Plants Flashcards
Who was the first to draw the phylogenic tree?
Ernst Haeckel
Why are plants so important
They’ve always been essential for animal evolution and they are a food source- both carbon and energy.
What is co-evolution
The evolution of plants and animals happening together to influence each other.
Red algae
Strengthen cell wall by depositing calcium carbonate.
They’re one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae (600 million years ago)
Why is red algae red?
Due to a pigment called phycoerythrin
Why is brown algae brown
They have a pigment called fucoxanthin as well as chlorophyll a and b
Brown algae
They are composed of either branched filaments or leaf like growth called thalli.
What can be found on the thalli of brown algae
Flotation chambers or air bladders. These can contain up to 5% carbon monoxide
How many species of brown algae are there?
1500
How many species of red algae are there
4000-5000
How many species of diatoms are there?
At least 20,000
Why are diatoms usually brownish yellow?
Due to the presence of carotenoids in their chloroplasts.
Why are diatoms good primary producers?
As they are so abundant in aquatic systems, especially coastal marine areas.
How many species of green algae are there
Up to 20,000
When happens when green algal blooms die?
They can cause dead zones, this is due to the high amount of decomposition taking place- this causes the oxygen to be stripped from the water.
