Moss and Fern Life Cycles
Group 1: Seedless, Nonvascular Plants Live in moist environments Need water to reproduce Grow low to ground (nonvascular) Lack true leaves Common pioneer species Gametophyte most common (dominant) Ex: Mosses, liverworts, hornworts
Moss Life Cycle . . . . Rain falls Sperm swims from male to female gametophyte Zygote created….sporophyte stage begins Sporophyte releases spores Spores grow into new gametophytes . . . . sporophyte Male gametophyte (with sperm) Female gametophyte (with eggs) Male gametophyte (with sperm) Female gametophyte (with eggs)
Group 2: Seedless, Vascular Plants Vascular system Taller growth Nutrient transportation Live in moist environments swimming sperm Has primitive roots called rhizoids Gametophyte stage Called Prothallus Creates egg and sperm Sporophyte stage Leaves called “Fronds” Spores created on underside in clusters called “sori” Ex: Ferns, Club mosses, Horsetails
Fern Frond
Underside of frond
1) Sporophyte (diploid stage) creates and releases haploid spores Adult Sporophyte . . . . ground
2) Haploid spores land in the soil . . . . ground
Fern gametophytes are called a prothallus 3) From the haploid spores, gametophyte grows Let’s zoom in Fern gametophytes are called a prothallus ground
4) Sperm swim through water from the male parts (antheridium) to the female parts (archegonia)…zygote created Let’s zoom back out egg zygote egg zygote
5) Diploid sporophyte grows from the zygote ground
6) Fiddle head uncurls….fronds open up 7) Cycle repeats……Haploid spores created and released . . . . . . fiddlehead frond . . ground
Kobe Kuiz Why do moss grow so low to the ground? Which stage is the main stage of moss: sporophyte or gametophyte? How do moss reproduce? What is the major difference between moss and ferns? What are the leaves of ferns called? What is needed for moss and ferns to reproduce? Which stage is the main stage of ferns: sporophyte or gametophyte? What stage is created when sperm and egg fuse: sporophyte or gametophyte? Name the gametophytes of ferns.