Kelp Floats
Some kelp washed up on the beach on Morro Strand State Beach in California.
Kelp (brown algae seaweed) possess gas-filled floats known as pneumatocysts that enable fronds to float on the water surface, maximizing exposure to sunlight and enhancing photosynthesis. The gas content of the pneumatocysts can vary, but are usually filled with a combination of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Depending on the species, the kelp may contain one large pneumatocyst or several smaller pneumatocysts distributed throughout the kelp.
Kelp Floats
Some kelp washed up on the beach on Morro Strand State Beach in California.
Kelp (brown algae seaweed) possess gas-filled floats known as pneumatocysts that enable fronds to float on the water surface, maximizing exposure to sunlight and enhancing photosynthesis. The gas content of the pneumatocysts can vary, but are usually filled with a combination of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Depending on the species, the kelp may contain one large pneumatocyst or several smaller pneumatocysts distributed throughout the kelp.