Aquatic Plants

Aquatic Plants “aqua” means water. Therefore, aquatic means growing or living in water. An aquarium is a water environment. We have three kinds of plants living in our aquarium: duckweed elodea algae

Duckweed *Duckweed is a tiny floating plant. *It usually grows on the surfaces of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. *Duckweed can multiply very rapidly and form a lush carpet on the top of the water. *Duckweed is a favorite food for ducks, which is how it got its name. Fish and snails eat duckweed too.

Label the parts of the duckweed: *Healthy duckweed is bright yellow-green. *It is an unusual plant because it has no leaves or stems. *Instead, it has leaf-like fronds that are attached at the center. From each frond, a single root hangs down. *Duckweed buds to form new fronds. Each frond grows its own root and then becomes its own independent plant. Label the parts of the duckweed:

Elodea *Elodea is found in ponds and slow-moving streams. *It thrives in strong light, but it will survive for a fairly long time in low light. *Elodea is a hardy plant, meaning it can survive even in poor conditions. *Sometimes elodea grows so quickly it can clog waterways and crowd out other plant life in the water.

Label the parts of the elodea: *Elodea is a dark green plant. *It has pointed leaves that grow around the stem in tight whorls, or circles, of three or more. *The stems are brittle, but they can grow up to two feet long. Along this stem, new branches often grow. *Elodea is able to grow in two ways: -it can float freely near the surface of the water -it can take root at the bottom *When elodea breaks apart into smaller segments, each piece can grow into a new plant. Label the parts of the elodea:

Algae *Thousands of kinds of algae live in every wet environment you can think of. *They come in all sizes, from microscopic to gigantic and come in many different colors. *Our algae are microscopic, which means you need a microscope to see them clearly, and they are green. *If you have ever seen green-looking water, you were probably looking at algae by the millions!

Why do we need plants in our water and in our aquariums? 1. They are food for the fish and other tiny animals. They provide shelter for fish to hide from predators. Some add beauty with their bright colors and unusual shapes. They help provide oxygen for the animals in the water.

Photosynthesis Just like plants on land, aquatic plants make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Plants, algae, and some bacteria are organisms that have chlorophyll, which is needed for photosynthesis. In the daylight, these organisms use the sun’s energy, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food. The plants release oxygen into the water, and animals such as fish, snails, and tadpoles use the oxygen to breathe.