Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 2.11
Seaweed (
left
) and seagrass (
right
) structures
Table 2.6
Comparative study of seagrass and seaweeds
Point of
difference
Seagrass
Macroalgae (seaweed)
Number of
species world-
wide
55
5,000
6,000
-
Plant category
Flowering plants (angiosperm)
Autotrophic organism
(thallophytes)
Structure
Possesses roots, leaves and underground stems to anchor to
substrate
Does not possess roots, leaves,
but simple holdfast anchor them
to hard substrates
Absorption of
nutrients
Roots and rhizomes extract nutrients from sediment and
leaves absorb the nutrients from water
Nutrients enter the tissue by
diffusion mechanism
Transportation
The nutrients and dissolved gases are transported through a
network of xylem and phloem distributed in the plant
Transportation does not occur
Reproduction
Reproduction occurs through flowers, fruits and seeds
Reproduction occurs through
spores
Fig. 2.12
A typical
seagrass showing
aboveground and
belowground structures
