Seasonal Adaptations: Plants

Seasonal Adaptations

Plants

Animals are not the only ones that adapt to changing seasons. Plants also have to adapt to the changing seasons in order to survive! Plants respond to seasonal changes with behaviors such as dormancy.

Plants

Dormancy is when plants temporarily stop growing. Unlike animals, plants cannot escape the harsh winter climates by migrating. Plants go into dormancy because there is a lack of sunlight, which they use for photosynthesis.

Dormancy

​During dormancy, some plants will stop growing, or grow very little. This helps the plant conserve, or save the little water they have during winter.

Dormancy

​Grass is an example of a plant that goes dormant in the winter. During the cold months, in colder regions grass may look brown and dead.

​Some plants even lose their leaves in order to survive the winter. The leaves will first change to brown, orange, red or yellow. Then fall off. This helps the plant to conserve energy.

Multiple Choice

What is are some characteristics of a dormant plant?

• Leaves fall off or change color, plant stores energy in roots

• New leaves grow, they produce CO2

• Leaves fall off, plant grows new leaves

• Leaves change color and create new energy

Multiple Choice

Why do some plants go dormant in the winter?

• They need to stay warm.

• They lose their leaves.

• They don't have to focus energy on providing leaves with food.

• They give their nutrients to the animals.

​How do plants survive without photosynthesis?

Some plants survive the winter by storing up food. Storing food helps plants survive when there is little or no sunlight during the winter months. Some plants store food in their roots or seeds and use it later when it is difficult to make its own food.

Subject | Subject

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Multiple Choice

How do plants produce food in the winter?

• They develop the adaptation of migration.

• Their leaves fall off.

• They use photosynthesis.

• They store food in their roots or seeds.