Flowering Plant Reproduction

• Covers flowering plant structures, photosynthesis, respiration, adaptation, and ecology.

Male Reproductive Parts

• Stamen: Male reproductive organ of a flower, comprised of the anther and filament.
• Anther: Part of the stamen that produces pollen containing male gametes.
• Filament: Stalk supporting the anther, positioning it for effective pollen transfer.

Female Reproductive Parts

• Pistil: Female reproductive part, consisting of the stigma, style, and ovary.
• Stigma: Sticky top of the pistil that receives pollen during pollination.
• Style: Tube connecting the stigma to the ovary, through which pollen travels.
• Ovary: Base of the pistil containing ovules, which develop into seeds after fertilization, maturing into fruit.
• Ovules: Female gametes inside the ovary that become seeds upon fertilization.

Perfect Flower

• Contains both male and female reproductive parts (anther, filament, stigma, style, ovary, ovules).

Pollination vs. Fertilization

• Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma.
• Fertilization occurs when a pollen grain fuses with an ovule, creating a zygote that develops into a seed.

Sepals

• Protect the flower bud before it opens, often remaining as green structures at the flower's base.

Photosynthesis

• Plants convert light energy into chemical energy (glucose), producing oxygen.
• It happens in the chloroplasts of plant cells, specifically in the chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis Equation

• 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
• Carbon dioxide + water + light energy yields glucose + oxygen

Cellular Respiration

• Cells break down glucose into energy (ATP) in the presence of oxygen.
• It takes place in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells.

Cellular Respiration Equation

• C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP
• Glucose + oxygen yields carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP).

Relationship Between Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration

• Photosynthesis produces glucose and oxygen, used in cellular respiration.
• Cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide and water, used in photosynthesis for a cycle of energy transfer.

Transpiration

• Plants lose water vapor through stomata in their leaves.
• Xylem cells transport water from the roots to the rest of the plant.
• Stomata are pores on leaves where water vapor exits and carbon dioxide enters, regulated by guard cells.

Plant Adaptations

• Cactus spines: Reduce water loss in deserts.
• Wide, flat leaves: Maximize light absorption in rainforests.
• Deep roots: Access groundwater in dry environments.

Phototropism

• Growth of a plant toward or away from light.
• Plants grow toward light (positive phototropism) to maximize photosynthesis.

Geotropism/Gravitropism

• A plant's response to gravity.
• Roots show positive gravitropism (grow downward), and stems show negative gravitropism (grow upward).

Hydrotropism

• Growth of plant roots toward areas with higher moisture content.

Positive vs Negative Tropism

• Positive tropism: Growth toward a stimulus.
• Negative tropism: Growth away from a stimulus.

Germination

• Seed develops into a new plant.

Dormancy

• Seed or plant is inactive due to environmental factors.

Biotic Factors

• Living components of an ecosystem.
• Plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

Abiotic Factors

• Non-living components of an ecosystem.
• Sunlight, temperature, water, soil, and air.

Food Chain

• Sequence of organisms dependent on each other for food.

Food Web

• Complex network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.

Primary Energy Source

• Sunlight is the primary energy source for every food web.

Energy Pyramid

• Energy decreases as you move up due to heat loss and metabolism.

Producers

• Organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis.
• Plants and algae.

Consumers

• Organisms that rely on other organisms for food.
• Herbivores like cows, and carnivores like lions.

Decomposers

• Break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil.
• Fungi and bacteria.

Biome

• Large area characterized by specific climates, vegetation, and animal life.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Trees lose their leaves in fall with four distinct seasons.

Deserts

• Very little rainfall, extreme temperatures, plants and animals adapt to conserve water.

Rainforests

• High rainfall, warm temperatures, rich biodiversity, and dense vegetation.

Grasslands

• Open areas dominated by grasses with few trees and grazing animals.

Deciduous Forests

• Lose leaves in the fall, experience four seasons, and support diverse plant and animal life.

Application Scenarios Key Roles

• Decomposers recycle nutrients into the soil.
• Falcons are at the top of the food pyramid as apex predators.
• Food chain example: Grass → Bunny → Weasel → Falcon
• Bunnies are herbivores, because they consume plants.
• Hawks are most affected by a loss of rabbits, which are a primary food source.

Pollination Example

• Pollen lands on the stigma leading to pollination and fertilization.
• Bees are pollinators, transferring pollen between flowers.
• The pollen grain travels down the style to the ovary for fertilization and seed formation.