First organisms on Earth were fully aquatic. About 460 mya a lineage of algae moved onto land and gradually adapted to air and soil. Name two evolutionary problems that first land plants faced when transitioning from water to land?

Examples of physiological problems and the adaptations of plants: 

  1. Body support. As organisms in water face lower pressure than in air, algae did not need to have composite body parts. When moved onto land, plants developed roots to be secured in soil and stems to support their body weight. 
  2. Exposure to direct sunlight and higher O2 . Plants have to become more resistant to new external conditions and adapted their photosynthetic processes to harness more light and CO2. 

    Other adaptations: 
  • different medium for reproduction. Spores were now dispersed in air and not water. 
  • eggs were not dispersed at all and plants developed special organs to protect eggs.
  • sperms were dispersed through ground water
  •  later in evolutionary years plants developed flowers to be pollinated
    and so on. 

Answered by Ivana L. Science tutor

3873 Views

See similar Science GCSE tutors

Related Science GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A person touches a hot pan by accident and their hand automatically moves away. What type of response is this? Describe how the structures involved cause the response. (5 marks)


Which chamber of the human heart pumps blood towards the lungs?


what is the difference between conduction and convection?


What is the difference between Reverse osmosis and osmosis?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy