Factors affecting plants

Kim Lachler

2010NCES 6 L 2.2

Biotic vs. Abiotic

Biotic Living or once

living“Bio” – means

life Abiotic

Non living“A” – means

without

Biotic

They can have a positive affect or negative affect.

What do you think are biotic factors that affect plants?

Some are: Insects Birds Animals Fungi (mushrooms)

Insects Benefits

Help pollinate Examples:

Bees Butterflies

Provide nutrients: Example:

Fly for a venus fly trap

Provide protection: Example:

Lady bugs eat harmful insects

Harmful Eat the plant

Examples beatles

Birds

Benefits Spread seeds

Example: Blue Jays

Rid harmful insects Example:

Woodpecker

Harmful Cause damage

Example: Woodpecker

Rid helpful insects Example:

Barn swallow

Animals

Benefits: Spread seeds

Example: Squirrels

Fertilize Example:

Cows

Harmful: Causing damage

Examples: Humans Deer

Eating them Examples:

Humans Deer

Fungi

Benefit: Provide nutrients

Example: Mushrooms

breaking down dead wood into soil.

Harmful: Weaken healthy

plants Example:

Artist fungi

Abiotic

They also can have a positive affect or negative affect.

What do you think are abiotic factors that affect plants?

Some are: Water Air Sun light/Temperature Soil/nutrients

Water

1) Necessary for photosynthesis

2) Helps provide support

Air

1) Carbon dioxide need for photosynthesis

2) Oxygen for respiration

Sunlight/Temperature

Sunlight

1) Need for photosynthesis

Temperature

1) Affects absorption

Soil

1) Provides the necessary nutrients (minerals) to aid in overall health and chemical reactions.

2) Gives the roots support

3) Where the roots absorbs water

4) pH affects adaptations

pH

The concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution

Acidic Low pH A high hydrogen ion concentration.

Base High pH A low hydrogen ion concentration.

Neutral In the middle.

pH continue

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Some coping mechanisms

• Plants are not able to pick up and move

if conditions are not favorable.

• Plants can change the direction they are growing.

Examples: Phototropism - plants grow towards light

Gravitropism - plants grow upward

Thigmotropism – responding to touch

Coping mechanisms continued

• A temporary state of minimal activity or inactivity.• Usually as a response to poor growing conditions.

Examples: Winter dormancy - Deciduous trees loosing their leaves in

the fall.

Intense heat dormancy -Grass stop growing and conserve energy until conditions are better.

Bibliography

Plant Tropic Responses http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/movements/tropism/tropisms.html accessed 6/1/10

Decelles, Paul, The pH Scale http://staff.jccc.net/pdecell/chemistry/phscale.html accessed 6/1/10

Iannotti, Maria, Dormancy - What Does it Mean When a Plant Goes Dormant? http://gardening.about.com/od/seasonalgardening/g/Dormancy.htm accessed 6/1/10

The Mysterious Venus’ Flytrap http://www.botany.org/bsa/misc/carn.html accessed 6/1/10

Woodpecker http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodpecker accessed 6/1/10

Davis, Mark, Artist’s Fungi http://groups.google.com/group/backyard-nature/web/artists-fungi-ganoderma-applanatum accessed 6/1/10

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