Natural Science. Unit 3 By Francisco Tranchino
What are aquatic plants? ď‚— They are plants that have adapted
to living in aquatic environments.
Where can we find them?
saltwater
freshwater
• seas • oceans
• ponds and lakes • rivers • wetlands
Plants adaptions in water Underwater leaves and stems
are flexible to move with water currents. Some plants have air spaces in their stems to help hold the plant up in the water. Submerged plants absorb water, nutrients and dissolved gases through the leaves directly from the water. Roots and root hairs reduced or absent. In floating plants chlorophyll is restricted to upper surface of leaves. Some plants produce seeds that can float.
floating plants submerged plants
Emergent plants This type of plants
can live both on land and in water. They grow in shallow water with leaves or stems above the water’s surface. Their roots are anchored in the bottom soil. They have strong stems. Their leaves are broad to prevent them to rotting. Examples: water lilies, reeds.
water lilies
water letu ce
Floating plants They aren’t rooted
and are free to move about the water’s surface. The stem and leaves remain floating on the water sufarce and roots hang down. They have special types of leaves that help them to stay afloat. Examples: water lettuce.
Submerged plants They grow up entirely below the water’s surface. The entire plant (roots, stem and leaves) remains submersed in the water. These plants are flexible and can bend easily with the flow of water. Examples: eelgrass, vallisneria.
eelgrass
Aquatic plants nutrition Like land plants, aquatic plants make their own food through the process of photosynthesis.
The only difference is where in their environments they get nutrients.
Photosynthesis: Aquatic plants absorb the carbon dioxide that is dissolved into the water they live in and give out oxygen. In addition to carrying the carbon dioxide, the water itself is absorbed by the plant. Sunlight can pass through water. It occurs during the day. Combining these elements, aquatic plants create food in the form of glucose.
Respiration: To take in sufficient oxygen, many aquatic plants have tissues with large air-filled spaces through which oxygen can diffuse. They absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Oxygen and nutrients are transformed into energy.
Aquatic plants are an important food source for many animals. Aquatic plants provide important living space for small animals. Young fish and amphibians use aquatic plants as a source of cover from predatory fish and birds. They have an ability to soak up pollutants from contaminated water.
Sources: CONTENTS: www.turffiles.nscu.edu www.aquaplant.tamu.edu www.plants.ifas.ufl.edu www.mbgnet.net www.naturemappingfoundation.org www.wikipedia.org www.encyclopedia.com Applied Natural Science. Environmental Issues and Global Perspectives. Mark D. Goldfein, Alexey V. Ivanov. CRC Press, 2016. www.wordreference.com IMAGES: Can Stock Photo www.buzzle.com www.pixcove.com www.google.com