Dr.

Dudgeon

Biology 421L

Spring 2009

Phylum Ochrophyta (aka Heterokontophyta) Class Phaeophyceae(Brown/golden brown algae)

Class Phaeophyceae heterokontous smooth,

PS pigment Chl a, c1, c2

carbohydrate laminaran fucoxanthin

Cell covering cellulose wall

Flagella (1

1 with hairs [mastigonemes] laterally inserted

Class Phaeophyceae All phaeophyte orders can be distinguished by 3 characteristics: life history, thallus construction and growth pattern. Life histories typically follow an alternation of generations except in the Fucales where the gametophyte generation is retained on the sporophyte thallus (i.e., not a freeliving vegetative plant in the environment, reduced to reproductive structures within the diploid sporophyte plant). For those taxa with alternating generations, the gametophyte and sporophyte may look the same (isomorphic), or they may look different (heteromorphic). Thallus construction is either filamentous (may or may not be branched), pseudoparenchymatous, or parenchymatous. Zones of growth within the plant may either be apical, diffuse, or by means of an intercalary meristem. We will encounter only members of 4 orders of browns in the time we spend studying them either in the field or in lab. So, you are responsible for only distinguishing among these orders. Order Dictyotales Scytosiphonales Laminariales Fucales Life history isomorphic heteromorphic hetermorphic sporophyte only Construction parenchymatous parenchymatous parenchymatous parenchymatous Growth apical diffuse intercalary apical

The primitive brown alga is presumed to be a filamentous form with an isomorphic alternation of generations. Given this, the evolution of later forms in the class can be characterized by the following trends:

Dr. Dudgeon

Biology 421L

Spring 2009

1). Development of an alternation of heteromorphic generations 2). Increased structural complexity of sporophytes with pseudoparenchymatous construction, and parenchymatous construction in the most derived forms. 3). Reduction of the gametophytic phase to microscopic filaments. 4). Loss of the ability of sporophytes to asexually propagate. The Laminariales and Fucales deserve special attention. Order Laminariales (kelps) Kelps have the most advanced structure among all algae. Their anatomy is analogous to that of vascular plants. They have specialized tissues. Morphologically, they consist of a holdfast consisting of haptera (finger-like projections) that greatly enhances the surface area of holdfast attachment to the substrate, minimizing the likelihood of dislodgement. The stipe is the structure emerging from the holdfast that supports the blade where most of the photosynthesis occurs. Anatomically, in crosssection the tissue layers consist of an outer cortex, an inner cortex and the medulla. This latter tissue is modified for translocation of the products of photosynthesis that accumulate in the cortex and are sent to elsewhere in the thallus for maintenance and growth of tissue. The big conspicuous kelp plant is the sporophyte. Both male and female gametophyes are microscopic filaments (male and female gametes are produced on separate plants). Gametes form in response to blue light. The oogonium produces 1 egg. Fertilization occurs on the female gametophyte and the sporophyte as it develops overgrows the gametophyte and the latter disappears. The following trends are evident in the evolution of kelps (and are easily observed by comparing the morphologies of different genera): (1) splitting of the blade into the stipe region, (2) inflation of the stipe below the blade to form a gas bladder, and (3) formation of reproductive blades or sporophylls. Order Fucales In fucoids, gametophytes are completely retained within the diploid sporophyte thallus. You can find the gametes in specialized reproductive structures located at the tips of the blades - the receptacles. The receptacles are dotted with conceptacles, which are spherical cavities where gametes are formed. The release of gametes from conceptacles seems to coincide with periods of low water motion. The problem that all marine species with external fertilization face is that of fertilization efficiency. If there is lots of turbulence in the water, gametes are quickly diluted and it becomes very unlikely that the gametes will ever contact one another. If organisms are adapted to release only under calm conditions then they are likely to have a much greater chance of successful fertilizations. This is what you see in fucoid species that commonly dominate the middle and high intertidal zones in northern hemisphere oceans.

Dr. Dudgeon

Biology 421L

Spring 2009

Dr. Dudgeon

Biology 421L

Spring 2009

Objectives: A. In todays lab you should learn to identify the different phaeophycean algae available to species and place them in the one of the orders listed above. Make a labeled drawing of each specimen showing the conspicuous morphological structures that show the habit form of the seaweed, (with a scale) and indicate whether it is the gametophyte or sporophyte, if it is possible to determine. You should also try to make a very thin hand section of the blade of representative filamentous, parenchymatous and pseudoparenchymatous brown algae and examine the sections under a compound microscope so you can distinguish these types of anatomy. Also, look to see if you can observe a growing meristem in sections sampled from the appropriate region of a frond (e.g., apical section in the Dictyotales, intercalary meristem in the Laminariales). Draw these features (thallus construction and growth pattern) for representative seaweeds of each type. B. We will also attempt a simple experiment to demonstrate the control of gamete release using the fucoid, Sylvitia compressa. S. compressa becomes fertile in response to two environmental cues: the first is a lunar clock and the second is light. During certain phases of the moon, S. compressa will release gametes only following exposure to 5 hours or more of light after which they are potentiated to release. After this potentiation they will release gametes within 5 -30 minutes of placing them in darkness. We will perform this experiment of gamete release under two different conditions: (1) the fronds experience continuous water motion, and (2) the fronds are in still water. You should compare the release of eggs by fronds under these conditions following a 30-minute period of exposure of the fronds to darkness. Take a few female receptacles of Sylvitia and place a couple in one 15 ml Falcon tube and the remainder in a second Falcon tube. Place one of the tubes on a hematology mixer that will roll it providing continuous water motion and the other place in a beaker so the water remains still. Cover both with black cloth and let them sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, sample the seawater in each tube for the number of eggs released in the still water and moving water treatments. Take several replicate samples from each tube so that you sample a good fraction (10-20%) of the water in each tube. Sample the water with a pasteur pipette and place the sample on a microscope slide. Mount the slide on a compound microscope and scan the slide under the 10X or 40X objective for the presence of eggs. Count all the eggs on the slide and tally them across all the samples derived from a tube. Compare the quantity of eggs released from the still water and water motion treatments. Make a graph to compare the results of your experiment. Turn in your laboratory (labeled sketches of ochrophytes and slide preparations plus the graph of the egg release experiment data and a written interpretation of the data) at the start of the next laboratory period.