Seaweed Flor
65
Part A | 6.1
6. Seaweed Flora of the European North Atlantic
and Mediterranean
Leonel Pereira
Algae, like most vegetables, have cells with pigments that allow them to perform the photosynthesis. These organisms have a wide geographical
distribution, colonizing various sites, but always
linked to the presence of water. They can be found
floating in the water, on wet rocks, walls, or in association with other organisms, as in the case of
lichens, in association with fungi. They are particularly abundant in lakes, rivers, and seas, occupying
the euphotic region (or photic), i. e., up to lower
penetration of light effective for the realization
of photosynthesis of algae (up to 200 m deep).
Those that live in water can be planktonic (microalgae) or benthic (macroalgae). The former are
small and live suspended in water (microscopic),
whereas the latter remain fixed to a substrate (usually rock), are larger in size (macroscopic), and may
reach 50 m in length. Seaweeds inhabit the oceans
more than 2000 million years and are used as food
by people in Asia since the 17th century. Today,
seaweed is used in many countries for several purposes: directly as food, phycocolloids extraction
(carrageenan, agar, and alginate) used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Algae
are also used in the extraction of antiviral, antibacterial compounds, and biofertilizers. The larger or
macroscopic algae, called macroalgae or seaweed,
are mainly found in three of the algal taxonomic
groups: Chlorophyta (green algae); Rhodophyta
(red algae); and Phaeophyceae (brown algae). In
this chapter, the main European seaweed flora and
their biotechnological potential are listed.
6.1 Marine Macroalgae (Seaweeds) ................ 65
6.1.1 Role of Algae in Nature................... 66
6.1.2 Main Taxonomic Groups
of Benthic Marine Algae ................. 66
6.1.3 Marine Algae Morphology ............... 66
6.1.4 Importance of Algae for Mankind .... 66
6.1.5 Historical Overview
of Algae Use
on Health Treatments ..................... 66
6.2 The Marine Algae
and Their Biotechnological Potential ....... 67
6.3 Taxonomy and Description
of Marine Algae
with Biotechnological Potential ............... 67
6.3.1 Domain/Empire Prokaryota,
Kingdom Bacteria,
Phylum Cyanobacteria
(Blue–Green Algae) ........................ 67
6.3.2 Domain/Empire Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Phylum Chlorophyta
(Green Algae)................................. 67
6.3.3 Domain/Empire Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Phylum Rhodophyta
(Red Algae).................................... 81
6.3.4 Domain/Empire Eukaryota,
Kingdom Chromista,
Phylum Ochrophyta;
Class Phaeophyceae
(Brown Algae) .............................. 114
References................................................... 141
6.1 Marine Macroalgae (Seaweeds)
Algae, like most vegetables, have cells with pigments
that allow them to perform the photosynthesis.
Algae have a wide geographical distribution, colonizing various sites, but always linked to the presence
of water. They can be found floating in the water, on
wet rocks, walls, or in association with other organisms, as in the case of lichens, in association with
fungi.
They are particularly abundant in lakes, rivers, and
seas, occupying the euphotic region (or photic), i. e.,
65
Part A | 6.1
6. Seaweed Flora of the European North Atlantic
and Mediterranean
Leonel Pereira
Algae, like most vegetables, have cells with pigments that allow them to perform the photosynthesis. These organisms have a wide geographical
distribution, colonizing various sites, but always
linked to the presence of water. They can be found
floating in the water, on wet rocks, walls, or in association with other organisms, as in the case of
lichens, in association with fungi. They are particularly abundant in lakes, rivers, and seas, occupying
the euphotic region (or photic), i. e., up to lower
penetration of light effective for the realization
of photosynthesis of algae (up to 200 m deep).
Those that live in water can be planktonic (microalgae) or benthic (macroalgae). The former are
small and live suspended in water (microscopic),
whereas the latter remain fixed to a substrate (usually rock), are larger in size (macroscopic), and may
reach 50 m in length. Seaweeds inhabit the oceans
more than 2000 million years and are used as food
by people in Asia since the 17th century. Today,
seaweed is used in many countries for several purposes: directly as food, phycocolloids extraction
(carrageenan, agar, and alginate) used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Algae
are also used in the extraction of antiviral, antibacterial compounds, and biofertilizers. The larger or
macroscopic algae, called macroalgae or seaweed,
are mainly found in three of the algal taxonomic
groups: Chlorophyta (green algae); Rhodophyta
(red algae); and Phaeophyceae (brown algae). In
this chapter, the main European seaweed flora and
their biotechnological potential are listed.
6.1 Marine Macroalgae (Seaweeds) ................ 65
6.1.1 Role of Algae in Nature................... 66
6.1.2 Main Taxonomic Groups
of Benthic Marine Algae ................. 66
6.1.3 Marine Algae Morphology ............... 66
6.1.4 Importance of Algae for Mankind .... 66
6.1.5 Historical Overview
of Algae Use
on Health Treatments ..................... 66
6.2 The Marine Algae
and Their Biotechnological Potential ....... 67
6.3 Taxonomy and Description
of Marine Algae
with Biotechnological Potential ............... 67
6.3.1 Domain/Empire Prokaryota,
Kingdom Bacteria,
Phylum Cyanobacteria
(Blue–Green Algae) ........................ 67
6.3.2 Domain/Empire Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Phylum Chlorophyta
(Green Algae)................................. 67
6.3.3 Domain/Empire Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Phylum Rhodophyta
(Red Algae).................................... 81
6.3.4 Domain/Empire Eukaryota,
Kingdom Chromista,
Phylum Ochrophyta;
Class Phaeophyceae
(Brown Algae) .............................. 114
References................................................... 141
6.1 Marine Macroalgae (Seaweeds)
Algae, like most vegetables, have cells with pigments
that allow them to perform the photosynthesis.
Algae have a wide geographical distribution, colonizing various sites, but always linked to the presence
of water. They can be found floating in the water, on
wet rocks, walls, or in association with other organisms, as in the case of lichens, in association with
fungi.
They are particularly abundant in lakes, rivers, and
seas, occupying the euphotic region (or photic), i. e.,