Unit 4 – Plant Anatomy & Physiology

The 5 Kingdoms: The 5 Kingdoms MoneraProtistaFungiAnimaliaPlantae

Characteristics of Plants  Eukaryotic cells  Have cell walls that contain cellulose  Cells have numerous organelles  Lack mobility  Undergo photosynthesis (autotrophic)

Evolution of Plants Onto Land To make the transition to land, plants had to adapt and undergo major modifications:  Supportive structure  stems & roots  Anchoring structure  roots  Transport system  vascular system  Means to Reduce of Water Loss  cuticle (leaf)  Means to Exchange Gases  stomata (leaf)  Reproductive Structures For Dry Conditions  spores, pollen, flowers, fruit, & seeds

IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS Plants are the Base of Food Chain  Producers!!  Photosynthesis is the creation of food energy from sunlight, CO 2, and water  This is the only source of energy for all living things!  Recall: Sunlight + CO 2 + H 2 O  C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2

IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS (Con’t)  Plants Provide SHELTER  Animals use plants as protection from the elements and predators!  Plants Create the PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT of the Ecosystem  Animals have evolved to use the habitat and conditions created by plant life to survive!

IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS (Con’t) Importance of Plants to Humans:  Food & Food Processing  Energy (Fires)  Clothing  Construction  Medicine, etc.

PLANTS & BIODIVERSITY  Plants support all the animal species living in an ecosystem  1 plant species supports an average of 50 different animal species!!  plant species support 15 million animal species  As many as ¼ of the world’s plant species are endangered! (Science)

Human Activity & Plants  Deforestation  Agriculture  Segmentation of Habitat  Pollution  Invasive Species (40% of all extinctions)  Monocultures