POS Plant varieties K1 investigate and interpret variations in plant structure, and relate these to different ways that plants are adapted to their environment (e.g., distinguish between plants with shallow spreading roots and those with deep taproots; describe and interpret differences in flower form and in the timing of flower production) K2- investigate and interpret variations in needs of different plants and their tolerance for different growing conditions (e.g., tolerance for drought, soil salinization or short growing seasons)

Unit 2 Plants for Food and Fibre

Plant Biomes and Adaptations Adaptations of plants relative to the environments in which they live

Videos: Eyewitness DVD: Plants Brainpops: 1-carnivorous plants Scishow Darwin’s Darlings: Meat eatring plants ObVE ObVE

Adaptations Genetically inherited characteristics that help a plant survive in a given environment Asexual reproduction-no possibility of adaptation Sexual reproduction-possibility of genetic mutation

Adaptations For improved reproduction-flower types,seeds + dispersal, cones For surviving in a particular climate To avoid being eaten Retain moisture Nutrient acquisition- carnivorous plants

Seed Dispersal See pg 127 Tumbleweeds break off + blow away Coconuts float Pass through feces of fruit eating bats/birds Burrs Lodgepole pine seeds-in cones that open by heat of forest fires Blown by the wind (dandelion)

Biomes-Adaptations Desert Grassland Rainforest Deciduous forest Taiga Tundra Water

Desert Adaptations Conditions: Little rain Sandy, rocky soil Day=hot, sunny, windy Night=cold Adaptations: Shallow roots Waxy cuticle-retain moisture Small leaves-reduces transpiration Dormant-during dry spells Cacti-store water Hairs/fuzz-for shade Spines-discourage animals from eating

Arid (Dry Climates) Plants living in dry climates need to be able to survive periods of drought. When it does rain, they often bloom quickly, or have adaptations for water storage

Grassland Deep roots that grow from the bottom-not damaged by grazing/fire Thin leaves-minimize transpiration Wind pollinated Soft stems (wind) Mostly all prairie farmland now

Tropical Rainforest Grow + absorb water quickly (it rains a lot) Smooth, waxy flowers, leaves, stems discourage bacterial and fungal growth Climbing plants

Deciduous forest drop their leaves in the autumn, and grow new ones in spring thin, broad, light- weight leaves to capture a lot of sunlight for photosynthesis

Taiga/ Boreal Forest many trees are evergreen so that plants can photosynthesize right away when temperatures rise many trees have needle-like leaves which shape loses less water and sheds snow more easily than broad leaves waxy coating on needles prevents transpiration needles are dark in color allowing more solar heat to be absorbed many trees have branches that droop downward to help shed excess snow to keep the branches from breaking

Tundra Small low-growing due to lack of nutrients being close to the ground helps keep the plants from freezing, and because the roots cannot penetrate the permafrost grow in clumps to protect one another from the wind and cold Some plants have dish-like flowers that follow the sun, focusing more solar heat on the center of the flower, helping the plant stay warm

Water plants Some plants: leaves and stems are flexible (move with water currents) air spaces in stems to help the plant float roots only needed for anchorage, not for absorption of nutrients and water (happens through the leaves) leaves that float = more exposure sunlight chlorophyll is only on the upper surface of leaves, which is waxy to repel water seeds that can float

Proof of Learning Activity: (answer the questions on paper) 1) Guess the plant, and which biome each plant is from based on their adaptations. 2) Explain why you think the plant belongs in that environment 3) Give other examples of plants or adaptations that would be helpful for this environment 4) share/discuss as a class

A dandelion B venus fly trap/pitcher plant C hosta D cattail

Assignment Review Q’s T2,3 Pg 114 #3,4,5,8 Pg 130#2,5 Pg 131 #1,2,3,4,6,7,9