Plants in extreme environments

Plants in extreme environments

Deciduous trees

• During autumn they remove the chlorophyll from their leaves

• The leaves then drop, so by winter there are no more on the tree

• In spring the leaves grow back so that they are ready to photosynthesis in the summer

Multiple Select

Which options below suggest why deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn.

• To ensure that they can grow during winter months and prepare for spring.

• In the winter water is frozen, so it prevents water loss via transpiration.

• Its too cold for photosynthesis to happen in the winter so no need for leaves.

• Because the cold weather reacts with the chlorophyll pigments destroying them.

Conifers

• They have needle-shaped leaves. This reduced their surface area and prevents water loss.

• They have thick cuticle to reduce water loss by evaporation.

Multiple Choice

Which feature of a conifers leaves does not help to reduce water loss?

• Thick cuticle

• Large surface area

• Small surface area

Multiple Select

Which adaptation of cacti was not on the previous image?

• Small surface area minimises evaporation

• Leaves instead of spines

• Widespread root system

• Stems that can store water