question archive A very simple statement but one that has profound impact to human civilization
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A very simple statement but one that has profound impact to human civilization. You are free to explore the many ways plants and plant products have impacted our daily lives. The report is wide open as per your interpretation of the impacts. No need to include references, only do that if you decide to include a diagram or 2 (max,) remember to keep the report concise, you are not expected to cover every single aspect of the importance of plants, just pick 3-4 and discuss accordingly. I am looking for how you identify your aspect, how it impacts human lives. As a hint some students in the past decided to pick certain plant species and discuss their importance, others have focused on certain industries and relate specific plants or plant products as it relates to those industries, others have looked at the historical development of human civilization and key crops, others have looked at our diet and cultural diversity as it pertains to key plants and plant products. In general, do have fun with this question, it is very wide open and will allow you to explore aspects of plants or plant products and make that connection to you and me.
Plants are an essential resource for they are vital for life and long-term survival. People rely on plants for water, medicine, food, habitat, air, and control of climate and weather changes, which are all essential elements for the perpetuation of life.
The role of plants in controlling weather and climate/controlling the atmosphere
Vegetation covers around 20% of the Earth planet; therefore, it comes as no surprise that plants impact climate and weather (Trust, 2018). Plants process water vapour and release it (necessary for cloud formation) and emit and absorbs energy used to drive weather. Plants equally bring forth micro-weather via controlling the temperature and humidity immediately surrounding their leaves via transpiration. Equally, vegetation impacts climate stabilization over the years through offsetting moisture and temperature fluctuations via transpiration. Also, plants take up the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during photosynthesis, hence significantly aiding in the prevention of the build-up green-house gases which would otherwise worsen the present global warming.
Furthermore, plants maintain the atmosphere via absorbing carbon IV oxide in the atmosphere and producing oxygen, which is essential for cellular respiration for all aerobic organisms such as humans. The plants equally maintain the ozone layer, which aids in protecting life in the earth from harmful UV radiation.
The role of plants as a source of food and habitat
Plants provide food to almost all terrestrial organisms; we either consume plants or other organisms that eat plants. Plants offer fruits and vegetables, which are crucial sources of nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals for the man (Sarma, 2017). The nutrients are essential for normal metabolic activities hence vital to life. For example, maize, rice and wheat plants offer more than 50% of the global food intake. Plants are at the bottom of the food chain, for they convert inorganic molecules into organic matter, hence providing food for other organisms in the food chain.
Equally, plants serve as natural home/habitat for many animals, which in the absence of plants would fail to exist. Some of the animals that rely on plants for a habitat play a critical role in the ecosystem and some serve as a tourist attraction. Plants support the lives of worms, insects, and birds to other higher animals such as the monkeys. Hence, the destruction of plants should be avoided to limit species extinction
The role of plants in soil protection
Trees serve as an anchor to avoid land from shifting and to protect the soil (Trust, 2018). Trees aid in preventing soil erosion, which is the removal of the top layer of soil by agents such as water and wind, and also conserve water which can benefit the soil during drought. The plant roots hold soil particles in position hence limiting erosion effect. Also, plants improve soil quality via conserving soil moisture and adding nutrients to the soil. When plant leaves and other part fall off and decompose, they add nutrients to the soil. Equally, plants such as legumes play a significant role in nitrogen-fixation in the soil.