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C4 plants occurs more commonly in desert conditions because?

2 Answers

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Final answer:

C4 plants occur more commonly in desert conditions because they have evolved adaptations to conserve water and have a more efficient use of CO2. Some desert plants, like cacti, can fix CO2 at night to avoid water loss during the day.

Step-by-step explanation:

Desert conditions favor the presence of C4 plants because they have evolved adaptations to conserve water. In the harsh desert environment, water is scarce and every drop must be conserved for survival. C4 plants have a more efficient use of CO2, allowing them to adapt to living with less water. Some desert plants, such as cacti, can even fix CO2 at night to avoid water loss during the day. These adaptations help C4 plants thrive in desert conditions.

User Jjmontes
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C4 plants occur more commonly in desert conditions because they do not have to keep their stomata open as long. C4 plants use their four-carbon sugar to store more carbon dioxide when the stomata are open at night. Then photosynthesis can happen during the daytime as usual, but the plants are able to keep their stomata closed against the dry heat. This prevents excess water from being lost, and allows the plant to live in extremely dry, hot conditions. In addition, C4 plants need more energy to complete the cellular respiration process, so they are better suited for climates with a lot of sunlight.
User Scott Simontis
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