Final answer:
The statement about C-4 metabolism being exclusive to desert plants is false. C-4 metabolism is a photosynthetic strategy used by various plants, like corn, to increase water efficiency, especially in hot, dry conditions, but these plants are not necessarily desert dwellers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Plants that conduct C-4 metabolism are desert plants." is False. C-4 metabolism is not exclusive to desert plants.
While C4 metabolism is characteristic of some plants living in arid conditions, not all plants that use C4 metabolism are desert plants. For example, corn is a well-known C4 plant but is not a desert plant. C4 photosynthesis is an adaptation that allows plants to concentrate CO₂ in separate compartments, reducing water loss in hot, bright climates. This is different from CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plants, like cacti and succulents, which fix CO₂ only at night to avoid water loss. C4 plants, in contrast, can open their stomata during the day to capture CO₂ while conserving water by closing them for part of the day.
This mechanism improves water efficiency and carbon fixation in conditions that would challenge C3 photosynthesis, which is employed by plants like maple trees. Thus, while C4 metabolism is a strategic adaptation for many plants in dry conditions, it is not a defining characteristic of desert plants alone.