NEETBotanyBiological Classification
What causes the sea to appear red in color?
Options
- AThe presence of large numbers of red dinoflagellates (Example: Gonyaulax)
- BThe release of toxins by marine animals such as fishes
- CThe rapid multiplication of red algae
- DAll of the above
Correct answer
A. The presence of large numbers of red dinoflagellates (Example: Gonyaulax)
Step-by-step solution
These organisms are mostly marine and photosynthetic. They appear yellow, green, brown, blue or red depending on the main pigments present in their cells. The cell wallhas stiff cellulose plates on the outer surface. Most of them have two flagella; one lies longitudinally and the other transversely in a furrow between the wall plates. Very often, red dinoflagellates (Example: Gonyaulax) undergo such rapid multiplication that they make the sea appear red (red tides). Toxins released by such large numbers may even ki