PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN AN ECOSYSTEM (PLANT & ANIMAL SCIENCE)

 PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN AN ECOSYSTEM (Part 1)

By: Yusuf Basirat Bolanle

Topic outline:

-  Introduction to plant and animal

-  Definition of plant

-  Different Types of plant

-  A well labelled Diagram of a typical plant

-  functions of each part of the plant

-  Definition of animal

-  Types of animals and their examples

-  Differences between plant and animal

 

Introduction to plants and animals

Plants are the major sources of food for animals and other organisms. Plants can produce their own food through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process whereby the green plants combine carbon IV oxide with water, using light energy and the chlorophyll to produce carbon dioxide and the oxygen.

There are many species of plants currently on Earth and majority of them produce flowers and fruits for reproduction. Therefore, plants serve as the major source of food for organisms.

 

Ecosystem

What is an ecosystem? 

Ecosystem is a place of living organisms and non living components. It is a place of interaction for animals and plants where they are all living together and interacting with each other. The relationship between plants and animals is known through their existence and interaction in an ecosystem they live.

 

Plant 

A plants is a living thing that is capable or producing its own food through photosynthesis. It is a a living organism that consists of trees, shrubs, grasses, leaves, mainly growing in the permanent site, absorbing water through its roots, using green pigment to produce nutrients.

Types of plants

Here are some of the types of the plant we have;

 

1.Annual plant: 

Annual plants are the plants that stay and live for only

one year. these type of plants complete their life cycles

within the short period of one year only.

 They   complete their life circle from germination to reproduction of seeds within one growing season and then die e.g. maize, cassava, marigolds, cosmos and stunflowers

 

2.  Biennial plant:

These are the categories of plants that live and exist for two  years. They usually complete their life cycles between the period of two years and then die.

  Examples are Vegetables like spinach, fennel, and lettuce are biennials.

 

3.  Perennial plants:

The perennial plants are those that can live for more that tow years. They are sometimes referred to as permanents plants because they can stay as long as possible. Perennial crops are mainly cash crops which live for many years if properly maintained.  

 Examples are: cashew tree, cola-nut tree, cocoa tree, mango tree, orange tree, cone flowers and so on.

 

Major parts of a plant

Functions of the Major parts of a plant-:

-The Root- It absorbs water and minerals from the soil and store extra food.

-The Stem-  

The stem is a supportive part of a plant. It supports the plant and help in carrying water and nutrients from the root and leaves to the other parts of the plant.

 

-The Leaf-

The is the major part that makes the process of photosynthesis easier for the plant. The leaf takes sunlight which makes food through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a process whereby green plant produces its food, using light energy, chlorophyll and water.

 

-The Flowers- They are the reproductive parts of the plants. they contain pollen and egg (ovules) which produces fruits and seeds in the plant.

-The Fruits- The fruits provide a cover for seeds. The fruits is a very useful part of a plant for animals. Fruits can be fleshy. E.g. apple or hard like nut.

 

-The Seed- The seed is the part that covers or consists of new plants and always forms in the fruit