Question

Plants make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. To do this, they need energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide from the air, and water and other nutrients from their roots.

Carbon dioxide enters the plant through tiny openings on the underside of leaves known as stomata. However, whenever the plant opens its stomata to let carbon dioxide in, it also releases water vapor into the atmosphere. This latter process is known as transpiration.

Under which of the following environmental conditions would you expect the stomata to be closed more often than they are open?

Answer 1

Under conditions where water is scarce, plants would close their stomata more often than they open them to conserve water and reduce transpiration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Stomata are tiny openings on the underside of leaves that allow carbon dioxide to enter the plant for photosynthesis. However, when stomata are open, water vapor is also released into the atmosphere, causing transpiration. Stomata open and close in response to environmental cues such as light intensity, leaf water status, and carbon dioxide concentrations.

Under conditions where water is scarce, plants would close their stomata more often than they open them. This helps to conserve water and reduce the rate of transpiration. Closing the stomata prevents excessive water loss while still allowing enough carbon dioxide to enter the plant for photosynthesis.