Lecture 4: Physiological ecology: plants Flashcards
what do plants need in order to start photosynthesis
light, carbon dioxide, water
what is the carbon balance in photosynthesis?
plants need to acquire more carbon dioxide in photosynthesis than they give off in respiration
what is transpiration?
plants losing water through their stomata
what is net primary productitivity?
carbon being gained in photosynthesis and lost in respiration
trade off between water conservation and growth
closing stomate prevents water loss
also shuts off gas exchange meaning photosynthesis can not occur
puts that plant at risk for over heating
stomata
plants lose water though transpiration and gas exchange through this hole
how different environments select on leaf size and shape
in the tropics the leafs are big because they like the warm and wet whether and store water during the dry periods
use the water they trap to do transpiration in the day time so they do not overheat
in the dessert leaves are tiny because the climate is hot and dry
having small leaves prevents moisture loss and overheating because there is less leaf exposed to the sun
microphyll
plants with small leaves
simple venation
small gaps between leaves
root foraging
plants mine the soil for nutrients
deciduousness
plants drop their leaves in dry or cold weather because the plants needs more water than there is available
convergent evolution
process by which unrelated or distantly related organisms evolve similar body forms, coloration, organs, and adaptations because they occupy similar ecological niches
epiphyte? downside
plants that grow on trees
since there roots do not touch the ground, they are unable to get nutrients and water from the soil causing water and nutrient deprivation
