Plants and Trees

Types of Plants:
- Producers: make their own food through photosynthesis (e.g., trees, flowers, grass)
- Decomposers: break down dead organic matter (e.g., fungi, bacteria)
Role of Plants:
- Provide oxygen and food for other living organisms
- Support entire ecosystems through nutrient cycling and shelter
- Help regulate Earth's climate through carbon sequestration and oxygen production
Tree Characteristics:
- Evergreen: keep their leaves year-round (e.g., pine, spruce)
- Deciduous: shed their leaves seasonally (e.g., oak, maple)

Characteristics:
- Low rainfall (<25 cm/year)
- High temperatures during the day, cold at night
- Limited vegetation and wildlife
Adaptations:
- Cacti: store water in stems, waxy coatings to prevent water loss
- Desert animals: nocturnal, burrowing, or have specialized physical features (e.g., camel's humps)
Desert Types:
- Hot deserts (e.g., Sahara, Mojave)
- Cold deserts (e.g., Gobi, Patagonia)

Types of Water Habitats:
- Freshwater: rivers, lakes, wetlands
- Marine: oceans, coral reefs, estuaries
- Brackish: mixture of freshwater and saltwater (e.g., mangroves, salt marshes)
Plant and Animal Adaptations:
- Aquatic plants: adapted to low light, high water pressure (e.g., seaweed, kelp)
- Aquatic animals: streamlined bodies, gills or other breathing adaptations (e.g., fish, dolphins)
Importance of Water Habitats:
- Support diverse range of plant and animal life
- Play critical role in global water cycle and climate regulation
- Provide essential ecosystem services (e.g., water filtration, shoreline protection)

Producers, such as trees, flowers, and grass, make their own food through photosynthesis
Decomposers, like fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter
Plants provide oxygen and food for other living organisms, supporting entire ecosystems
They regulate Earth's climate through carbon sequestration and oxygen production, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling and shelter
Evergreen trees, like pine and spruce, keep their leaves year-round
Deciduous trees, such as oak and maple, shed their leaves seasonally

Desert habitats are characterized by low rainfall, typically less than 25 centimeters per year
These ecosystems have adapted to conserve water and survive in harsh conditions

Deserts are characterized by low rainfall (less than 25 cm/year), high temperatures, and limited vegetation
They support unique and adapted plant and animal species, such as cacti and succulents, that have evolved to conserve water and withstand extreme temperatures
Examples of deserts include the Sahara Desert, Mojave Desert, and Gobi Desert
Key features of deserts include:
- Limited water availability, resulting in adaptations such as deep roots and water storage in plants
- High temperatures during the day, with temperatures often reaching 38°C (100°F), and cold temperatures at night, often below 0°C (32°F)
- Limited vegetation, with plants often adapted to store water and withstand extreme temperatures
- Animal adaptations, such as burrowing, nocturnal behavior, and water conservation, to survive in the harsh environment

Forests are characterized by dense tree cover, high biodiversity, and complex ecosystem interactions
They support a wide range of plant and animal species, including trees, shrubs, and understory plants
Examples of forests include the Amazon Rainforest, Congo Basin, and Boreal Forest
Key features of forests include:
- Dense tree canopy, which provides shade, shelter, and food for a variety of species
- High levels of rainfall and humidity, with some forests receiving over 400 cm (157 in) of rain per year
- Complex food webs and nutrient cycles, with trees and other organisms interacting to create a rich ecosystem
- Animal adaptations, such as arboreal behavior, camouflage, and omnivory, to survive in the diverse and complex environment

Polar habitats are characterized by extreme cold, limited sunlight, and harsh conditions
They support unique and adapted plant and animal species, such as mosses and lichens, and polar bears and penguins
Examples of polar habitats include the Arctic Tundra and Antarctic Ice Sheet
Key features of polar habitats include:
- Extreme cold temperatures, with temperatures often below -20°C (-4°F) and wind chill making it even colder
- Limited sunlight during winter months, with some areas experiencing 24 hours of darkness
- Limited vegetation, with plants adapted to survive in the harsh conditions and short growing season
- Animal adaptations, such as thick fur, blubber, and hibernation, to survive in the extreme cold and limited food availability

Oceans are characterized by saltwater, high pressure, and diverse marine life
They support a vast range of plant and animal species, from phytoplankton to fish and mammals
Examples of ocean habitats include Coral Reefs, Open Ocean, and Deep Sea
Key features of oceans include:
- High levels of salt and minerals, which affect the physiology and behavior of marine organisms
- High pressure and low light levels in deep areas, making it difficult for some organisms to survive
- Diverse marine life, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish, which form complex food webs and ecosystems
- Animal adaptations, such as gills, shells, and bioluminescence, to survive in the diverse and challenging environment