Question

Why Rhodophytes seen in shallow waters do not appear reddish?

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 a pigment chlorophyll A, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin in it.

Rhodophytes do not appear reddish in shallow waters because:

1. The synthesis of pigment phycoerythrin becomes lesser in red algae in shallow waters.
2. It is because the plant can easily trap longer wavelengths of sunlight that can not travel deeper into the sea.
3. So it doesn’t require large amounts of pigment phycoerythrin that helps in trapping shorter wavelengths of sunlight, that usually travel deeper into the sea.