Brown Algae in the Ocean

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The Importance of Phaeophyceae (Brown Algae) Inside and Outside the Ocean Ian Olazaba California Polytechnic State University, Pomona Algae can be seen in all parts of the ocean whether it is while walking along the shore or going scuba diving deeper in the water, they get stuck to your leg while swimming and are also a floating island for friendly seagulls and other types of birds. What you do not know is that brown algae is the main food source for a lot of fish species as well as their home, while also being the main ingredient in a lot of products humans use on land. Brown algae plays a major role in the aquatic ecosystem, without brown algae many of the oceanic consumers will not be alive today. Aside from beautifying the ocean, brown algae is the primary food source for a number of aquatic species like sea urchins and snails. Some members of the kelp genus Macrocystis may attain lengths of up to 60 meters, and form prominent mostly submerged kelp forests; along a portion of the Pacific coast of California, these kelp forests form a habitat of the endangered Southern sea otter. Many brown algae such as members of the order Fucales are commonly found along rocky seashores. Kelp is a type of brown algae that aside from being one of the fastest growing organism it also provides shelter for a lot of animals, predators go in these kelp forests in search of kelp eaters. Other animals like the great white eat the animals who eat the kelp eaters and it becomes a food cycle in it of itself. (Steneck, 2002). Kelp has a lot of components that are used in people’s everyday products like: toothpastes, shampoos, salad dressings, puddings, cakes, dairy products, frozen foods, and even pharmaceuticals. Kelp, which is widely available in supplement form, is a rich source of trace minerals such as chromium, manganese and zinc. Kelp is extremely good for every body part

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