Algae absorbs the pollution at an uncontrollable rate causing algae blooms that deplete oxygen levels and kill plant and animal life.
Algae is Earth’s smallest plant…kind of. It’s plant-like, meaning it doesn’t have a root system, leaves, and stems, but it does contain chlorophyll and it does photosynthesize. Algae is one of the earliest organism to inhabit Earth and the first to photosynthesize – converting solar energy into oxygen.
Algae is the fastest growing “plant” on Earth! Under the right conditions, it can double its size in as little as 24 hours! It requires minimal energy for growth making it one of the most renewable resources on the planet.
There are over 72,000 species of algae! Some scientists actually estimate there are anywhere from 30,000-1 million species of algae!
Algae is very adaptable! You can find algae in fresh and salt water, under polar ice sheets, on tree trunks, and even on animal fur!
Over 70% of the world’s oxygen comes from algae! This is true because most of Earth’s surface is water, where algae thrive. You can thank algae for the refreshing air you breathe!
