What Is The Reason Why Seaweed Is Not A Plant

Origin

Seaweed, sometimes known as macroalgae, isa type of algae that grows in marine environments selectively, and is quite different from plants. Seaweed is a part of ocean ecosystems and is popularly harvested for food, fertilizers, as feed for animals, and even cosmetics. While seaweeds often inhabit the coastal areas that are covered by shallow waters, some time they even grow in deeper water thousands of meters below the water surface. Seaweed belongs to the eight major phyla of eukaryotic organisms present in the Earth. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 seaweed species, from which almost all the sea coasts of the world are populated by them. It is quite a diverse and widespread species of algae, one of the three main kingdoms of the world, the other two being animals and plants.

Theoretical Reason

The main reason why seaweeds are not considered plants is because they don’t contain a vascular system. Vascular systems are the main vascular packages of the plants which have different type of internal transport cells, like phloem, xylem, and endodermis. These cells carry important materials like water, food, and hormones throughout the plant. Absence of these cells in seaweed keeps them out of the classification of plant kingdom. Furthermore, the body structure of the seaweed is different from that of plants. Seaweeds, unlike plants, don’t contain true stems, roots, and leaves. Instead, they have thallus, holdfasts, and fronds which significantly differ in their structure and function. Plants are autotrophic and use sunlight for the production of their own food through photosynthesis; however, seaweeds are primarily heterotrophic and needs to feed on organic substances.

Evolutionary Explanation

Further evolutionary changes from multicellular plants drove seaweeds away from plants. Seaweeds developed a different cell wall structure from plants, specifically the presence of cellulose-rich cell walls rather than the lignin-permeated cell walls which are found in terrestrial plants. Additionally, most seaweeds have developed greater tolerance to salt for survival in the marine environment. This is called adaption mechanism which helps all aquatic species to survive for prolong periods of time in the water. Also there are different types of molecules which are found only in seaweeds and algae and not in land plants, such as mucopolysaccharides.

Classification

Due to this fact, some scientists now doubt if seaweeds should be included in the plant kingdom, as it is not evolutionary related to land plants. In fact, some scientists have proposed different classification schemes for seaweeds and algae, as they are not plants. The two main classifications are the red algae and the green algae. Red algae are mostly found in cold waters, while green algae are mostly found in temperate and tropical waters. Currently, there are two main groups of seaweeds: the brown algae and the green algae. Brown algae is the most common type of seaweed and is found in shallow and deep waters. It’s made up of large, unicellular and multicellular species and is known to reach more than 50 feet in length, though it is usually much shorter. Green algae is a much less common type of seaweed, identified by their thin, branched and feathery structures.

Economic Significance

Despite the fact that seaweed is not a plant, it is still an important economic species. In fact, seaweed farming is estimated to be an industry of over 6 billion dollars annually, in over 30 countries all over the world. Paralleling the boom of the aquaculture industry, seaweed farming is also expected to grow. Seaweed farming provides much needed jobs to coastal rural areas and provides a way to sustainably use the marine resources. Seaweeds are also used for many other purposes like fertilizers, fuel, feed, medicines, bioplastics, bio-fuels, and cosmetics.

Environmental Impact

Seaweeds have other ecological significance too. Seaweed farming, when practiced responsibly, can help to reduce CO2 emissions. It can even reduce the impact of oil spills and mitigate the effects of climate change. As a matter of fact, seaweed farming can significantly increase the biodiversity in the coastal areas. Furthermore, seaweed farming can be an important tool to manage coastal fishing. Due to its photosynthesis capabilities, seaweeds can reduce the eutrophication process, which is an overabundance of organic nutrients that causes overgrowth of algae or aquatic plants.

Nutritional Benefits

Seaweeds are also popular nutrient sources for many. Seaweeds are high in proteins, minerals, and vitamins. For example, seaweeds are known to be rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. They are also packed with powerful antioxidants that can reduce inflammation and protect the body from oxidative damage. For a long time, seaweeds have been used as traditional remedies for many illnesses and diseases. In fact, they are widely used today in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Currently, seaweed is being used in herbal supplements, functional foods, and natural cosmetics.

Future Prospects

Given all the advantages of seaweed, there is now an increasing interest in the commercial exploitation of seaweeds. The potential economic and ecological benefits of seaweed farming are vast. For instance, seaweed farming could bring in much needed revenue to rural coastal communities and help to reduce waste and pollution in the oceans. Furthermore, experts are looking into the possibility of seaweed plantations as a source of renewable energy. Ultimately, this could help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and promote renewable energy sources.

Aquaculture Issues

However, it is important to note that while seaweed farming holds great promise, it is not without its drawbacks. There are several environmental and economic impacts of seaweed farming, including habitat degradation, increased competition for resources, and overharvesting. Additionally, there are concerns about how seaweeds might interfere with existing aquatic ecosystems and how they might impact local fisheries. It is thus important to be aware of these impacts when considering seaweed farming and to ensure that proper methods are used to monitor and regulate seaweed farming.

Genomic Sequencing

To further advance the potential of seaweed farming, researchers are now undertaking extensive genomic sequencing of seaweeds. This process involves identifying and analyzing the full range of seaweed genes and how they interact with each other. Through genomic sequencing, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of seaweed evolution, growth, and biochemical processes. By gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of seaweed growth, scientists can develop better techniques for sustainably harvesting and managing seaweed resources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, seaweeds are not plants due to the absence of certain evolutionary characteristics and the presence of distinct structural features. However, seaweeds still have an important economic and ecological importance, with potential applications in renewable energy and medicinal use. Nevertheless, like any other species, seaweeds have both environmental and economic impacts which have to be taken into consideration for the responsible and sustainable utilization of seaweeds. Nevertheless, given its many potential benefits, seaweeds are an important organism worth further investment in research and development.

Michael Gates

Michael Y. Gates is an ocean biologist and author who specializes in researching and writing about sea sponges. Michael is passionate about protecting the world's oceans and educating others about the importance of conserving our marine resources.

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