Kingdom: Plants The Evolution and Classification of Plants

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Multicellular eukaryotes Photosynthetic autotrophs containing chloroplasts. Non-mobile (fixed to one spot) Cell walls made of cellulose Responds to environment and grows through the use of hormones

Plants are classified based on whether or not they have 1.Vascular System (transport) 2.Seeds 3.Flowers (enclosed seeds)

Concept Map: Plants are divided 1 st by whether or not they have a vascular system. BryophytesTracheophytes Plants Has Vascular Tissue Has NO Vascular Tissue

The two Seeded Tracheophyte groups are divided by whether or not they have enclosed seeds -protected inside a fruit or if seeds are exposed to the environment. Tracheophytes Seedless Seeded Ferns use spores GymnospermsAngiosperms “naked” or exposed seeds Flowers produce fruit w/ enclosed seeds

MARINE PLANTS What is the greatest challenge for a plant to adapt to living in the sea?

1. The salinity in the water is the greatest challenge to which plants must adapt to live in the sea. 2. As terrestrial organisms, the vast majority of plants take in fresh water supplied directly or indirectly by rainfall.

3. Exposure to salt water, however, dehydrates most plants. This is because the lower water concentration in seawater causes the fresh water in the plant to diffuse outward.

4. Marine plants, on the other hand, resist dehydration through several adaptations, such as waxy coverings or other protection that reduces water loss and prevents dehydration.

What are submergent and emergent marine plants? A. Submergent plants live entirely underwater. Seagrasses are an example of these.

B. Emergent plants live with their roots submerged, but with a significant portion of the plant growing above the surface. Mangrove trees are an example of emergent plants.

IMPORTANCE: Like other marine primary producers, both submergent and emergent plants contribute food to the ocean’s biosphere. Both produce oxygen, though emergent plants generally release oxygen into the air rather than into seawater.

What reasons make mangrove swamps important to the environment? They act as nurseries for adjacent marine ecosystems like coral reefs. They filter runoff water.

By trapping runoff sediment, the mangroves protect sensitive offshore ecosystems (coral reefs in particular) that would be hurt or killed by settling sediment. Mangroves hold sediments in place. Mangrove swamps are particularly good for protecting shorelines from storm erosion by slowing down and dampening storm waves.

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Mangroves Summarize your learning experience and try to answer to this questions: -Why they are important for life on our planet? -Where do we find them? -Why they are endangered?