Unlike land plants, most seaweeds and algae don't absorb nutrients through their roots. Instead, their roots act simply as anchors to hold them tight to the rocky seafloor, while their leaves absorb everything they need directly from the flowing water.
Unlike seaweed, seagrasses are true flowering plants with roots and seeds. They form vast underwater meadows that act as the lungs of the sea, absorbing carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests and providing a safe nursery for baby marine creatures.
Growing in cold, nutrient-rich waters, Kelp is a giant form of algae that can shoot up toward the sunlight at incredible speeds. These massive underwater forests provide vital shelter and food for thousands of species, from sea otters to sharks.
Living on the edge of land and sea, mangroves are salt-tolerant trees with unique, tangled root systems. They act as a critical natural shield, protecting coastlines from erosion and storms, while filtering water and trapping sediments.
The smallest marine plants are microscopic, single-celled organisms called phytoplankton. Floating near the sunny ocean surface, they form the absolute foundation of the marine food chain and produce about half of the oxygen we breathe on Earth.
