Sea Bladder

Sea Bladder - Sebastian Romu © 2018

Description

Common Names

Sea Bladder

Classification

Algae

Sea Bladders are colonies of highly specialized marine algae, which form a membranous sac that fills with buoyant gas and fresh water as the colony processes sunlight and filter feeds on ocean micro nutrients. The gas contained in these bladders is poisonous, reeks of rotten eggs, and is highly flammable, burning with an intense blue flame. Sufficient reserves of the gas can cause these colonies to reach the surface of the oceans, where they are sometimes mistaken for large marine animals, or jellyfish. The liquid contained in the bladders is one of the only sources of potable water in the open salt water.

Ecology

Rarity

Uncommon

Distribution

Tropical to Temperate saltwater

Life Cycle

As the colonies grow they can be ruptured or fragmented by wave action, or feeding animals fragments will survive and form new colonies. the bouyancy produced by the gases, and ballast provided by the fresh water help keep the sea bladders at an optimal depth for photosynthesis.

Uses

Cultivation

none

Culinary

none

Medicinal

none

Other

source of fresh water at sea, source of flammable gas