The study looked at how the amount of different pigments in a type of red algae called Palmaria palmata changes throughout the seasons. They found that the levels of these pigments depend on how much light and heat the algae gets. In the summer, the amount of chlorophyll in the algae decreases, but in the winter it increases. This helps the algae to still do photosynthesis even when there is less light. The algae also change the types of pigments they have depending on the season, using some as protection from too much light in the summer and as extra light collectors in the winter. The temperature of the water also affects the amount of pigments in the algae.