What special adaptations must plants and animals have to live in dry regions?

Answer 1

Plants which are adapted to living in dry conditions are called xerophytes. Morphological features which adapt them to dry conditions are called xeromorphic features. Adaptations to dry conditions include: 1) Features which reduce water loss * a thick, waxy, waterproof cuticle (which reduces evaporation) * a reduced number of stomata (pores through which water vapour is lost) * stomata sunken into pits (where moist air is trapped) * stomata which open at night instead of during the day (when it is cooler) * hairs on the surface (which trap a layer of moist air next to the surface) * a reduced surface area (eg spines instead of leaves in cacti) * curled up leaves (which trap moist air inside the curl) 2) Features which increase water uptake * a deep root system (to reach water deep below the surface) * a spreading, shallow root system (to absorb rainfall rapidly) 3) Features which store water * succulent tissues (cells which can store large amounts of water) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerophyte

Answer 2

Plants adapt to dry conditions in a variety of ways, but many respond to dry conditions by storing large quantities of water, which can be used in times of need. For example, cactuses store water in their trunks and stems, while aloe plants store water in their leaves. Additionally, plants that live in dry areas often evolve thick outer cuticles that can help retard the rate of water loss.

Some plants will discard their leaves when the humidity level drops or a drought occurs. When the rains return, the plant will produce more leaves and regain its vigor. This is similar to the annual leaf drop that accompanies some deciduous plants. Contrary to popular thought, deciduous plants drop their leaves in the winter as a response to the lack of water, not the reduced temperatures.

Tree and plant leaves often have small holes on their lower surfaces, called stoma. These openings allow water to escape into the atmosphere, in a process known as transpiration. The reason that plants function this way is to draw water up from the roots. As the water evaporates from the leaves, it creates a suction effect, which draws the water from the ground via the roots.

By their roots stretching out far and wide for water once they do they suck it dry the roots keeps on searching for more and more.

In dry environments, plants keep their stomata closed to limit water loss

yet they must open their stomata to exchange gases with the environment.

In dry environments, there is a also a physical increase in evaporation.

Plants heat up faster and need to open their stomata to cool off.

Plants deal with a dry environment in the following ways:

·Time their growth season to match the rainy season.

·Accumulate solutes in the cell (by changing their osmotic potential).

This way a plant improves its ability to pull water from the ground/soil.

·Develop a waxy cuticle

·Regulate stomata openings so that they open at night

(These plants are called CAM plants).

·Temporarily reduce the surface area of their leaves

Corn plants do this. This reduces the rate of evaporation.

·Only produce leaves during periods of heavy rain.

·Change leaf orientation to reduce evaporation.

·Store water succulents.

*Also, different root systems enable a plant to adapt to dry environments.

Deep tap roots are useful for collecting lots of water deep in the earth.

A dense, shallow root system is useful when there is heavy competition among plants.

Answer 3

Well, they are adapted to dry land when they are sproutlings; so they learn to produce natural sugars using carbon dioxide, and the natural nutrients from sunlight to use in substitute for the lack of water in the area. They can survive off of photosynthesis in places like the desert or Arizona, etc.

Answer 4

Very long roots, but there is one pertinent adaption that outranks all others. The plant preforms the light independent/ reactions in the daylight and has it stomata closed during the day when water loss is great and takes in CO2 at night.

Answer 5

The special adaptations that plants and animals have to live with a vascular system, which keeps water stored. When there are heavy rainfalls, the plant can store all of the water.

Answer 6

how do plants survive in dry or wet places?

Answer 7

Adaption help by making the plant live in their environment. For example say a cactus was living in Antarctica. It would not make an adaption to the environment because it is too cold.

Answer 8

Many plants are, the best known one probably being the cactus.