Key Concepts from Plant Diversity and Function Lectures

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts mentioned in lectures on plant diversity, protists, and plant function, serving as a study aid for those preparing for exams.

Protist

A diverse group of eukaryotic organisms, often unicellular, but can also be multicellular, that do not fit into the traditional categories of plants, animals, or fungi.

Eukaryotes

Cells characterized by the presence of a nucleus and organelles, more complex than prokaryotic cells.

Stramenopiles

A major clade of the SAR supergroup that includes diatoms, brown algae, and other related organisms.

Diatoms

Unicellular algae with silica cell walls that are a major component of phytoplankton.

Alternation of Generations

A life cycle type in plants and algae involving a multicellular diploid phase (sporophyte) and a multicellular haploid phase (gametophyte).

Dinoflagellates

Algae that are a component of phytoplankton, known for their two flagella, and can cause phenomena like red tide.

Chlorophytes

A group of green algae, which are unicellular or multicellular, known to be the closest relatives to land plants.

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that produce seeds within fruits, characterized by a wide variety and ecological dominance.

Gymnosperms

Seed-producing plants whose seeds are not enclosed within an ovary, includes conifers.

Abiotic Factors

Environmental non-living components that affect ecosystems, including nutrient availability and climatic conditions.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide that forms the structural component of the primary cell wall in green plants.

Symbiosis

A close, persistent interaction between two or more different species, which can be mutualistic, commensal, or parasitic.

Mycorrhizae

Symbiotic relationships between fungi and plant roots that enhance nutrient uptake.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some protists transform light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water.

Sporophyte

The multicellular diploid form of a plant that produces spores through meiosis.

Gametophyte

The multicellular haploid form of a plant that produces gametes (sperm and eggs).