animal and plant responses Flashcards
(256 cards)
what does Mimosa pudica do?
carries out a thignomastic response (non-directional touch response)
due to threat of herbivores
how does Mimosa pudica respond to herbivores?
leaves curl up because cells in leaf becomes flaccid
mechanoreceptors are stimulated by change in pressure so ions are pumped out (active) of leaf cells and H2O follows down water potential gradient into stem
explain 2 structural defences (anatomical adaptations) a plant may have to discourage consumption by herbivores
spikes, thorns and barbs may cause pain or may introduce a poison/allergen into the herbivore
lignin=woody impermeable molecule so very difficult to eat and digest
examples of chemical defences
phenols
flavonoids
tannins
why do plants use chemical defences against herbivores
provide a bitter taste to the herbivore to deter it
poisonous so act as non-competitive enzyme inhibitors to disrupt enzymes
example of pheromone
ethene
what are pheromones w/ example
gases that influence the behaviour of members of same species or herbivore
e.g. tomato plants can ‘alert’ other plants of impending threat by herbivores so become bitter
tropism definition
a directional growth response towards a stimulus
4 types of tropism
thigmotropism
phototropism
hydrotropism
geotropism
what is a thigmotropism
example
function
response to touch
e.g. vine growing around a wooden pole
supportive for plant
what is a phototropism (both kinds)
positive: shoots grow towards light ti obtain light energy for p/s
negative: roots grow away from light to access water and minerals in soil and provide stability
what is hydrotropism
function
growth towards water
obtain H2O which is a reactant for p/s
what are both kinds of geotropism w/functions
positive: roots grow towards gravity so plant can gain water and mineral ions from soil and the plant has better anchorage and support
negative: shoots grow away from gravity to obtain light energy for p/s
nastic response definition
non-directional response to a stimulus which may or may not include growth
explain how M.pudica closes up its leaves in response to touch
mechanoreceptors stimulated by change in pressure
ions pumped out of leaf cells’ vacuoles (Cl- and K+) (active)
H2O follows out down water potential gradient (bc water potential outside cell is more negative)
the flexor cells stretch, extensor cells become flaccid
leaf curls and cells become flaccid so stomata close
how might thigmonastic response in plants help them to survive?
e.g. M.pudica
appear smaller to herbivores so less likely to be eaten
discourages predation by insects
protection against fire bc less SA exposed
suggest why plant growth regulators are called hormones although they are not produced in endocrine glands
plant hormones must still bind to specific receptors
they are transported from their site of synthesis to their target
explain why only certain tissues in a plant respond to a particular plant hormone
hormones bind to specific complementary receptors on plasma membrane of specific cells to trigger a response (series of reactions)
these receptors are only present in certain tissues
3 ways that plant hormones can move around the plant
diffusion
active transport
xylem (dissolved in water as transpiration stream) (facilitated)
what are IAAs
auxins
what is the role of auxin
cell elongation
mechanism of auxin step by step
auxin released from meristematic cells at shoot tip and diffuses down shoot tip from high to low concentration
auxin binds to specific receptors on plasma membranes of cells in the shoot
activates proton pumps to actively transport H+ into cellulose cell wall
presence of H+ ions in the cell wall reduces pH and activates expansions, which catalyse breaking of H bonds between cellulose macrofibrils and microfibrils
cellulose cell wall is now flexible and elastic
water enters the cells and elongates the cells as it enters the vacuole
characteristics of the zone of cell differentiation
higher pH as les IAA present
expansins denature and H bonds reform in cellulose (no longer flexible)
what does apical dominance ensure
that trees/plants grow tall and obtain as much light energy as possible