ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS
Ecological Adaptation is a quite common feature in this modern
world!
Let’s trespass into it as how “ the survival of the fittest “ goes on
well.
Ecological Groups
Warming (1909) classified the plants on the basis
of their water requirements
They are :
•Mesophytes
•Xerophytes
•Hydrophytes
Hydrophytes
The plants that grow in regions where there is
abundant supply of water
HYDROPHYTES (pronounced like HIE-DROE-FITES) are
not water fights (hydro- means water), but they are water
PLANTS. Actually, they are plants that have adapted to life in soils
that are often flooded or saturated with water. These plants are a
pretty sure indication of a wetland!
Eg. Waterlettuce
CLASSIFICATION
According to the way in which they live in water, hydrophytes
may be classified into following categories, namely,
1. Free floating
2. Submerged
3. Attached floating
4. Amphibious
Xerophytes
Xerophytes are plants that have altered their physical
structure to survive extreme heat and lack of water.
Plants called xerophytes, have adapted to very dry
conditions by evolving a set of xeromorphic
characteristics
Cactus spines are the ultimate xeromorphic leaf adaptation.
Eg. Cactus
Xerophytes are classified into three types viz.
1. Drought escaping
2. Drought enduring And
3. Drought resisting.
Drought enduring And
Drought resisting Xerophytes
The stem of drought enduring plant like Opuntia is flat
and fleshy. The leaves are modified into spines. Leaves are
the organs of transpiration. Since they are modified into
spines, transpiration rate is greatly reduced.
The leaves of Nerium are thick and leathery. So, they are
less liable for wilting. Leaf surfaces are shiny and because
of this, light and heat are reflected back.
MESOPHYTES
The plants that grow in regions where there is medium
amount of water in soil are called Mesophytes. They are the
plants which surround us.
Adaptation
Stomata occur between cells and are usually concentrated on
the lower surfaces of land plant leaves, in the upper epidermis
of grasses, and in the leaves of floating plants such as water
lilies.
The Casparian strip, a layer of waterproof suberin, completely
blocks the intercellular spaces of the endodermis
Project Developed By:
VIII –’A’
1. Karthick
2. Mohammed Ali
3. Supriya
4. Karthika
5. Hemavathi
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