Plants Zone
General Sherman Tree, in Sequoia National Park: Largest living organism in the world | Image: Wikipedia
Plants cover most of the world’s land surface, there are an estimated 400,000 species. Through a process called photosynthesis, plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to produce their own food, as well as releasing oxygen into the air which we need to breathe. Because of this they are vitally important to life on earth. They are also used for food, medicines and even homes for many animals.
In this zone is a scientist researching how to use plants as chemicals to make fuels, and another investigating whether driving cars is changing how plants smell. There’s a scientist trying to understand how pollinators, like bees and hoverflies, know when the seasons are changing. One scientist is working on projects funded by the government, including attempting to create plastic packaging from plants. Also in the zone is a researcher of trees, studying how climate change might change oak leaves in the future.