The higher algae: Browns and Reds Unlike the greens and protista-like algal phyla we discussed earlier, the following algal groups are:
Complex with tissue differentiation and often complicated life cycles especially in the browns,Generally large bodied, easily visible to the eye, and in some cases so large and abundant as to form their own ecosystems and co-evolved animal dependents,
In a number of cases of commercial value with market dollars in the millions,
Distributions worldwide, with some species tolerating hours of air-exposure while others restricted to relatively sheltered habitats of warm, calm waters.
Our major discussion question today will center on how these algal species can survive to what appears to us to be some incredibly harsh environments.