The Plant Kingdom Plants In Too Much Water Living on Planet Earth © 2011 abcteach.com

The Plant KingdomThe Plant Kingdom

Plants In Too Much WaterPlants In Too Much Water

Living on Planet EarthLiving on Planet Earth

© 2011 abcteach.com

Too Much WaterSome 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.


Too Much WaterYou’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.


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.


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.


Submerged PlantsWater 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.


Submerged PlantsThese methods provide submerged plants with the carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis. Fish and other animals breathe the dissolved oxygen through their gills.


Floating PlantsFreshwater 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.


Floating PlantsSeaweeds 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.


Floating PlantsGreen 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.


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.


ReproductionSubmerged plants send their flowers and pollen to the surface of the water where wind and water carry the pollen and seeds to new locations.


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.

Aquatic Plants


Aquatic PlantsAll 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.


The Plant KingdomThe Plant Kingdom

Living on Planet EarthLiving on Planet Earth


Images Courtesy of:

Microsoft Clipartwww.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.

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The Plant Kingdom Plants In Too Much Water Living on Planet Earth © 2011 abcteach.com