Final answer:
Plants need to uptake more carbon dioxide during the day than they release at night in order to perform photosynthesis and produce essential compounds. By taking in carbon dioxide during the day and closing their stomata at night, plants can optimize their energy production and water-use efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plants need to uptake more carbon dioxide during the day than they release at night because they use carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis to produce sugars and other essential compounds. During the day, plants have access to sunlight, which they use as an energy source to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen through photosynthesis.
The glucose produced is utilized by the plant for energy and growth. It is stored as starch or used to build other important molecules. At night, when there is no sunlight, plants cannot perform photosynthesis, so there is no need for them to take in carbon dioxide.
Additionally, plants close their stomata, small openings on the surface of leaves that allow the exchange of gases, including carbon dioxide, during the night. This helps to conserve water and prevent excessive transpiration in situations where water is limited. By having a higher intake of carbon dioxide during the day and lower release at night, plants can optimize their energy production and water-use efficiency.