Tag: Phaeophyceae

The class of brown algae, Phaeophyceae, includes over 1,800 species, representing the most diverse and complex group of marine algae. This article explores the defining characteristics and diverse forms that comprise the different types of brown seaweed.

While most people recognize it simply as 'seaweed,' the large group of marine algae belonging to the class Phaeophyceae is also known by many other names, including kelp, bladderwrack, and sargassum. The specific name often depends on the species and its habitat, ranging from giant kelp forests to floating mats in the ocean.

Approximately 10–20% of the dry weight of brown algae consists of mannitol, one of their primary photosynthetic products. This sweet-tasting sugar alcohol, along with the polysaccharide laminarin, is the main form of stored carbon in brown algae, also known as Phaeophyceae. This unique storage mechanism is key to their survival in fluctuating marine environments.

Surprisingly, seaweed is not a plant; it is a macroscopic marine alga belonging to a diverse and ancient lineage. Understanding what classification does seaweed belong to reveals that it's not a single taxonomic entity but a common term for different groups of organisms, primarily brown, red, and green algae.