marine flowering plants

Marine Flowering Plants

Kingdom Plantae

Angiosperms

• Autotrophs• Have flowers used for sexual reproduction• Have pollen• Have seeds• Multicellular eukaryotes• Mostly on land-very few in the ocean• Evolved from land plants

Seaweeds (algae) vs. Flowering Plants

Anchor vs. Water/Nutrient Absorption

Structure/Support

Photosynthesis

Three Groups

• Seagrasses• Mangroves• Marsh grasses

• VERY IMPORTANT habitat for young marine organisms – they all act like nursery grounds for countless species!

Seagrasses• Not true grasses• Found in temperate & tropical coastal bays &

estuaries• Subtidal = must stay underwater• Prefer shallow, calm, clear waters• Many species• Zostera (eelgrass) is our type on Long Island

More about seagrasses: http://www.flseagrass.org/ecology.php

http://www.flseagrass.org/ecology.php

http://www.flseagrass.org/ecology.php

Pictures of seagrass meadows

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=6zxiU-Rnu5fXnM&tbnid=xIYIagFMxysLiM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://coz.southernfriedscience.com/?p=295&ei=HmP7Us3zIsTq0QHvsoCQDA&psig=AFQjCNGMfnBVwWQ9TcSN0dRgGDlLSJC4Dw&ust=1392292905931889

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=SUXoAMOn-zmY2M&tbnid=KRK8LZtb3s3RqM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://seapics.com/gallery/Mammalia/Sirenia/Trichechidae/West-Indian-manatees/Antillean-manatee-search.html&ei=OWP7UonxNMXp0wGSmoHYCQ&psig=AFQjCNFP1BMy_gePy0zRcsKtWK3mmPUECg&ust=1392293045839378

Seagrass Reproduction• Sexually – stringy pollen carried away by currents• Life cycle like land flowering plants• Asexually – using rhizomes under the sediment

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=ivfPsuD3m-g_WM&tbnid=8X_GIS0g1q3N0M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.teachoceanscience.net/modulepopup/seagrass/seagrass_reproduction/&ei=jWL7UpGWKcnQ0wHfx4HAAg&bvm=bv.61190604,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNE2Kzv56dB30YpHow1ypaYl9O62dg&ust=1392292824873094

Mangroves

• Woody trees• Tropical & Subtropical• Intertidal=Not fully submerged • Often roots sticking out of the

water• Several species – obviously,

none on Long Island

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=k4buZ1OdvayS0M&tbnid=fF7P4kzibnWQKM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/04/&ei=A2L7Usj2FOiZ1AHm0oGgDA&bvm=bv.61190604,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNHov5bor4b34iHDEwds-czNGRvymQ&ust=1392292602335716

Picture of a Mangrove Forest

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=k4buZ1OdvayS0M&tbnid=fF7P4kzibnWQKM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://greeneconomyproject.blogspot.com/&ei=IWL7UuC0O-Hc0QHf-YC4Aw&bvm=bv.61190604,d.dmQ&psig=AFQjCNHov5bor4b34iHDEwds-czNGRvymQ&ust=1392292602335716

Mangrove Reproduction• Reproduce sexually – with flowers• “Pencil seed” germinates while

still attached to parent– If it’s low tide: seed sticks in the mud– If it’s high tide: seed is carried away

by current

Salt marshes

• Found in calm, sheltered bays on East and Gulf Coasts of the US

• Intertidal• Several species - our common ones are:– Spartina alterniflora – salt marsh cordgrass– Spartina patens – salt marsh hay

Virtual field trip through a salt marsh: http://zottoli.wordpress.com/saltmarshes/spartina-alterniflora-zone-2

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http://zottoli.wordpress.com/saltmarshes/spartina-alterniflora-zone-2/



Pictures of Salt Marshes

Marsh Grass Reproduction

• Sexually – flowers like flowering land plants• Asexually - rhizomes

To Learn More…

• http://www.sglearnonline.com/seaweed-and-marine-plants.html

• https://www.oceanclassrooms.com/ms101_u9_c1_sa_1

• Watch this: http://www.oceanclassrooms.com/resources/storyline/unit9/MS101_U9_C1_SA_1/story.html

marine flowering plants

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