Lab 4: Kingdom Plantae Flashcards
green algae, mosses, club moss, ferns
what are the main charateristics of the kingdom Plantae
- eukaryotic
- multicellular
- photosynthetic
- primary producers of O2
- primarily terrestrial – form the base of the food chain
- influenced evolution of other organisms which rely on them as food supply and/or habitat
which organims share a common ancestor with the kingdom plantae?
evolutionary relationship?
aquatic green algae
- closely resemble the ancestors of plants
- ex. Micrasterias –> simple body structure + exists in a variety of forms (uni, multi, colonial)
- freshwater or marine environemnts
what are some common characteristics that green algae & plants share?
- chloroplasts of both contain the same photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a & b)
- store sugars (produced by photosynthesis) in the form of starch within thier chloroplasts
which algae is thought to most closely resemble the ancestor from which plantae evolved?
Coleochaete
- multicellular freshwater green algae
Coleochaete
- multicellular
- freshwater green algae
- grows on surface of submerged rocks or aquatic plants
- 2 growth forms: branched filament or flat discoid thallus
which phylum does Coleochaete belong to?
Charophycean green algae (like Micrasterias)
- share features of sexual reproduction; cell division by means of a structure called phragmoplast
- have sporopollenin on walls of zygotes but not spores
what is the significant feature linking Coleochaete with Plantae?
- both have oogamous sexual structures (ie. large, non-motile egg that is fertilized by small, usually motile, sperm
what possible advantage could oogamous sexual reproduction have for terrestrial plants?
- Making many less energetically costly sperm ensures that only one gamete (sperm) faces the harsh environment
- Ensures the safety of the larger, energetically costly egg, as moving it would be very expensive; a larger egg with more food supply enhances zygote success after fertilization.
what characterizes the Kingdom Plantae
- presence of cellulose cell walls
what 3 features unite all members of the kingdom plantae
- Alteration of generations life cycle
- Gametangia & sporangia with multicellular walls
- Embryos nurished & protected by a gametophyte
Alternation of generations life cycle
alternate between:
haploid stage (gametophyte): produces gametes for fertilization
diploid stage (sporophyte): produces spores for dispersion
GH vs SD
Haploid
have 1 set of chromosomes
Diploid
have 2 sets of chromosomes
where does meiosis occur in plants?
meiosis occurs in a structure called a sporangium, and produces haploid spores
- gametes are produced by the gametophyte stage, which is already haploid, so gametes are produced by mitosis
gametophyte vs sporophyte
Gametophyte: haploid; produces gametes by mitosis
Sporophyte: diploid; produces spores by meiosis
how are embryos & reproductive structures with multicellular walls beneficial to terrestrial organisms?
multicellular walls = adaptation to prevent embryos & reproductive cells from desiccation
what 2 major lineages did the Charophycean green algae give rise to?
- nonvascular plants
- vascular plants
nonvascular plants
- commonly called bryophytes (diverged early)
- lack vascular tissue — remain small in zise and restricted to moist habitats
- include mosses (Bryophyta); liveworts (hepatophya) & hornworts (anthocerophyta)
vascular tissue
specialized conducting tissue which transports surgar, water, and minerals throughout the plant body
- not in nonvascular plants
List the plants in evolutionary progression
Polytrichum (Bryophyta)
Lycopodium (Lycopodiophyta)
Polypodium (Pteridophyta)
Polytrichum
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Common name: hair cap moss
Characteristic of Phylum Bryophyta
- most primitive
- nonvascular (no true vascular tissure & no roots) – small & inhibit moist terrestrial env. (bogs, slong banks of streams & ponds, at bases of tree trunks)
- referred to as mosses
why do mosses usually grow on the north side of tree trunks?
moister + cooler environment as it receives the least sunlight
why are Bryophyta restricted to moist habitats?
have few structural adaptations to withstand drought + dependent on external water for fertilization (sperm swims to egg)
how do some mosses grow successfully in dry places?
becomes dormant when moisture is not present & grow quickly when it becomes available
why are mosses important ecologically?
- first colonizers of exposed soil + contribute to organic soil dev. + prevent erosion
- sensitve to atmospheric pollution (used as indicators)
- Sphagnum: used in horticulture (potting + garden soil) as its very absorptive and enhances moisture retention
habitat of Polytrichum
- largest species of moss
- grows in boreal forests of northern sasktachewan
- on acidic soil
what is the dominant, most conspicuous, stage in the life cycle of all bryophytes including polytrichum?
Gametophytes
what do the gametophytes of Polytrichum look like?
small, leafy, green plants
- consist of short stems with tightly packed, poorly dev. leaves
- photosyntetic, long-lived
- moss part that carpets the forest floor
Mature:
- dev. sexual strucutres on top (male antheridium & female archegonia)
Rhizoids
fine hair-like, grow out and down from the stems of gametophyte to absorb water & anchor plant (NOT ROOTS)
what do the sporophyte of the Polytrichum look like?
arises from the gametophyte as a long stalk with a single sporangium (capsule) at apex
- inconspicuous, non-photosynthetic at maturity; completely dependent on gametophyte for nourishment
- short-lived, functioning only to produce spores
- longer than the gametophyte
where are spores produced in the Polytrichum?
meiosis occurs within the sporangium (capsule) to produce haploid spores
gametophyte - sporophyte (stalk + sporangium called capsule) – meiosis inside capsule – haploid spores