Plant biology Flashcards
(89 cards)
What is the most abundant form of life?
plants
What are some really general uses of plants?
-medicine e.g fennel is anti inflamatory
-timber
-biofuels
-food source
Why do plants produce such varying chemicals?
It is how they “communicate”
e.g herbivour attacks (chemicals released into air to warn surrounding plants or through fungi),
Who was Nikolai Vavilov?
He was a pioneering plant biologist.
He created the theory of Centers of Origin of Cultivated Plants;
all major cultivated plants originated in specific geographical regions with high genetic diversity.
Where was wheat domesticated?
In the middle east in a place called Fertile crescent is a centre of origin.
This place also contributed oils, apples ect
In china by the river basins is a centre of origin for what plants originated?
-rice
-wheat
-onions
-oranges
-soy beans
The New Guinea highlands were a centre of origin for what plants?
-bananas
-sugar cane
Central Mexico is a centre of origin for what plants?
-maize
-sweet potato
-cocoa beans
Northern South America is a centre of origin for what plants?
-tomatoes
-beans
-potato
Sub-Sahaaran Africa is a centre of origin for what plants?
-yam
-African rice
East northern America is the centre of origin for what plants?
-pumpkins
-sunflowers
What grains provide 50% of calories that humans eat?
-Wheat
-Rice
-Maize
How many genomes does modern wheat have?
3 genomes.
Modern wheat is a hybrid between 2 plants,
The first one had 2 genomes and the other had 1 so hence 3 in total.
What evidence do we have the plants have been successful at colonising Earth?
-They are found in all locations around the world (apart from extreme polar regions)
-Around 390,000 species of plants
How can we split up the 390,000 plant species?
- 344,000 (majority!) are Flowering plants
-35,000 are Mosses and liverworts
-10,600 are Ferns and Lycopods
-1,500 are Gymnosperms
How is plant diversity distributed around the world?
Unevenly.
Most species are clustered around tropics/ equator and decreases as you go away from this.
What is the red list?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Organisation, that formed the most comprehensive information on global extinction risk status or animals, fungus and plant species.
What does the red list say about plant diversity?
-5% of native plant species lost
-21% of plant species threatened with extinction
-Plant diversity is currently being lost at a rate unseen in recent geological history
Some are saying they are in the 6th mass extinction, due to humans.
What are Anthropogenic species?
Species that exists, spreads, or evolves primarily due to human activity.
What type of plant species have diversity that are actually decreasing despite the global trend?
Anthropogenic.
Species that exists, spreads, or evolves primarily due to human activity.
What are some UK based examples of introuduced highly invasive species?
-Giant Hogweed
-Japanese Knotweed
-Himalayan balsam
Why can we get abundant increases of anthropogenic non native species in certain regions?
-Due to people moving plants around a lot whilst traveling.
-Accidental spreading e.g shipping
e.g age of exploration; Christofer Columbus, James Cook (with Joseph Banks),
What did James Cook do?
He conducted 3 major voyages, with a man called Joseph Banks. In just 1 voyage alone took 30,000 plant specimens. Many plants now have a name including “banksii” after him
Why does more humans tent to lead to more plant extinctions?
-Alteration/loss of habitats
-Introduction of non native species e.g Giant Hogweed
-Overexploitation of resources e.g deforestation
-Humans are everywhere
-Mass destruction
-Climate change
