BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Ecophysiology, Photosynthesis, Evaporative Cooler
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Like animals, plants are extraordinarily diverse in form and function. Photosynthetic structures embody adaptation to environmental stresses: photosynthetic (green) structures are usually leaves (but can be stems, plants take in co2 through stomata, but also lose water through stomata (singular stoma) Plants with large leaves also combat overheating by: growing in shady habitats, evaporative cooling by opening stomata. Evaporative cooling needs plentiful water not always available. Plants with large leaves combat water loss by: closing stomata , but that shuts o all gas exchange, including co2 input, so photosynthesis shuts down. Plant stops growing : and risks overheating & tissue damage, therefore, fundamental trade-o between water conservation and rapid growth, consequences most obvious in desert plants. Keeping cool while conserving water : sonoran desert, arizona. As little as ~75mm a year of rain. Summer temperatures often over 40 c and can reach 48 c.
