Biology 211 Exam 3 Study Guide Questions || All Answers are
Flawless.
Name five basic adaptations that enabled the transition from green algae to land plants. correct
answers The cuticle prevents water loss, compounds prevent UV damage, Lignin allows vascular
systems, tracheids allow upward growth, and guard cells allow CO2 in.
What ecosystem services do plants provide? Describe four. correct answers Produce oxygen,
hold soil with roots, hold water, keeps from flash floods, primary producers, key to carbon cycle.
How does plant photosynthesis affect atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels? How does it
affect atmospheric oxygen levels? What is the relationship between plants, photosynthesis and
fossil fuels such as coal? correct answers Plant photosynthesis fixes/reduces carbon and produces
oxygen.
Fossil fuels replaced wood for energy. Coal is derived from plants (that photosynthesized) that
grew during our lifetime or when dinosaurs roamed the earth
How are modern maize (corn) and teosinte related? How are plant fibers used by humans?
correct answers Maize evolved from an ancient grass called teosinte. Plant fibers are used by
humans to provide lumber, be a source for raw material (cotton), and make paper.
Describe several different pharmaceuticals that are derived from land plants? What benefit do the
secondary metabolites from these plants provide for the plants that make them? correct answers
•Papaya: reduces inflammation
•Belladonna: dilates eyes
•Foxglove: heart medication
•Peppermint: cough suppressant
•They provide protection from predators; they repel predators.
, How are green algae similar to land plants. Describe 3 separate similarities. correct answers
Their choloroplasts contain the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a & b and the accessory
pigment B-carotene (their choloroplast structure is the same)
They have similar arrangements of internal, membrane bound sacs called thylakoids (their
thylakoid arrangements are similar)
Their cell walls, sperm, and peroxisomes are similar in structure and composition
Their chloroplasts synthesize starch as a storage product.
What are the three major plant groups? Give examples of each. Are all seed plants similar?
According to the fossil record, which groups appear first, second and third. Are plants adapted
for drier conditions found early or they late arrivals in the fossil record? correct answers •Three
major plant groups: non-vascular plants (Bryophytes-mosses), seedless, vascular plants (ferns),
and seed plants (Gynosperms and Angiosperms).
•All seed plants have vascular tissue and produce seeds. According to the fossil record, the green
algae appeared first, then nonvascular plants, seedless vascular plants, and seed plants. They are
adapted for drier conditions found late in the fossil record.
What were the challenges to life on land (for the first land plants)? What advantages were there
to living on land instead of in the water? Were there animals preying on these first plants? correct
answers •Challenges: drying out, growing upright, supporting weight, roots, protection from UV
rays, and 'swimming suit'.
•Advantages: light and CO2 were abundant
•Animals were not preying on the first land plants.
Plants have several traits that were not found in algae. Name these adaptations. correct answers
•Preventing water loss from cells, providing protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation,
moving water from tissues with direct access to water to tissues without direct access.
Sporopollenin, cuticle, guard cells, protected gametes, xylem and phyloem, seeds, and secondary
products.
What function does the plant cuticle serve? What are guard cells and why are they necessary to
land plant life? correct answers •The cuticle gives plants the ability to survive in dry
Flawless.
Name five basic adaptations that enabled the transition from green algae to land plants. correct
answers The cuticle prevents water loss, compounds prevent UV damage, Lignin allows vascular
systems, tracheids allow upward growth, and guard cells allow CO2 in.
What ecosystem services do plants provide? Describe four. correct answers Produce oxygen,
hold soil with roots, hold water, keeps from flash floods, primary producers, key to carbon cycle.
How does plant photosynthesis affect atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels? How does it
affect atmospheric oxygen levels? What is the relationship between plants, photosynthesis and
fossil fuels such as coal? correct answers Plant photosynthesis fixes/reduces carbon and produces
oxygen.
Fossil fuels replaced wood for energy. Coal is derived from plants (that photosynthesized) that
grew during our lifetime or when dinosaurs roamed the earth
How are modern maize (corn) and teosinte related? How are plant fibers used by humans?
correct answers Maize evolved from an ancient grass called teosinte. Plant fibers are used by
humans to provide lumber, be a source for raw material (cotton), and make paper.
Describe several different pharmaceuticals that are derived from land plants? What benefit do the
secondary metabolites from these plants provide for the plants that make them? correct answers
•Papaya: reduces inflammation
•Belladonna: dilates eyes
•Foxglove: heart medication
•Peppermint: cough suppressant
•They provide protection from predators; they repel predators.
, How are green algae similar to land plants. Describe 3 separate similarities. correct answers
Their choloroplasts contain the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a & b and the accessory
pigment B-carotene (their choloroplast structure is the same)
They have similar arrangements of internal, membrane bound sacs called thylakoids (their
thylakoid arrangements are similar)
Their cell walls, sperm, and peroxisomes are similar in structure and composition
Their chloroplasts synthesize starch as a storage product.
What are the three major plant groups? Give examples of each. Are all seed plants similar?
According to the fossil record, which groups appear first, second and third. Are plants adapted
for drier conditions found early or they late arrivals in the fossil record? correct answers •Three
major plant groups: non-vascular plants (Bryophytes-mosses), seedless, vascular plants (ferns),
and seed plants (Gynosperms and Angiosperms).
•All seed plants have vascular tissue and produce seeds. According to the fossil record, the green
algae appeared first, then nonvascular plants, seedless vascular plants, and seed plants. They are
adapted for drier conditions found late in the fossil record.
What were the challenges to life on land (for the first land plants)? What advantages were there
to living on land instead of in the water? Were there animals preying on these first plants? correct
answers •Challenges: drying out, growing upright, supporting weight, roots, protection from UV
rays, and 'swimming suit'.
•Advantages: light and CO2 were abundant
•Animals were not preying on the first land plants.
Plants have several traits that were not found in algae. Name these adaptations. correct answers
•Preventing water loss from cells, providing protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation,
moving water from tissues with direct access to water to tissues without direct access.
Sporopollenin, cuticle, guard cells, protected gametes, xylem and phyloem, seeds, and secondary
products.
What function does the plant cuticle serve? What are guard cells and why are they necessary to
land plant life? correct answers •The cuticle gives plants the ability to survive in dry
