Why can red algae live in deeper water than green algae?

Question

Isabella Anderson · Accepted Answer

Blue light penetrates deeper in water. The red algae can do photosynthesis in blue light.

Since red algae can absorb blue light, they can live in much deeper water where light of long wavelengths, like red, cannot reach. Red algae, like all other varieties of algae, rely on photosynthesis to produce food. Most varieties of algae live near the water's surface in order to get enough sunlight to survive.

Jeremiah Allen · Answer

undefined Because blue light can penetrate deeper into the water than green light can, red algae can grow to greater depths because they can absorb blue light.

Oliver Antoine · Answer

undefined Red algae can live in deeper water than green algae because they possess pigments called phycoerythrins, which allow them to absorb wavelengths of light that penetrate deeper into the water column. These pigments enable red algae to photosynthesize effectively even in low light conditions, giving them an advantage over green algae, which rely primarily on chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is less efficient at absorbing light in the deeper waters where red algae thrive, hence green algae are typically found in shallower waters where light penetration is greater.