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Plants, even the flytrap, cannot be predators. Predators
actively hunt their prey. The flytrap has a dual role. It
has chlorophyll but can be a carnivorous pant as well. So,
it is not a predator but can act in the niche of carnivore.
Predators are animals. By extension, predators can be
carnivores or omnivores, as is the case of certain bears
which eat berries as well as hunt and eat prey. They cannot
be herbivores. Similarly, prey, by definition can be any
niche that an animal can fit into: prey can be a herbivore
(rabbit, except the famous cave rabbit in Monty Python and
the Holy Grail), but it can also be an omnivore (man), or
a=even a carnivore (smaller cat prey for a larger cat)
Marty
On Aug 8, 2011, at 7:39 PM, R. McDermott wrote:
I don't think I've ever heard the term "predator" appliedto flora before.
Carnivore/insectivore certainly. It seems to me that adegree of mobility
denied to flora is required for something to be classed as"predator", but
I'm not sure that there is a codified definition of the term.Behalf Of John Clement
-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 6:40 PMportion of NCLB
To: 'Forum for Physics Educators'
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Pres. Obama to eliminate testing
living things to
The definition would seem to be something that kills other
eat them. A mushroom is classified as a detrivore becauseit feeds on
detrius or things that are already dead. I would assume aVenus flytrap is
considered a carnivorous plant. A herbivore eats parts ofplants, but the
plants usually regrow. A mushroom is by no stretch of theimagination a
carnivore. The definition of carnivore is probablytraditionally a living
thing that eats living animals, but it may have beenextended. These sorts
of definitions can be slippery.definitions, some of which
Yes, a lot of the tests are just using memorized
are ambiguous. If you are an MD and need to ask the nursefor a scalpel,
you can not ask for the whatchamacallit, but some of thisstuff is just
naming mania and does not develop better thinking.portion of NCLB
John M. Clement
Houston, TX
-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf
Of chuck britton
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 4:55 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Pres. Obama to eliminate testing
grow near here.
As one who is totally unschooled in the biological sciences I
have to ask:
Can any plant be classified as a predator, or does the definition
preclude that?
I've always been fascinated by the Venus Flytraps that
a predator".
So much science testing seems to be based on somewhat
arbitrary definitions.
.
At 4:03 PM -0500 8/8/11, John Clement wrote:
And of course there is the problem of stupid questions. Thestate tests are
full of them. The most memorable questions that I recentlydiscovered is
the following:
On a biology question the answer was that "a mushroom is
This example was
One wonders who they get to write and check the questions.
supplied to me by a biology teacher who was aghast at it._______________________________________________
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Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
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_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
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