Transcript The Plant Kingdom Plants In Too Much Water

The Plant Kingdom
Plants In Too Much Water
Living on Planet Earth
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Too Much Water
Some plant species are adapted to living in too much
water. Many aquatic plants evolved from species found
on land. Their offspring changed their anatomy in order
to live in wet conditions.
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Too Much Water
You’ll find many of these
plants at the edge of a
pond or by the sea. Some
are completely submerged
all the time. Aquatic
plants, like all other
plants, need soil, sunlight,
and air in order to grow
and reproduce.
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Submerged Plants
Plants living completely under water have plentiful roots
and root hairs to absorb water and nutrients. Water is very
heavy. If a land plant were surrounded by this water
pressure it would choke and die.
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Submerged Plants
Aquatic plants have air
chambers in the roots,
stems and leaves. As the
plant photosynthesizes, it
moves oxygen into these
tiny spaces and inflates
the plant. Unused oxygen
is released for animals to
breathe.
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Submerged Plants
Water dwelling plants and
animals need a rich supply of
air mixed into the water. Air
is added to water as it moves
down stream or as it’s
churned by waves or tides.
Many man-made ponds or
lakes keep water moving by
turning on fountains that
shoot water into the air.
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Submerged Plants
These methods provide
submerged plants with the
carbon dioxide needed for
photosynthesis. Fish and
other animals breathe the
dissolved oxygen through
their gills.
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Floating Plants
Freshwater herbaceous
plants, those having stems
that are soft or succulent
and green, grow in shallow
water or water-logged soils
around lakes and streams.
Some species have adapted
to tidal areas where water,
salt and mud levels
challenge them all day long.
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Floating Plants
Seaweeds are found in
fresh and salt water.
Marine (saltwater)
seaweeds grow between
low and high tides. Some
of these plants ooze
slippery mucilage over
their surfaces to keep
from drying out.
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Floating Plants
Green seaweed species are smaller and grow in shallow
water. Red and brown seaweeds live in deeper water.
Some have air filled bladders to hold them up from
deep on the sea floor.
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Reproduction
Most aquatic plants reproduce
by vegetative means or clones.
Animals are attracted to the
strong scents given off by
aquatic plants. They feed on
the pollen and other nutritious
parts and spread the pollen
and seeds to other plants or
places.
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Reproduction
Submerged plants send their flowers and pollen to the
surface of the water where wind and water carry the
pollen and seeds to new locations.
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Aquatic Plants
Water plants have evolved to live in difficult locations
such as tidal areas and flood plains. They have found a
number of ways to reproduce quickly when weather
and soil conditions are good for growth.
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Aquatic Plants
All they require is
pollutant free, oxygen
rich water. In return,
these plants provide
beautiful scenery,
habitats rich in food,
nesting sites for many
animals, and clean air
for us to breathe.
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The Plant Kingdom
Images Courtesy of:
Microsoft Clipart
www.office.com
http://search.usa.gov/search/
Contributions from abcteach.com staff members,
and others as identified.
Plant Adaption Series inspired by:
Dawson, John & Lucas, Rob. The Nature of Plants, Habitats, Challenges and
Adaptations. Timber Press, Portland OR, 2005.
Living on Planet Earth
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