the bottom
Uses
Seaweeds are used extensively as food by coastal peoples, most particularly in Japan but also in Korea, in Peru and in the Canadian Maritimes. For example, nori is a dried red alga, formed into sheets, and used to wrap sushi. Irish moss is another red alga used in producing various food additives. Other seaweeds may be used as seaweed fertiliser.
References
- Smith, G.M. 1944. Marine Algae of the Monterey Peninsula, California. Stanford Univ., 2nd Edition.
External link
- The Seaweed Site, information on all aspects of seaweeds and marine algal biology
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Phycological Society of America
Information about the society dedicated to the study of algae, its publications and links to other phycological sites.
http://www.psaalgae.org
European Journal of Phycology
Publishes papers on all aspects of algae, including cyanobacteria.
http://titles.cambridge.org/journals/journal_catalogue.asp?historylinks=SUBJ&mnemonic=EJP
Guide to Pressing Seaweed
Includes instructions on collecting and pressing seaweed, ideas for science and art activities..
http://www.cryptogamicbotany.com/lm_press_seaweed.html
Northwest Algal Symposium
Phycologists from the Northwestern United States and Western Canada: includes contact and activity information.
http://www.nwasalgae.org
Australasian Society for Phycology and Aquatic Botany
Society information, resources, and links.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~philip.orr/ASPAB_new_site/
AlgaeBase
AlgaeBase is a database of information on algae that includes terrestrial, marine and freshwater organisms.
http://www.algaebase.org
Indian Ocean Benthic Algae
On-line version of the Catalogue of Benthic Marine Algae of the Indian Ocean, with indexes, geographical lists, bibliographies, and search capacity.
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/rlmoe/tioc/ioctoc.html
Seaweed
This site has a lot of information on all aspects of seaweeds and marine algal biology.
http://www.seaweed.ie
AlgaeSearch
Search for algae in AlgaeBase, The Indian Ocean Catalogue, Tree of Life, GenBank and Google.
http://algae.wepp.be
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