Capabilities of macroalgae

[morphriz]

Hi folks,
Reading a discussion over at a swedish reef forum about deep sand beds and macroalgae a few questions came up:

What are the capabilities of the macroalgae rhizoids? Do the algae create microenvironments around their rhizoids, for instance using a protonpump to lower the pH thus gaining a local advantage? Oxygen ejection or CO2 absorbtion?

Are there any internal transport mecanisms in unicellular macroalgae?

References gratly appreciated!
cheers
Mattias

 

[Tom Barr]

There is likely some zones of aerobic in the rhizoids of Caulerpales.
Nothing like plants though.

The main function is to hold on from massive wave energies that are not even remotely close to that of FW systems not so much to take up nutrients etc.

Seagrasses are another story.

Regards,
Tom Barr