What is the purpose of the "floats" in some brown algae?

• A. Anchoring the seaweed
• B. Protecting seaweed from crashing waves
• C. Protecting the seaweed from drying out
• D. Absorbing iodine and carbon dioxide from seawater
• E. Facilitating photosynthesis

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that brown algae are a type of seaweed that live in marine environments, where they need to maximize their exposure to sunlight for photosynthesis.
2. Recognize that 'floats' or 'air bladders' are specialized structures found in some brown algae, such as kelp, which help the algae remain buoyant.
3. Consider the role of these floats: by keeping the algae buoyant, they ensure that the algae are closer to the water's surface, where sunlight is more abundant.
4. Connect this buoyancy to the process of photosynthesis, which requires sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
5. Conclude that the primary purpose of the floats in brown algae is to facilitate photosynthesis by keeping the algae near the surface of the water, where sunlight is available.