Consider the following statements about ‘sea grasses’: They are onl...
Explanation:
The correct answer is option A, which means that statements 1 and 2 are correct while statement 3 is incorrect.
1. They are only flowering plants which grow in marine environments:
This statement is correct. Sea grasses are a group of flowering plants that are specifically adapted to marine environments. They are commonly found in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and lagoons around the world. Unlike seaweeds, which are algae, sea grasses have true roots, stems, and leaves.
2. They have evolved from terrestrial plants:
This statement is also correct. Sea grasses are believed to have evolved from terrestrial (land-dwelling) plants that adapted to living in saltwater environments. They are thought to have made the transition to marine environments around 70-100 million years ago. Through evolution, they developed unique characteristics that allowed them to survive in the challenging conditions of the ocean.
3. They do not indulge in photosynthesis:
This statement is incorrect. Sea grasses, like other plants, are capable of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce energy-rich sugars and release oxygen. Sea grasses have specialized adaptations that allow them to carry out photosynthesis in a marine environment. They have thin, ribbon-like leaves that maximize light absorption, and they can tolerate high levels of salinity and wave action.
In conclusion, sea grasses are indeed flowering plants that have evolved from terrestrial plants to thrive in marine environments. They are capable of photosynthesis, which is essential for their survival and growth. Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 2, and the correct answer is option A.
Consider the following statements about ‘sea grasses’: They are onl...
- Seagrasses are the only flowering plants which grow in marine environments. Seagrasses have evolved from the terrestrial plants, which recolonised the ocean 70 to 100 million years ago.
- The name seagrass stems from the many species with long and narrow leaves, which grow by rhizome extension and often spread across large "meadows" resembling grassland; many species superficially resemble the terrestrial grasses of the family Poaceae.
- Like all autotrophic plants, seagrasses photosynthesize in the submerged photic zone, and most occur in shallow and sheltered coastal waters anchored in sand or mud bottoms.
- Seagrasses are underwater plants that evolved from the land plants. They are like terrestrial plants in that they have leaves, flowers, seeds, roots and connective tissues, and they make their food through photosynthesis.
- Unlike terrestrial plants, however, they do not have strong stems to hold themselves up – instead they are supported by the buoyancy of the water that surrounds them.
- Seagrasses are a very important food source and habitat for the wildlife, supporting a diverse community of organisms, including fish, octopuses, sea turtles, shrimps, blue crabs, oysters, sponges, sea urchins, anemones, clams and squids. Seagrasses have been called “the lungs of the sea”, because they release oxygen into the water through the process of photosynthesis.
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