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algae
Sea lettuce
Ulva lactuca
Trophic Level: Producer
Characteristics: bright green, sheet-like frond
Range: worldwide in temperate and tropical climates
Size: mats can reach up to 3ft (1m) in width
Habitat: attaches to hard substrate in estuarine intertidal and shallow subtidal zones
Fun Fact: used in many personal care, gardening, and fertilizer products
Where It's Found: Tidal creek
Phytoplankton
Trophic Level: Producer
Characteristics: free-floating plants that are mostly unicellular and form the base of the aquatic food chain
Range: worldwide
Size: microscopic
Habitat: fresh and salt water
Fun Fact: phytoplankton are primary producers, effectively producing much of the oxygen we breathe on land
Where It's Found: Tidal creek
