Plants Need Minerals PDF

# Plants need minerals Minerals are the extra nutrients that help plants to grow well. Plants take in minerals from the soil when they take in water. - In Year 4 we looked at plants that did not have enough minerals. - We also looked at how fertilizers are used to give plants extra minerals. - In...

# Plants need minerals Minerals are the extra nutrients that help plants to grow well. Plants take in minerals from the soil when they take in water. - In Year 4 we looked at plants that did not have enough minerals. - We also looked at how fertilizers are used to give plants extra minerals. - In the wild, some habitats and microhabitats do not have many minerals in the soil. ## A plant adapted to get its own fertiliser - This plant is adapted to get its own "fertilizer." It catches insects. - Digesting insects gives it extra minerals. ## How the plant catches insects - **A fly lands on the plant**. - **The leaf closes quickly and the fly is trapped**. - **Once inside**, the insect cannot get out because the sides of the plant are smooth. The insect falls into the liquid inside the plant. - **The plant breaks down the insect's body and uses the minerals in it**. ## These plants are adapted for living in places where there are few minerals in the soil. - The inside of the plant has a smell that attracts insects into the plant. # Comparing habitats ## What to look for when comparing habitats - If you can, visit two different habitats. Go with an adult. - **Look at a freshwater habitat.** A freshwater habitat may be large… - **But it can also be very small.** ## Comparing freshwater habitats - You could compare the freshwater habitat with a seashore where the water is salty. - The water in this rock pool is salty. - The plants need to be adapted for the temperature increasing in the rock pool or the water evaporating. ## Comparing an aquatic habitat with a dry habitat - You could compare one of the aquatic habitats with a dry habitat. - We often think of dry habitats as large areas of desert. - This habitat is dry too. - **What happens to water when it rains?** - **Where can the plants grow?** - You could make your own dry garden. - Water drains through gravel quickly. - These are all plants that can store water. # Predicting habitats Living things all differ. They do not all follow a set of rules. But we can often observe patterns or similarities when looking at adaptations. ## Leaves - **Plants that can access lots of water can have big leaves.** They can easily replace water lost through the leaves. - **Plants that do not have access to a lot of water need smaller leaves or spines instead of leaves** - **Plants that store water have fleshy leaves.** We call them succulents. # Forest fires Forest fires are often called bushfires. They burn in habitats such as grassland and forests in hot, dry places. - **The flames spread quickly.** Grass burns more quickly than trees. - **Smoke causes breathing problems.** - **Flames cause burns.** - **But look what happens when trees start to burn too.** It is harder to put the fire out now. - **Bushfires damage human homes.** ## How bushfires affect animals - This koala climbs in trees and eats leaves. - When there is a fire the koala loses its shelter and its food sources. - If it cannot run away, it may be injured or die. - After the fires are put out, new plants will grow. # Living things in danger Habitats may change and this can sometimes be dangerous for living things. Let's see what we can do about it. ## How human actions impact habitats - As the number of humans in the world increases, people want more land to grow crops. - They may need to build new homes, new factories and new roads. - Other living things may lose their habitats when humans want more land. - Some animals are endangered because humans want to take their horns or fur. ## The impact of deforestation on animals - The crops use up these minerals quickly. - Then more deforestation is done in another part of the forest. - Look how much forest has gone. - **What happens to all the birds that live there? They will lose their nests.** - When trees are cut down, animals do not have any shelter. - **They cannot hide from predators.** - They move to the trees that are left. When there are fewer trees, they may not find food. Many birds and other animals will die. ## Deforestation - **Deforestation means cutting down trees in forests.** - Deforestation describes humans cutting down and removing trees. - So it does not mean trees dying or burning in forest fires? - That is right. But sometimes humans do burn the trees instead of cutting them down. That is deforestation too. - This type of deforestation is called *slash and burn*. - The burnt trees add minerals to the soil so crops can grow. - Can you see green maize (corn) plants have been planted where the trees were? ## The picture shows two northern white rhinos. - The last two northern white rhinos are Najin and her daughter Fatu. - They are being protected by humans. - Can you think of any ways we can protect animals and their habitats? # Stems ## Plants need strong stems - Plants that grow in windy places need flexible stems or trunks… - …or very short stems. ## Plants that grow in aquatic habitats - Plants that grow in aquatic habitats can have very long, thin stems. - They are **supported** by the water, so will not bend in wind. - There are some pictures of plants on the next page. Predict their habitats. # Key words - Patterns - Similarities - Fleshy - Succulents - Flexible - Supported