Question
Use the information about surviving in desert landscapes and your knowledge of science to answer the questions.
Surviving in Desert Landscapes
An elephant tree is a type of tree that thrives in a desert climate. This tree has adapted over several years to survive in areas with little water, intense sunlight, and temperature extremes. Figure 1 shows an elephant tree in its natural desert habitat.
When it rains in the desert, the water quickly evaporates. Many desert plants have specialized structures that allow the plants to take in as much water as possible from the ground before the water is lost to evaporation. Their roots spread out near the surface of the soil to more efficiently collect water. On the rare occasions when it rains, plants like the elephant tree are also able to store water in their trunks and branches.
Another characteristic of some desert plants like the elephant tree is that they only open their leaf pores, or stomata, at night to allow an exchange of gases with the atmosphere. The plants store the gases absorbed at night until the next day's sunlight makes it possible for photosynthesis to occur In seasons when the elephant tree has lost its leaves, the tree can still photosynthesize in the outer layer of its bark.
Which adaptation to a dry climate most helps the elephant tree continue to grow by reducing the loss of moisture?
A
a deep root system
B
loss of leaves during a drought
C
photosynthesis in the bark
D
closing of stomata in daylight
Surviving in Desert Landscapes
An elephant tree is a type of tree that thrives in a desert climate. This tree has adapted over several years to survive in areas with little water, intense sunlight, and temperature extremes. Figure 1 shows an elephant tree in its natural desert habitat.
When it rains in the desert, the water quickly evaporates. Many desert plants have specialized structures that allow the plants to take in as much water as possible from the ground before the water is lost to evaporation. Their roots spread out near the surface of the soil to more efficiently collect water. On the rare occasions when it rains, plants like the elephant tree are also able to store water in their trunks and branches.
Another characteristic of some desert plants like the elephant tree is that they only open their leaf pores, or stomata, at night to allow an exchange of gases with the atmosphere. The plants store the gases absorbed at night until the next day's sunlight makes it possible for photosynthesis to occur In seasons when the elephant tree has lost its leaves, the tree can still photosynthesize in the outer layer of its bark.
Which adaptation to a dry climate most helps the elephant tree continue to grow by reducing the loss of moisture?
A
a deep root system
B
loss of leaves during a drought
C
photosynthesis in the bark
D
closing of stomata in daylight
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The adaptation to a dry climate that most helps the elephant tree continue to grow by reducing the loss of moisture is:
**D. closing of stomata in daylight**
By closing its stomata during the day, the elephant tree minimizes water loss due to evaporation, allowing it to retain moisture in the dry desert environment. This adaptation is particularly crucial in desert climates where water conservation is essential for survival.
**D. closing of stomata in daylight**
By closing its stomata during the day, the elephant tree minimizes water loss due to evaporation, allowing it to retain moisture in the dry desert environment. This adaptation is particularly crucial in desert climates where water conservation is essential for survival.