Question

Why Red Algae are able to reach the maximum depth in the sea where no other kind of photosynthetic entity grows?

Answer 1

Red algae:

1. It is a type of algae found in water bodies such as seas and oceans.
2. It is also known as Rhodophyta.
3. It is red in colour due to the presence of the pigment chlorophyll A, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin in it.

Red algae are able to reach the maximum depth in the sea unlike other photosynthetic organisms because:

1. They have phycoerythrin pigment present in them.
2. This pigment helps in trapping the sunlight of the shortest wavelength also i.e blue-green wavelength.
3. Since the blue-green wavelength of light is the shortest, it can travel maximum distance and thus it can reach up to great depths in the sea.
4. Phycoerythrin traps this wavelength of light and thus the plant is able to perform photosynthesis.
5. This is the reason why Red Algae can reach maximum depths in the sea, where no other photosynthetic entity can grow.