Tag: extreme adaptations

Because hydrophtes are supported by water rather than by roots and stem structures, most hydrophtes as a result have roots that are small and feathery. These are designed to take in oxygen from the water, and since the plant is fully submersed in water at all times, there is less need for a long and thick root structure. One plant that has a feathery root is the Salvinia Molesta, which is a free-floating aquatic fern.

Desert succulents such as cacti and pineapples utilize Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, fixing carbon dioxide into organic acids during the night when stomata are open to minimize water loss.

Detritivores are organisms that feed on detritus, which is decomposing organic matter. Bacteria, soil mites, worms, and fungi are classic examples of organisms involved in the decomposition process.

Often found on floating plants, many hydrophytes have air sacs that help the plant float on the surface of the water. The water chestnut is one example, which includes a beautiful cluster of green leaves with white flowers, attached to a fine root system. It is important to note that some aquatic plants will float slightly submerged in the water, such as the buttercup. Others, such as water lilies, will float up on top of the surface since their leaves distribute the weight across the surface of the water. 

Hydrilla is a genus of aquatic plant, usually treated as containing just one species, Hydrilla verticillata, though some botanists divide it into several species. Opuntia, touch me not and Calotropis lives on land. Thus, option B is correct and other options are wrong.

About 72% of the land on the Earth is a part of the oceans. This water of the oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds contribute to the aquatic ecosystem. So, about 72% of the Earth's surface is covered under the aquatic form of ecosystems. There are two types of aquatic ecosystem, freshwater and marine ecosystem. 

In a freshwater aquatic ecosystem like a pond, the organisms in the food chain include algae, small animals, insects and their larvae, small fish, big fish and a fish-eating bird or animal.

Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments (saltwater or freshwater). They are also referred to as hydrophytes or macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. The most common adaptation is aerenchyma, but floating leaves and finely dissected leaves are also common. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is permanently saturated with water. They are therefore, a common component of wetlands. 

Succulent plants stores water in their stems, fleshy leaves, such as the aloe.

Victoria amazonica is commonly known as Giant Water Lily. They have the lagest floating leaves. They have large floating leaves, up to 3 meter in diameter. The leaves float on the surface of water on a submerged stalk.