Angiosperms (flowering plants) and vertebrates obtain nutrients from their environment in different ways. a. Discuss the type of nutrition and the nutritional requirements of angiosperms and vertebrates. b. Describe 2 structural adaptations in angiosperms for obtaining nutrients from the environment. Relate structure to function. c. Interdependence in nature is evident in symbiosis. Explain two symbiotic relationships that aid in nutrient uptake, using examples from angiosperms and/or vertebrates. (Both examples may be angiosperms, both may be vertebrates, or one may be from each group.)

a. Angiosperm are plants (autotrophs) that use photosynthesis to produce their own food, while vertebrates are animals (heterotrophs) that obtain their food from other organisms. Vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.

b. Adaptations in angiosperms include two reproductive structures 1- fruits (ovaries), whose main function is to disperse the seeds and 2- flowers that ensure pollination and protect the embryo sac during its formation.

c . Examples:

1- The mycorrhizal symbiosis between plant roots and symbiotic fungi plays a key role in nutrient uptake from the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal is a type of symbiosis where a fungus of the phylum Glomeromycota penetrates the cortical root cells of vascular plants to produce specialized structures named arbuscules.

2- Microflora in the vertebrate digestive tract. The microorganisms that live in the digestive tract of vertebrate species are beneficial for the absorption of nutrients. For example, in humans, Saccharomyces boulardii has shown to have a probiotic effect by increasing intestinal homeostasis, thereby enhancing nutrient uptake.