Marine Biology 10th Edition by Peter Castro,Michael Huber

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The life history of kelps consists of a very large sporophyte and a tiny gametophyte. Sea lettuce and some other seaweeds, however, have a gametophyte that is as big as their sporophyte (see Fig. 6.11 a ). Do you see any advantages for kelps having such an inconspicuous, puny gametophyte?
FIGURE 6.11 Generalized patterns of sexual reproduction in the life histories of seaweeds and marine flowering plants. These patterns are not absolute, and many modifications have been described. In some groups certain reproductive stages have different names.