How Plants Colonized Land — Evolution, Adaptations, and Early Plant Diversity Explained | Chapter 29 of Campbell Biology
How Plants Colonized Land — Evolution, Adaptations, and Early Plant Diversity Explained | Chapter 29 of Campbell Biology Welcome to Last Minute Lecture! In this summary of Chapter 29 from Campbell Biology , we explore one of the most profound evolutionary leaps: the colonization of land by plants. This chapter details how ancient green algae gave rise to the first land plants, what adaptations made terrestrial life possible, and how bryophytes and early vascular plants shaped Earth's ecosystems. Watch the full podcast summary here . From Green Algae to Forests: The Evolution of Land Plants Land plants evolved from charophyte green algae about 470 million years ago, sharing important traits like cellulose-synthesizing complexes and flagellated sperm. The move to land presented new challenges—desiccation, nutrient uptake, and structural support—that drove the evolution of specialized plant adaptations. Alternation of Generations: Plant life cycles alternate between ...