AP Bio Summer Assignment: August 2024

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Basiodiomycete

Basiodiomycete are fungi that do not produce asexually but sexually. It does this through cells using the club shape that it always has. You can tell that the fungi above is Basiodiomycete because it has this same club shape.

Hydrophobic

If something is hydrophobic that means it repels water. Oil like in the picture is a good example of this as oil and water will always separate and never mix because the oil is hydrophobic.

Monday, August 12, 2024

Modified Stem of a Plant

A plant stem has many functions and, in some cases, its modified to be able to do even more. Like this Rose stem which has thorns on it to protect the plant from getting eaten by animals.

Seed Dispersal

Seed dispersal is when the seeds of a plant are taken from one place and spread out through other places to root. This picture shows the seeds of a dandelion which have been blow away or dispersed by the wind.

Mutualism

Mutualism is a relationship between two things where they both benefit. Like with butterflies and flowers in the picture where the butterflies get food from the flowers and the flowers have the pollen spread so they can reproduce.

Gametophyte

A gametophyte is the haploid phase of the life cycle in plants which produces gametes through mitosis. You can see this happening like in the picture on certain mosses where the cells stick up out of the moss while developing.

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is when an organism goes through mitosis and create a genetically identical copy of itself in order to reproduce. This form of reproduction is common in fungi like the mushroom in the picture.

Pollinator

A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male to female parts of a flower allowing for fertilization. Bees like in the photo are one of the best pollinators as they have a fur like chest that picks up pollen while they are collecting nectar in the flowers.

Endotherm

An endotherm is an organism mostly animals that maintains its body temperature through the internally systems and functions that produce heat energy. Like the cat in the picture whose body temperature is stable due to its metabolism.

Commensalism

Commensalism is the relationship between two things where one benefits and the other is not affected. Like the relationship in the photo of a bird building its nest in a bush the bird gets some shelter and a place to lay its eggs while nothing good or bad happens to the bush.

Heterotroph

A Heterotroph is an organism that can't produce its own food and has to rely on another organism for its food. Animals are the main example of this like the dog in the photo which has to seek food through other animals or plants.

Autotroph

An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food without having to rely on another organism for its food. Plants are the main example of this like the plant in the photo which can fuel its growth entirely through the process of photosynthesis within its system.

Analogous Structures

Analogous Structures are structures found in many different animals or plants that serve the same purpose. Wings are a really good example of this like in the picture a dragonfly has wings just like a bird and while the wings don't look the exact same, they do the same thing.

Modified Leaf of a Plant

A plant leaf can do many things and, in some cases, its modified to perform more functions. Like with the Venus Fly Trap shown the leaf is tube shaped with a top lead that closes shutting flies in. These flies help the plant makeup for a nitrogen deficiency therefor keeping the plant alive.

Long Day Plant

A long day plant is a plant that requires extended sunlight to trigger the process of flowering. Hibiscus flowers are shown in the picture one is already open and the other one is about to open as they are long day plant.

Gymnosperm Leaf

Gymnosperm plants do not flower but produce cones and seeds, The gymnosperm leaves are waxy and needle like which reduces water loss and helps snow slide off easily. This picture shows the leaves of a pine tree which are commonly called pine needles.

Gymnosperm Cone

Gymnosperm plants do not flower but produce cones and seeds, The gymnosperm cones produced can be male or female and both contain the necessary gametes for fertilization. This shows a gymnosperm cone on a pine tree.

Frond

A frond is a large, divided leaf which looks feather like, and is common among ferns. The picture shows a sensitive fern that has large, divided leaves which is a frond.

Exoskeleton

An exoskeleton is an external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals. It acts as structural support for the animal and protection. This picture shows the exoskeleton of a cicada which sheds its exoskeleton after maturing.

Endosperm

Endosperm is the part of a seed that acts as a food store for a developing plant embryo. This usually contains starch, proteins, and other nutrients and is found under a protective layer of the seed. The picture depicts a sunflower the head of this sunflower is filled with tons of seeds and endosperm.

CAM Plant

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism or CAM is a type of carbon fixing developed by plants that live in extreme dry conditions. The photo above shows aloe which is a succulent that lives in a very dry climate and has to use CAM to photosynthesis.

C3 Plant

In the beginning of photosynthesis, a plant that is categorized as C3 fixes the carbon dioxide into a molecule containing three carbon atoms. The photo above shows the leaves of a White Oak which is categorized as a C3 plant.

C4 Plant

In the beginning of photosynthesis, a plant that is categorized as C4 fixes the carbon dioxide into a molecule containing four carbon atoms. In the photo above there is a type of grass which is categorized as a C4 plant.

Anther and Filament of Stamen

The Stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower. The main parts within this organ are the Anther where pollen is produced it is two lobes containing pollen sacs and the Filament which is the stem like thing that supports the Anther. In this flower the things in the middle are the stamen and you can see the two distinct parts of the system.

Adaptation of a Plant

An adaptation is kind of change that makes a plant better suited to its environment. The adaptation of the plant above is the spikes. These helps protect the cacti from any desert animals that may try to eat it for hydration.