Marine Biology 8th Edition by Peter Castro,Michael Huber

Exercise 2

The life history of kelps consists of a very large sporophyte and a tiny gametophyte. Sea lettuce and some other seaweeds, however, have a gametophyte that is as big as their sporophyte (see fig. 6.11 a ). Do you see any advantages for kelps having such an inconspicuous, puny gametophyte?