Plant Adaptations
WAL: how are plants adapted for survival?
Could
Should
Must
• Can you explain what a xerophyte is and
how is it adapted to survive?
• Can you describe how plants show different
adaptations in hot and cold environments?
• Can you describe what plants compete for?
STARTER
Describe how the three animals are adapted to
their environments....
Remember to write in full sentences
What do plants need to survive?
• Hint: take a look at page 50…
What do plants need to survive?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Light
Space
Water
Nutrients
From the soil
So many different environments – but
plants in nearly all of them!
mountainside – cold and
dry with snow in winter
savannah – warm and dry except
in the rainy season
desert – hot and dry
rainforest – warm and wet
arctic – very cold and dry
woodland – cool and
wet
The problem with leaves!
• Plants need leaves as they absorb the sunlight
they require to make their own food via
photosynthesis.
• However, a lots of water can be lost through
the leaves via pores.
The problem with leaves!
• Plants need leaves as they absorb the sunlight
they require to make their own food via
photosynthesis.
• However, a lots of water can be lost through
the leaves via pores.
How can a smaller surface area help
reduce this problem?
What is a xerophyte?
Clue: an example would be a cactus!
What is a xerophyte?
A xerophyte is a plant which is adapted to live in
dry or desert areas.
Core, challenge or super-challenge?
Look at the adaptations to dry environments on page 47.
Choose which level you think you are working at.
10 minutes
Core – Grade C
1. State the adaptations that help marram grass live in dry soil.
2. Beaches are often windy environments. Explain how the adaptations of
marram grass help it survive the windy conditions.
Challenge – Grade B
3. The pine tree and cactus both show similar adaptations of their leaves.
Explain why the same adaptation helps plants survive in two very
different environments.
4. Explain why a dandelion isn’t well adapted for living in the desert.
Super-challenge – Grade A
5. Suggest a reason why flowering plants tend to reproduce more in the
warmer summer months.
6. The acacia tree has a very long tap root. Explain how this adaptation
helps it to survive on the African savannah.
Core
Challenge
Superchallenge
• Leaves are long thin spikes which
reduces surface area and therefore water
loss.
• Leaves are rolled. Pores are on inside so
this prevents water loss.
•Waxy layer on outside prevents water
loss.
• Deep root system allows it to absorb
water.
• The long root anchors the grass into
the ground so that it won’t blow
away.
• The leaves are long spikes which
won’t get caught in the wind.
• The leaves are rolled up so any
water that is lost from the leaves
won’t be blown away by the wind.
There is not much water in the dessert
and so the spines aid in reducing the
amount of water loss from the cactus.
Even though it is cold where the pine tree
lives, the water freezes in winter so it
cannot absorb water, so preventing water
loss by having needles is an advantage.
Dandelion’s are not well adapted for
the desert as they don’t have long
roots are would blow away. They also
have no protection against predators
from being eaten (e.g spines or
poisonous chemicals). Their seeds
would all blow away in the wind.
Flowering plants tend to reproduce more
in the summer months as the production
of a flower would take a lot of energy and
so a lot of sunlight would be needed to
produce food for this. Also, flowers are for
the purpose of pollination and there are
more flying insects in the warmer summer
months.
The long root of the acacia tree helps
it to survive in the African savannah
as it rains there every few months
and then is very dry. This means that
it can get to the water supply deep
underground where it is cooler and
not evaporated by the hot sun.