The question is: Which evolutionary adaptations helped plants survive and spread on land? This article will discuss the key traits and differences among plant groups. In doing so, we will also consider the role of different reproductive strategies. Here are some examples of plant reproductive strategies. During the Triassic Period, angiosperms expanded in number, as did the diversity of insects that pollinate them. The development of seeds and pollen, which allowed plants to survive in dry environments and reproduce in water-scarce environments, also helped increase their diversity.
The first land plants likely evolved from aquatic Pteridophytes and green algae. Their ability to absorb nutrients from soil allowed them to survive on the land. The seeds they produced protected embryos and ensured their survival and spread throughout the land. Many plants today produce seeds that are dispersed by animals. This allows them to spread and thrive on the land. However, their evolution didn’t end there.
Moreover, beneficial mutations are relatively rare and only provide a minor benefit. The process of natural selection accumulates these beneficial traits in a population. This process is also called “improbability concentrator.” Natural selection affects a population’s fitness by altering the proportion of beneficial traits to harmful ones. The direction of this adaptive change depends on the environment. In plants, this mechanism has the most dramatic impact on plant survival.
Plants were first to colonize land. They were closely related to bryophytes. Some fossils place them at around 350 million years ago. Then, a new plant group called gymnosperms appeared, the Gymnospermata. The first gymnosperms were fern-like and produced wood as a secondary growth of vascular tissues. Progymnosperms reproduced through spores and dispersed the seeds into the environment. These plants were dominant in certain ecosystems and exhibited the greatest diversity.
Many students fail to understand natural selection. Though it is simple and has a clear mechanism, it is difficult to separate the origin of a new variation from the effect of natural selection. The myths around adaptation are often interrelated. Understanding this phenomenon requires a detailed discussion on natural selection and the role played by variation. It’s important to note that natural selection does not favor the same traits in different species.
The evolution of humans is also supported by the fossil record. The fossil record supports the evolution of hominins over a long time period with increasing environmental variability. They possessed the capacity for tool-making, upright walking, and the ability to survive in different habitats. Their evolution included the ability to make tools and complex mental and social behavior. The fossil record of hominins reflects this fact.