Question

The Mediterranean landscape along the sea shore is dotted with pines and cypresses. The weather is not cold, and the trees grow at sea level. What evolutionary adaptation of conifers makes them suitable to the Mediterranean climate?

a) Coniferous trees have deep root systems that access groundwater.
b) Conifers have evolved to survive in salty soils along the shore.
c) Conifers possess thick, waxy leaves that conserve water in dry conditions.
d) Conifers can tolerate fluctuating temperatures characteristic of the region.

Answer 1

The adaptation that enables conifers to thrive in the Mediterranean climate is their thick, waxy, needle-shaped leaves that conserve water.

Step-by-step explanation:

The evolutionary adaptation of conifers that makes them suitable to the Mediterranean climate is that they possess thick, waxy leaves that conserve water in dry conditions. This trait is typified by needle-shaped leaves with sunken stomata, both of which help to significantly reduce water loss. These adaptations enable conifers such as pines and cypresses to thrive in areas where water might be scarce, like the Mediterranean, which often has long, dry summers.