Final Flashcards
Enviromental Factor:
Light
A form of electromagnetic radiation
-radiant energy
Light quality
determined by type of wavelengths
(shorter the wavelength the higher the energy)
Photosynthesis is driven by specific wavelengths of light
roughly equivalent to visible light (red thru violet)
- long wavelengths do not excite chlorophyll (e.g. infrared light)
- short lengths can break molecular bonds (e.g. ultraviolet light)
Light-Quality:
Intensity
of photons per unit area per unit time
Light- Quality:
Duration
length of time light is recieved
Light Intensity
Sunlight is more intense near the equator, and less intense the the closer you get to the poles. Also affected by cloud cover and elevation (higher latitude more change).
(more angle= less intensity)
Light Duration
Days are longer in the summer than in the winter.
Change in day length is greater near the poles and very small at the equator.
Total Radiation =
daylength x intensity
Rate of Photosynthesis
Increases with increasing light intensity but species differ in their adaption to light level.
Non-photosynthetic reactions are…
- flowering due to photo-period
- seed dormancy
- etiolation
Non-photosynthetic reactions are…
- flowering due to photo-period
- seed dormancy
- etiolation-competition for sun- marshal energy to elongation to reach the sun
Responses to light
- phototropism
- stomatal opening
- sleep movements
Water
water availability is one of the key indicators of plant species adaption to a region
Water Funtions
- solvent of plant chemistry
- turgor -the pressure applied to have enough water in the plant
- transport (nutrients and sugars)
- cooling/ temperature buffer
- reactant/ source of H and O
Water Properties
Cohesion- attraction of like molecules to one another
In Xylem- water molecules move in units
Water Properties
Diffusion- movement of a substance from high concentration of low concentration by random motion
Water Properties
Osmosis- diffusion of a liquid across a selectively permeable membrane until the concentration of the fluid is equal on both sides of the membrane
(water has random molecular motions)
Osmosis
the ratio and the solute molecules is the same on both sides of the membrane -osmosis balances the number of water and solute molecules, regardless of size or weight
Water Potential
tendency of water molecules to move
- diffuse
- evaporate
- be absorbed
Water Potential
expressed in terms of pressure
- positive values indicate push
- negative values indicate suction
Water Potential
water moves from higher potential to lower potential ie. \+3 to +1 \+1 to -1 -2 to -4
Plant water potential
Composed of osmotic and pressure components
Osmotic Potential
the portion of water actively constrained by interaction with dissolved substances -potentials are negative (a tension or pull on water)
Pressure Potential
the portion of water actively contributed by compression of stretch surfaces- pressure potentials are positive (a pressure or a push on water)
In cells due to positive push of cell wall and negative xylem due to the pull of the atmosphere.
Water Potential
water potential at any point in the plant is the algabreic sum of it’s components.
ie. (-4)+(+2)= -2
Water Potential
water potential at any point in the plant is the algabreic sum of it’s components.
ie. (-4)+(+2)= -2
Water Potential = osmotic potential + pressure potential
Homeostasis
maintanence of a constant physical and chemical environment within an organism
Transpiration
release of water vapor through the stomata
-water pulled from the plant by atmospheric demand and the plant can only control the opening, the stomata, not the pull
Evapotranspiration
a loss of soil moisture to the atmosphere by transpiration and evaporation
Potential of Evapotranspiration
-measure of atmospheric demand
Demand increases with:
- lower moisture content in air
- higher air temp.
- higher wind speed