Plant Diversity

Five Kingdom System zKingdom Monera zKingdom Protista zKingdom Planta zKingdom Fungi zKingdom Animalia Protista Monera PlantaPlanta AnimaliaAnimalia FungiFungi

Kingdom Monera zContains the bacteria and cyanobacteria zThe only kingdom in which the cells are prokaryotic z Recent trend to split into two kingdoms yEubacteria yArchebacteria

Kingdom Protista zUnicellular and simple multicellular organisms zPlant-like protists - all the algae zFungal-like protists - slime molds and water molds zAnimal-like protists - protozoa

Kingdom Planta zLand plants zAutotrophic manufacturing food through photosynthesis zMosses, Ferns and Fern-allies, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms

Kingdom Fungi zHeterotrophic - cannot make their own food and rely on external sources of nutrition zThe fungi, from molds to mushrooms, are absorptive heterotrophs, secreting enzymes into their surroundings that break down food which is then absorbed

Kingdom Animalia zHeterotrophic - cannot make their own food and rely on external sources of nutrition zAnimals, from primitive sponges to highly evolved mammals, are ingestive heterotrophs, engulfing their food and digesting it internally

Organisms traditionally studied by botanists zFound in four of the five kingdoms yMonera - blue-green algae yProtista - all the other algae yPlantae - all the land plants yFungi - all the fungi

Kingdom Monera zCyanobacteria - blue green algae zPhotosynthetic, prokaryotic organisms zFound in oceans, fresh water, and terrestrial environments zUsed as a food source: Nostoc, Spirulina (since ancient times - today high protein additive) zMicroscopic unicells, filaments, and colonies zFirst appeared in fossil record 3.5 billion yrs ago zToxins can cause problems during blooms

Oscillatoria Nostoc

Kingdom Protista zSix divisions of algae: yDivision Pyrrophyta - dinoflagellates yDivision Chrysophyta - diatoms yDivision Euglenophyta - euglenoids yDivision Chlorophyta - green algae yDivision Rhodophyta - red algae yDivision Phaeophyta - brown algae zTwo divisions of fungi

Dinoflagellates zUnicellular algae covered with cellulose plates giving an armored appearance zImportant to the food chain in marine and fresh water zSome marine species cause Red Tides yPopulation explosion yColor the water red yProduce a powerful toxin yPfiesteria newly recognized problem

Dinoflagellates

Diatoms & Golden Brown Algae zDiatoms abundant and important economically zImportant to the food chain in marine and fresh water zUnicells with silicon- based wall with pits, grooves

Diatomaceous earth zWalls of the dead diatoms used commercially zDeposits from past geological ages are known as diatomaceous earth zUses of diatomaceous earth ypolishing agent in silver polish yfilter in wine and petroleum industries ysoil additive to discourage some garden pests

Green Algae zContains many morphological types zAbundant and diverse in fresh water zPlay a significant role in aquatic food chains zSeasonal blooms of green algae are often noticeable in ponds and lakes zGave rise to the land plants over 400 million yrs ago

Red Alage zSeaweeds - large multicellular marine algae occurring in coastal waters often attached to rocks zHighly branched filaments with a feathery appearance or sheet-like zMany used as a food source zCarrageenan and agar: cell wall carbohydrates used as stabilizing agents

Products from red algae zCarrageenan used in ice cream, pudding, cottage cheese, toothpaste, lotions, and paints - imparts a creamy texture zAgar used in a variety of commercial products - most important use is as a solidifying agent in culture media used in to grow bacteria, fungi, and for plant tissue culture

Brown Algae zSeaweeds - large multicellular marine algae occurring in coastal waters often attached to rocks zHuge kelps form extensive underwater "forests" off the California coast - among the largest plants on Earth zRockweeds commonly found in the intertidal zone in coastal areas - east coast and west zComplex form: holdfast, stipe, and blade

KELP - common name for several brown seaweeds

Products from brown algae zSome used directly as a food source zAlginic acids (alginates) yUsed in the treatment of latex during tire manufacturing ybinding agent for charcoal briquettes yconfections, ice cream and other products where it acts similarly to carrageenan

Seaweed in our diet zRed and brown seaweeds have long history a source of food, especially in the Orient zOver 100 species of marine algae are eaten in one form or another zSome favorite red seaweeds are dulse (Rhodymenia) and nori (Porphyra) zPorphyra used by more cultures than any other seaweed, has a long history of food use dating back to the year cultivation since 1600s

Algal Bloom

Kingdom Planta z10 divisions of plants zcan group these into 4 groups ymosses and liverworts ( one division) yferns and fern-allies (four divisions) ygymnosperms (four divisions) yangiosperms (one division)

Bryophytes: mosses & liverworts zSmall plants, no vascular tissue zReproduce by spores formed in a sporangium zDominant generation is the gametophyte with the sporophyte short-lived zRestricted to moist environments zSphagnum (peat moss) grows in acid water and used as a soil additive and fuel

Moss Liverwort

Lower Vascular Plants: Ferns and fern-allies zReproduce by spores formed in a sporangium zLong fossil history zFour divisions ywhisk ferns yclub mosses yhorsetails yferns

Psilotum or whisk ferns - very primitive plant that resembles first land plants that existed 400 million years ago No leaves or roots - only a branched stem

Club Moss

Horsetails ( Equisetum )

Ferns - About 10,000 species exist from tropics to arctic. Typically ferns have compound leaves.

Gymnosperms zVascular plants, many are large - include largest organisms on Earth zReproduce by seeds zDominant sporophyte, gametophytes are microscopic zLong fossil history zFour divisions of living gymnosperms

Gymnosperms zDivision Coniferophyta - Conifers zDivision Ginkgophyta - Ginkgo zDivision Cycadophyta - Cycads zDivision Gnetophyta - Ephedra and allies

Leaves of a Ginkgo tree

Conifers zIncludes the biggest, tallest, and oldest living organisms zSeparate male and female cones zSeed produces in female cones zPollen produced in male cones zEconomically important for lumber and paper zPine (Pinaceae) and cedar (Cupressaceae) are the two largest families

Redwood trees are the largest organisms on Earth

Angiosperms zFlowering plants zMost widespread vegetation on Earth today zGreatest economic use

Fungi zGenerally have a thread-like body yHypha - single filament or thread yMycelium - all the hyphae of a colony zReproduce by spores - usually airborne zFungal-like organisms in Kingdom Protista zTrue fungi in the Kingdom Fungi

Fungal-like organisms in Kingdom Protista zSlime molds ySlimy (animal-like) feeding stage yReproduce by spores zWater molds yMany in fresh water others on land yImportant plant pathogens in this group

Kingdom Fungi zIncludes yeasts, molds, mildews and other microfungi zAlso includes mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and other macrofungi zFungi yInclude many plant pathogens yMajority are saprobic and recycle organic material

Fungi include molds and mushrooms

Summary zLiving organisms are classified into five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Animalia, Planta, and Fungi zOrganisms traditionally known as plants are found in four of the five kingdoms