Lectures: Archaeplastida

Question 1

Red Algae:

Answer 1

• Mostly multicellular
• Primarily marine
• Lack flagellum
• Some species contribute to reef building
• Most have chloroplasts that contain
  pigment “phycoerythrin”
• Absorbs blue and green wavelengths;
  reflects red wavelengths
• Able to thrive in deep water because
  blue/green light penetrates water better than other wavelengths

Question 2

Green Algae:

Answer 2

• More closely related to land plants than to red algae
• Important producers in freshwater and nearshore ocean
• Cell walls contain cellulose*
• Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll a + b*
  (Different varieties of light-capturing pigments)
• Unicellular or multicellular
• Some species form colonies of many cell

Question 3

What traits differ Red and Green Algae?

Answer 3

11: red algae
* phycoerythrins

12: “green plants”
(green algae + land plants)
* cellulose
* chlorophyll a+b

Question 4

What are the 4 main land plants?

Answer 4

1. Bryophyta (mosses)
2. Polypodiopsida (ferns)
3. Gymnosperms
4. Angiosperms

Question 5

Ecosystem service

Answer 5

benefits that humans derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions

Question 6

List the 8 Plant ecosystem services.

Answer 6

1. Oxygen production
   – Photosynthesis – input: sunlight, CO2, water; output: oxygen, sugar
2. Primary productivity
   – Key to carbon cycle; base of food webs
3. Erosion control
   – Root systems of plants hold soil in place
4. Flood control
   – Plants retain water, provide buffer
5. Climate control
   – Shade reduces temperature, raises humidity (wind protection)
6. Fuel
   – Wood burning, fossil fuels, ethanol, biodiesel
7. Fibers
   – Cloth, rope, lumber, paper, etc.
8. Medicines
   – Over 100 active ingredients in medicines are derived from plants