Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)

• Brown algae are usually benthic
• Adaptations to benthic lifestyle:

  1. Holdfast
  2. Mucilage
• The phaeophyte holdfast secretes mucilage in order to attach to rocks
• Sacs that can hold air to allow for buoyancy

  Bladders
• Bladders are the result of erythematous tissue
• Buoyancy allows for the phaeophyte to remain erect in order to maximize photosynthetic activity
• Cells that conduct photosynthetic products to deeper parts of the thallus

  Trumpet cells
• Phaeophyte cell wall component

  Alginates
• Reproductive cycle order:

  Sporophyte (diploid) -> Receptacle -> Gametangium (haploid) -> Sperm and eggs

  
• Brown algae grow abundantly in the Sargasso Sea, which is in the North Atlantic Gyre
• Fish camouflaged like brown algae

  Sargasso frogfish