Aquatic Plants
Aquatic Plants
“aqua” means water.
Therefore, aquatic means
growing or living in water.
An aquarium is a water environment.
We have three kinds of plants living in our
aquarium:
duckweed
elodea
algae
Duckweed
*Duckweed is a tiny floating plant.
*It usually grows on the surfaces of ponds,
lakes, and slow-moving streams.
*Duckweed can multiply very rapidly and form a
lush carpet on the top of the water.
*Duckweed is a favorite food for ducks, which is
how it got its name. Fish and snails eat
duckweed too.
*Healthy duckweed is bright yellow-green.
*It is an unusual plant because it has no leaves
or stems.
*Instead, it has leaf-like fronds that are
attached at the center. From each frond, a
single root hangs down.
*Duckweed buds to form new fronds. Each
frond grows its own root and then becomes
its own independent plant.
Label the parts of
the duckweed:
Elodea
*Elodea is found in ponds and slow-moving streams.
*It thrives in strong light, but it will survive for a fairly
long time in low light.
*Elodea is a hardy plant, meaning it can survive even in
poor conditions.
*Sometimes elodea grows so quickly it can clog
waterways and crowd out other plant life in the
water.
*Elodea is a dark green plant.
*It has pointed leaves that grow
around the stem in tight whorls,
or circles, of three or more.
*The stems are brittle, but they
can grow up to two feet long.
Along this stem, new branches
often grow.
*Elodea is able to grow in two ways:
-it can float freely near the
surface of the water
-it can take root at the bottom
*When elodea breaks apart into
smaller segments, each piece can
grow into a new plant.
Label the parts
of the elodea:
Algae
*Thousands of kinds of algae live in every wet
environment you can think of.
*They come in all sizes, from microscopic to gigantic and
come in many different colors.
*Our algae are microscopic, which means you need a
microscope to see them clearly, and they are green.
*If you have ever seen green-looking water, you were
probably looking at algae by the millions!
Why do we need plants in our
water and in our aquariums?
1.
2.
3.
4.
They are food for the fish and other tiny animals.
They provide shelter for fish to hide from
predators.
Some add beauty with their bright colors and unusual
shapes.
They help provide oxygen for the animals in the
water.
Photosynthesis
Just like plants on land, aquatic plants
make their own food through the
process of photosynthesis.
Plants, algae, and some bacteria are
organisms that have chlorophyll,
which is needed for
photosynthesis.
In the daylight, these organisms use
the sun’s energy, water, and
carbon dioxide to make their own
food.
The plants release oxygen into the
water, and animals such as fish,
snails, and tadpoles use the
oxygen to breathe.