Explore how plant structures conserve scarce water, how cottontails manage desert heat and why an insect-trapping green plant has two modes of nutrition.
Convergent evolution increases similarities, despite differences in origins.
Describe adaptations that are typical of plants growing in hot deserts throughout the world.
a. wide-spreading roots
Marking guidance:
allow water collected from large area;
b. water storage tissue/thick leaves/stem survival during (long) droughts/periods without rainfall;
c. deep roots to collect water from greater depths/underground sources;
d. vertical stems to reduce exposure to sun at midday/heating when the sun is overhead/hottest OR pleated stems to allow shrinkage and reswelling/to store water;
e. few stomata transpiration reduced/minimizes;
f. waxy cuticle conserves water;
g. stomata open at night reduces transpiration;
h. no leaves/narrow leaves/leaves as spines/scales decreases surface area/reduces stomata/transpiration/water loss;
i. rolled leaves/hairs around stomata harness humidity/decrease water loss;
j. pitted/sunken stomata reduces transpiration/water loss;