Question

To an alga, what is the main advantage of producing drought-resistant structures?

Short answer

• Algae allow for survival through periodic droughts and colonization of environments where the supply of water fluctuates.
• Algae produce pollen, just like land plants, which is transferred through the air, so it needs to be protected from drying out.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Algae are a group of predominantly aquatic, photosynthetic, and nucleus-bearing organisms that lack the true roots, stems, leaves, and specialized multicellular reproductive structures of plants.

Explanation

A few green algae can survive on soil, provided it is covered by a thin film of moisture within which they can live. Periodic dry spells provide a selective advantage to algae that can survive water stress.

Explanation

Algae produce pollen, just like land plants, which is transferred through the air, so it needs to be protected from drying out. There are several species of algae that actually live on land.