What ecological role do algae play

One of the similarities between land plants and several algae species is the presence of chlorophyll which allows them to form organic food molecules by utilizing energy from the sun and carbon dioxide. Algae species are found not only in ocean waters but also in damp places on land and even in the fur of animals such as the three-toed sloth.

One of the most important roles played by algae in the environment is the production of oxygen as a by-product in the process of photosynthesis.

What ecological role do algae play. One of the most important roles played by algae in the environment is the production of oxygen as a by-product in the process of photosynthesis. One of the similarities between land plants and several algae species is the presence of chlorophyll which allows them to form organic food molecules by utilizing energy from the sun and carbon dioxide. All algae contain chlorophyll but most lack leaves roots vascular tissue and stems.

They play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems by forming the energy base of the food web for all aquatic organisms. As autotrophic organisms algae convert water and carbon dioxide to sugar through the process of photosynthesis. Algae species are found not only in ocean waters but also in damp places on land and even in the fur of animals such as the three-toed sloth.

A key component of ocean food webs as well as a contributor to the formation of clouds algae play a major role in the ecosystems of the world. Microscopic algae are arguably the source of more than half of the worlds oxygen though photosynthesis. They turn carbon dioxide into biomass and release oxygen.

Ecologically algae are at the base of the food chain. They are the beginning of the transfer of solar energy to biomass that transfers up trophic levels to the top predators. Ecological and commercial importance.

Algae form organic food molecules from carbon dioxide and water through the process of photosynthesis in which they capture energy from sunlight. Similar to land plants algae are at the base of the food chain and given that plants are virtually absent from the oceans the existence of nearly all marine lifeincluding whales seals fishes turtles shrimps. Ecological Role of Algae Although often inconspicuous fungi occur in every environment on Earth and play very important roles in most ecosystems.

Along with bacteria fungi are the major decomposers in most terrestrial and some aquatic ecosystems and therefore play a critical role in biogeochemical cycles and in many food webs. An important ecological role that is shared by macroscopic algae is that it helps to clean the sea prevents erosion and it serves as a food for fish and plankton. Algae and the OxygenCarbon Cycles The oxygen and carbon cycles are closely related because they are directly associated with photosynthesis and respiration processes.

They play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems by forming the energy base of the food web for all aquatic organisms. As autotrophic organisms algae convert water and carbon. The green algae play an important role in the purification of water in which they grow.

They utilise the carbon dioxide released by the various animals during their respiration and give off oxygen during photosynthesis and thus the water is purified. G Algae Used in Aviation. Characteristics ecological role economic importance.

Microscopic autotrophic pigments flucoxanthin and chlorophyll a present primary producer. Red-colored secondary pigments in glacier algae play an adaptive role in melting snow and ice. We advance this hypothesis using a model of color-based absorption of irradiance an experiment with colored particles in snow and the natural history of glacier algae.

The Brown Algae play the ecological roles of a decomposer producer and a food source for aquatic life. They play an important role in marine environments both as food and for the habitats they form. For instance Macrocystis a kelp of the order Laminariales may reach 60 m in length and forms prominent underwater forests.

In addition to their ecological roles as oxygen producers and as the food base for almost all aquatic life algae are economically important as a source of crude oil and as sources of food and a number of pharmaceutical and industrial products for humans. Algae are the undisputed primary producers in the aquatic ecosystem and contribute approximately half of the global net primary productivity Field et al 1998. These photosynthetic organisms along with cyanobacteria live in the planktonic region of the aquatic habitat and are collectively called phytoplankton Buchan et al 2014.

The kelp forest ecosystem around the Channel Islands largely depends on the relationship between sea otters and sea urchins. Sea otters are a keystone species because they play an extremely important role in maintaining the structure of the ecological community. Without them the type and abundance of species in the community would be totally.