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| Example Bryophytes |
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| Example 2 - Bryophytes |
The majority of bryophytes are too small to be seen by the unaided eye, but a simple lens with ten times magnification open up a whole new world of remarkable diversity and beauty. A compound microscope is required for identification of all the different species, but is unnecessary in order to gain appreciation for the range of species and basic lifestyles of many bryophytes. In appearance, mosses and liverworts are all small, green plant usually no more than a few centimeters long. These plants consist of either a leafy stern o a flat, ribbon-like body called thallus. They are anchored to the soil by long, thread-like rhizoid instead of true roots.
There are two kind reproduction of bryophytes, asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. Mosses can readily reproduce vegetative from broken off fragments, wind disturbance or a bird collecting nesting materials are two of the many agencies which can transport pieces of bryophytes over moderate distance.
A disadvantage of vegetative, as opposed to sexual reproduction is that because the offspring are identical to the parent, adaptive genetic evolution to changing circumstances of climate or habitat is precluded. To overcome such drawback, bryophytes may also reproduce sexually. This process known as an alteration of generations, includes two generations of plants; a sporophyte phase which produces spores and a gametophyte phase, which produces male and female sex cells (gametes). In bryophytes, the gamethophyte generation which develops from asexual spores, is dominant, while the sporophyte generation is reduced. In this way the bryophytes resemble simple green algae.
Bryophytes have limited size and prefer moist habitat, but this plant can survive in drier environment. Bryophytes consist of about 20.000 plant species. Bryophytes can produce enclosed reproductive structure but this plant don't produce flowers and seeds. Bryophytes develop with produce spores so this plant can spread very fast.
Bryophytes can found in many habitats, can growing in range or temperature. Bryophyte can survive in vascularized while other plant can’t, because they don’t need root to take nutrient from soil. Bryophyte can survive in rocks environment.
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