Chapter 19.3, Problem 5MI

Summary Introduction

To organize:

Information about algae by completing the given chart

Introduction:

Protists are not animals, plants or fungi because they do not have all the characteristics necessary to place them in any of these kingdoms. All protists are eukaryotes. They are classified into three groups based on the method of obtaining nutrition. The three groups of protists are animal like protists, plant like protists and fungus like protists.

Answer to Problem 5MI

Algae
Like plants: Contain photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll due to which they can produce food through the process of photosynthesis.	Unlike plants:Do not have roots, leaves, and other structures characteristic of plants.
Function of secondary pigments: allows them to absorb light from wavelengths that are not absorbed by water.	Found in many colors because: secondary pigments reflect light of different wavelengths.

Explanation of Solution

Algae are plant like protists that are autotrophic and are producers for the aquatic ecosystems. Algae are considered plant like because they contain photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll due to which they can produce food through the process of photosynthesis. Light absorbing pigments are present in chloroplasts. Chlorophyll is the primary pigment. Many algae have secondary pigments that allow them to absorb light energy in deep water. As the depth of water increases, the sun’s energy is absorbed by water. Secondary pigments allow algae to absorb light from wavelengths that are not absorbed by water. Because these pigments reflect light at different wavelengths, algae are found in a variety of colors.

Multicellular algae may look like plants because they are large and sometimes green but they differ from plants as they lack roots, stems, leaves and other structures.