Marine algae (Topical Term)

Huisman, J.M. Marine plants of Australia, 2000: p. 1 ("Marine plants fall into two broad ecological categories: those that are attached, either to the sea bottom or to other plants and animals--these are known as 'benthic' plants; and those that are unattached, their travels being largely at the whim of currents and waves--they are known as the 'phytoplankton' ... While the phytoplankton have great ecological importance, they are mostly small, single-celled organisms that are generally invisible to the naked eye ... The benthic plants can be further divided into two broad groups: the algae (singular 'alga') and the seagrasses.") p. 5 ("Benthic marine algae are also known as 'seaweeds' ... In the scientific community the use of the term 'seaweeds' is declining ...")