2007-03-14 13:21:33 · 5 answers · asked by fdsergent 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Red algae is deeper...its pigments can absorb little sunlight that reaches down there...but green algae contains chlorophyll (and other pigments) that has to absorb light that is more abundant and better available..!!
2007-03-14 13:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by Upon this rock 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
green algae has to float at the top because the type of sulight it absorbs can't reach to the bottom of the water. It will only hit the surface, then be fracted out, whereas the red algae can absorb infrared light and such, which can reach to the bottom of the pool.
Does that help? The 7th grader's answer is pretty good too.
2007-03-14 20:31:22 · answer #2 · answered by writergurl0911 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water selectively filters out certain wavelengths of light. Water looks blue because it reflects mostly blue wavelengths. Red light, on the other hand, passes through the water and is more available at deeper depths. Green algae uses mostly chlorophyll, which is green, and red algae uses more xanthophyll (red), which can use the wavelengths of light that are more available in deeper water. They both use light for photosynthesis, just different parts of the light spectrum.
2007-03-14 20:53:24 · answer #3 · answered by Rams Sci teach 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite simple green algae thrives on Photosynthisys, has to love in shallow water. red algae does not need sunlight to survive, because of a lack of chlorophyll, and therefore can live in the deeper water without the sunligh.
2007-03-14 21:47:36 · answer #4 · answered by Colleen Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
red algae does not use sunlight to create food via photosythisis- green needs the sunlight to survive.
2007-03-14 20:29:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mark H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋