Seed Plants All seed plants are made of plant cells. Seed plants, also called spermatophytes, include gymnosperms and angiosperms. Gymnosperms, or organisms that produce naked seeds on cones or modified cones, include such conifers as the pine and hemlock, as well as the ginkgo tree, ephedra...
Some types of organisms originated through endosymbiosis, the engulfing of one organism by another so that a part of the former becomes a functioning part of the latter . An unusual nucleomorph, a structure that contains DNA and resembles a cell nucleus, has been discovered within a plant known...
Lichen, any of about 15,000 species of plantlike organisms that consist of a symbiotic association of algae (usually green) or cyanobacteria and fungi. They are found worldwide and occur in a variety of environmental conditions. Learn about lichen biolog
The best-known group of photosynthesizing creatures, plants act as an important part of the world's ecosystem. Many aquatic and terrestrial animals use plant species as food, and large environments formed of plants contribute oxygen to the Earth's atmosphere – the Amazon rainforests create around...
The biology of Drosophila in its natural habitats is not well known. The larvae of some species live in rotting or damaged fruits. In these species the adults are strongly attracted to, and feed on, fermenting plant juices. In other species the larvae develop in fungi or in fleshy flowers...
There are three different types of ecosystems: natural ecosystems, man-made ecosystems, and micro-ecosystems. This article describes the characteristics of an ecosystem, subcategories for each type of ecosystem, and examples with illustrations.
Recent studies illustrate the emerging field of restoration genetics, which is a synthesis of restoration ecology and population genetics. The translocation of organisms during the restoration of native ecosystems has provoked new questions concerning the consequences of sampling protocols and of intraspecific...
Recent studies illustrate the emerging field of restoration genetics, which is a synthesis of restoration ecology and population genetics. The translocation of organisms during the restoration of native ecosystems has provoked new questions concerning the consequences of sampling protocols and of ...
What is a plant cell? Learn the components of a plant cell, the parts of a plant cell and their functions, types of plant cells, and a plant cell...