Question

When the seasons change and snow begins to fall, which type of leaf (maple or pine) is more stable?Why? a) Maple leaves are more stable because they are adapted to cold weather.

b) Pine leaves are more stable because they are adapted to cold weather.
c) Maple leaves are more stable because they retain water.
d) Pine leaves are more stable because they are evergreen.

Answer 1

Pine leaves are more stable when snow begins to fall because they are evergreen, and coniferous trees like pines have adaptations for long, cold winters. This includes keeping their needle-shaped leaves year-round, which are more energy-efficient and better-suited to the nutrient-limited boreal soil.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the seasons change and snow begins to fall, pine leaves are more stable. This is because pine trees are coniferous, evergreen trees that have developed adaptations to survive in cold weather. These trees keep their needle-shaped leaves year-round, which is crucial for their survival in boreal forest conditions where winters are long and cold. Their needle-like leaves require less energy from the sun to warm up compared to the broad leaves of deciduous trees like maples. Hence, pine trees can photosynthesize earlier in the spring than deciduous trees. Moreover, the soils in boreal forests are often acidic with limited available nitrogen. Since leaves contain nitrogen, the ability to retain them provides an advantage; deciduous trees must expend energy and nutrients to regrow leaves every year. Therefore, the correct option is d) Pine leaves are more stable because they are evergreen.