1

Wetland Plants and Algae

PLB 423

September 22, 2003

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Photosynthesis in higher plants

Starch

(α 1-4 glucan)

Photosynthesis in Higher Plants

Photosynthesis in algae Photosynthesis in algae

Absorbed from the surrounding environment

Passive diffusion

Conversion of bicarbonate (cyanobacteria)

2

Carbonic Anhydrase

Cyanobacteria also can make CO2 from bicarbonate they take through the cell membrane

Cyanobacteria use the enzyme carbonic anhydrase to convert bicarbonate into carbon dioxide and water

H2O+CO2H2CO3-Carbonic anhydrase

Photosynthesis in algae

Absorbed from the surrounding environment

Passive diffusion

Conversion of bicarbonate

& water

Today’s Objectives

What “algae” are?Where do they live?How diverse are they?Why do we need to study them?

To answer the following: What are algae?

Take 2 minutes and write down: 1. what you think algae are

What are algae?

"That's the slippery stuff on the sea shore."

"That's what makes the smell on beaches."

"That's the stuff that messes up my swimming pool."

"It feeds all the animals in the sea."

"Yucchy stuff."

"Slimy stuff that grows in sewage."

"I don't know, but the roof of my house was once turned green by it."

"I have heard they are edible."

An informal survey of the general public:

Prokaryotes

So what are algae?

Are the algae considered to be:

Plants?

Animals?

Fungi?

3

Algae: a definition

Algae are (with numerous exceptions)

aquatic organisms that(with frequent exceptions)

are photosynthetic, oxygenic autotrophs, that are

(except for kelps)smaller and less structurally complex than higher plants!

What are algae?

In your groups, write down1. what do you think algae are?2. where in the wetlands do you think they live?

Q2 - Where do you find algae in wetlands? Q2 - Where do you find algae in wetlands?

Q2 - Where do you find algae in wetlands?

Where in the wetlands do algae live?

Algae of the wetlands

live on the bottomloosely associated withwetland plants

attached to wetland plantscolonizing sedimentscolonizing sands colonizing stonesswimming in the water

= benthic= metaphytic

= epiphytic

= epipelic

= epipsammic

= epilithic

=phytoplanktonic