Laminaria ochroleuca
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| Laminaria ochroleuca | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Stramenopiles |
| Division: | Ochrophyta |
| Class: | Phaeophyceae |
| Order: | Laminariales |
| Family: | Laminariaceae |
| Genus: | Laminaria |
| Species: | L. ochroleuca |
| Binomial name | |
| Laminaria ochroleuca Bachelot de la Pylaie, 1824 | |
Laminaria ochroleuca is a large kelp, an alga in the order Laminariales.[1] They are commonly known as golden kelp, due to their blade colouration, distinguishing them from Laminaria hyperborea[2]
This large brown alga can grow to a length of 2 m. It has large leathery blades or fronds which grow from a stipe. The blade is without a midrib and divided into smooth linear sections. The stipe is stalk-like, stiff, smooth and attached to rocks by a claw-like holdfast.[1] It is similar to Laminaria hyperborea but it is more yellow in colour[3] and does not have the rough stipe of L. hyperborea.[1]
Despite initial belief that the species was declining, investigations in 2022 and 2023 displayed recent growth and abundance of new individuals.[4] It is suspected, however, that due to climate change, the range of Laminaria ochroleuca will shift north.[5] The ideal temperature for the sporophyte phase is 12-22 °C, while the gametophyte has a narrower range of 15-18 °C.[6]
Reproduction
The life-cycle is of the large diploid sporophyte alternating with the microscopic haploid stages producing female gametophytes which are fertilized by male gametophytes (sperm).[1]