Kelp Laminaria nominated "Alga of the year 2007"
A dense underwater forest grows off the coast of Norway, made up mainly of Cuvie (Laminaria hyperborea). Like tree trunks in terrestrial, tropical forests, many kelp stipes are overgrown by epiphytes. The underwater kelp forests offer a range of habitats for many animals and also serve as nursery grounds. Photo: Prof. Dr. Stein Fredriksen, University of Oslo
Members of the Phycology Section of the German Society for Plant Sciences who conduct research on algae nominate the seaweed Laminaria as ‘Alga of the year’: the kelp Laminaria can reach lengths of several metres. It forms, together with other macroalgal species, large underwater forests in the sea (so-called ‘kelp forests’). Kelps contain alginic acid which has several applications as stabilising agents in many food and cosmetic products. In contrast to other plants, kelps grow mainly in winter when sunlight is sparse. Algae take up the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and are the most important oxygen producers of the world.
