Brown algae

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/brown-algae

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Phaeophyceae. This class is part of the Stramenopiles supergroup
2. What is the diet?Autotrophic (photosynthesis); also a significant food source for marine herbivores and detritivores
3. What are brown algae and why do they look brown?Brown algae are a type of seaweed that lives mostly in the ocean. Their brown color comes from a pigment called fucoxanthin that helps them use light to make food.
4. How do brown algae help sea creatures?They build big forests and rockweed beds that give fish, crabs, and sea birds places to hide, eat, and raise babies. These forests also bring lots of food to the whole ocean.

Stramenopiles: A diverse supergroup of eukaryotes that includes brown algae, diatoms, and oomycetes.
Fucoxanthin: A major carotenoid pigment in brown algae responsible for their characteristic color and aiding in photosynthesis.
Foundation Species: Species that create, modify, or maintain a habitat, significantly influencing the diversity and abundance of other species.
Phlorotannins: Complex phenolic compounds produced by brown algae that can act as defense mechanisms against herbivores and UV radiation.