Where can I be found?
The deeper you go into open water (or the murkier the water), the less light reaches the ground — this is where we find the habitat shady rocky seabed.
Why am I important?
The deeper you dive into the water and the darker it gets, the more red algae suddenly appear all around: entire rock formations can be covered with them.
The blue-green light prevailing in these regions is the last spectral color of sunlight to reach these depths. The red color of algae helps them catch this light.
The dark green algae have stored a large number of color pigments in their cells to capture the last rays of light that still reach them.
The Halimeda (a type of penny weed) also stores large amounts of calcium in its tissues, which serves as an excellent defense against predation.
When these algae die, the ground around them is littered with their coin-sized fragments, which are crushed by the waves and eventually become part of the calcareous sand on the ocean floor.
Who am I giving home to?
In the cooler depths, green and red algae thrive, while brown algae cannot survive.
The deeper the water, the greater the density of solid, plankton-eating organisms such as bryozoans and calcareous worms.
Corals and sponges also love colder, shadier water, where they can rest and don't have to compete with fast-growing brown algae.
In the dark, deep areas, red - also known as the signal color - is the ultimate camouflage color, so you can expect to see a lot of reddish fish and crustaceans.
What do I consist of?
Like my brother, the sunny rocky seabed, I consist of large and small rock formations that are permanently connected to the seabed.
Currents, waves, or fishing nets don't disturb me easily.
I've been around for a long time and will probably survive the end of mankind.
Text: Carolina Leiter
