Biology and Maritime Botany Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering early Earth biology, plant adaptations, maritime botany, cellular osmosis, and plant tissue types based on quiz content.

Prokaryotes

The first living organisms on Earth.

Oxygen Revolution

A planetary event associated with an increase in atmospheric oxygen, a decrease in prokaryotes, and the presence of photosynthetic cyanobacteria.

Chlorophyta

The kingdom/classification associated with Green algae.

Dinophyta

The kingdom/classification associated with Dinoflagellates.

Rhodophyta

The kingdom/classification associated with Red algae.

Chromophyta

The kingdom/classification associated with Brown algae and Diatoms.

Bryophytes

The first plants to colonise the land, which evolved a waxy cuticle to help survive on land.

Dicotyledons

Plants characterized by having two cotyledons, tap roots, and four or five petals, but notably lacking parallel veins.

Xerophyte

A species of plant that has adapted to survive in dry environments where water is limited.

Pingao ($Ficinia spiralis$)

A plant most likely to be found on the foredune of the maritime zone.

$$Muehlenbeckia complexa$$

A maritime zone plant found on the secondary dune.

$$Spinifex sericeus$$

A maritime zone plant found on the foredune, characterized by hairy leaves, reduced leaf surface area, an extended root system via rhizome shoots, and deep roots.

$$Metrosideros excelsa$$

A maritime zone plant found in the coastal forest.

Curled / triangular leaves

An adaptation in species like $Ficinia spiralis$ and $Spinifex sericeus$ to increase humidity within the 'tube', which reduces water loss to the surrounding atmosphere.

Sand dune functions

Providing habitat for bird and insect species, maintaining a future supply of sand for beaches, and protecting adjacent land from waves and storm surges.

Constructive wave

Low energy waves that have a stronger swash than backwash and result in the build up of material on the shoreline.

Osmosis

The movement of water from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a semipermeable membrane (or from low solute concentration to high solute concentration).

Hypertonic solution

A solution in which water would move out of the cell due to osmosis.

Hypotonic solution

A solution in which water would move into the cell due to osmosis.

Plasmolysis

The process where water moves out of the cell due to osmosis and the cell membrane collapses away from the cell wall.

Transpiration

The loss of water through the stomata during gas exchange for photosynthesis.

Phloem

Vascular plant tissue responsible for the transport of sugars produced by photosynthesis (not primarily for water and minerals).

Lateral meristems

Meristematic tissue occurring in the cambium responsible for growth in the lateral direction, increasing the girth of roots and stems.

Intercalary meristems

Meristematic tissue found in monocotyledons, typically at the base of leaf blades, responsible for stem length and rapid regrowth.

Apical meristems

Meristematic tissue located at the apex of the root and shoot responsible for the lengthening of the plant.

Sclerenchyma Tissue

Simple permanent tissue with thick, tough cell walls of even thickness impregnated with lignin; most of these cells are dead at maturity.

Parenchyma Tissue

The most abundant simple permanent tissue type, having thin, pliable walls and intercellular air spaces between cells.

Collenchyma Tissue

Simple permanent tissue with cell walls of uneven thickness, typically thicker in the corners, providing flexible support for organs like leaves and floral parts.