Final answer:
The statement suggesting that plants in shade have higher respiration rates is false; respiration occurs continuously but photosynthesis is reduced in shaded plants, potentially leading to a negative energy balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that plants growing in shade have a higher rate of leaf respiration than plants growing in sunlight is false. Respiration is a process that occurs continuously in plants, both day and night. However, plants growing in the shade will typically have a lower rate of photosynthesis due to less available light, which impacts their energy balance. Gross photosynthesis is reduced in shaded conditions, meaning that a plant's net photosynthesis could become negative if the energy costs of maintaining the leaf (respiration) exceed the energy gained through photosynthesis. In such cases, a plant may shed leaves to minimize energy losses. Hence, while respiration rates are constant, photosynthesis rates are what change significantly based on light availability.