Phil Garner, Southern California Marine Life, USA
Info
Very special thanks for his wonderful photo of the gorgeous algae to Ryan J Murphy, USA!
Divers can often observe this species in the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area, the algae stands out due to its bright blue colour under water.
Unfortunately the alga loses its bright blue colour outside the water and shows only a rather dreary reddish colour.
These seaweeds belong to an algae group called "Rhodophyta", the red algae. Many red algae are in factual red, the reason is that that they bear a pigment that reflects red light but absorbs blue. Since blue light penetrates deeper into the watery depths, this means they can photosynthesise at a greater dpeth than other seaweeds.
What a beautiful alga!
Synonym:
Fauchea laciniata J.Agardh, 1885
Fauchea lacininata f. pygmaea Setchell & N.L.Gardner, 1912
Fauchea media Kylin, 1941
Fauchea pygmaea (Setchell & Gardner) Kylin, 1941
Divers can often observe this species in the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area, the algae stands out due to its bright blue colour under water.
Unfortunately the alga loses its bright blue colour outside the water and shows only a rather dreary reddish colour.
These seaweeds belong to an algae group called "Rhodophyta", the red algae. Many red algae are in factual red, the reason is that that they bear a pigment that reflects red light but absorbs blue. Since blue light penetrates deeper into the watery depths, this means they can photosynthesise at a greater dpeth than other seaweeds.
What a beautiful alga!
Synonym:
Fauchea laciniata J.Agardh, 1885
Fauchea lacininata f. pygmaea Setchell & N.L.Gardner, 1912
Fauchea media Kylin, 1941
Fauchea pygmaea (Setchell & Gardner) Kylin, 1941
