4.3.3 Adaptations to the Environment

• What are plant adaptations to the environment defined as?

  Evolutionary adjustments in plants
• Plant adaptations enhance survival and reproductive success in challenging environments.
• Plants in desert environments have thick cuticles and small leaves to reduce water loss
• What type of tissue do aquatic plants like water lilies have to facilitate oxygen transport?

  Aerenchyma
• Match the plant adaptation with its benefit:

  Deep roots ↔️ Supports stability

  Wide leaves ↔️ Enhances photosynthesis

  Conical shape ↔️ Sheds snow in cold climates

  Waxy needles ↔️ Retains water in cold climates
• Plants have adapted to survive in deserts, aquatic habitats, and terrestrial ecosystems.
• Desert plants have thick cuticles and small leaves to reduce water loss
• What is the primary function of aerenchyma tissue in aquatic plants?

  Oxygen transport
• Deep roots in terrestrial plants support stability and photosynthesis.
• What are the two primary categories of light adaptations in plants?

  Sun plants and shade plants
• Sun plants thrive in high-light environments with adaptations such as high photosynthetic rates
• Match the light adaptation with its benefit:

  Larger leaves ↔️ Captures more light

  Thinner leaves ↔️ Efficient light absorption

  Higher chlorophyll b ↔️ Absorbs blue light
• Shade plants have more chlorophyll b to absorb blue light in shaded areas.
• What two factors explain why plants have evolved specific light adaptations?

  Light quality and intensity
• Plants adapt to different light conditions through structural, physiological, and biochemical modifications.
• Sun plants have denser chloroplasts
• Why do shade plants have larger leaves?

  To capture more light
• Chlorophyll a and b absorb different wavelengths of light.
• What structural adaptation do sun plants have to thrive in high-light environments?

  Thicker leaves
• Shade plants have higher concentrations of chlorophyll b
• What is an example of a sun plant adapted to high-light environments?

  Cacti
• Cold-climate plants have a conical shape to retain water.

  False
• What type of leaves do hot-climate plants have to reduce water loss?

  Small leaves
• Match the environment with its plant adaptation:

  Cold ↔️ Conical shape

  Hot ↔️ Thick cuticle
• Plants adapted to acidic soil conditions tolerate low pH
• What type of roots do plants in sandy soil have to access water deep underground?

  Deep roots
• Desert plants like cacti have thick cuticles to reduce water loss
• What is the purpose of larger leaves in shade plants?

  Capture more light
• Match the plant characteristic with its type:

  Thicker leaves ↔️ Sun plants

  Higher chlorophyll b ↔️ Shade plants
• Pine trees in cold climates have waxy needles to retain water.
• Which adaptation allows hot-climate plants like cacti to minimize water loss?

  Thick cuticle
• Plants in hot environments have small leaves to reduce surface area for transpiration
• Cold-climate plants have a conical shape to retain snow

  False
• What is an example of a plant adapted to hot climates?

  Cacti
• Pine trees thrive in cold regions due to their conical shape and waxy needles
• Hot-climate plants have a thin cuticle to maximize water absorption

  False
• Which adaptation helps cold-climate plants shed snow easily?

  Conical shape
• Match the environment with its corresponding plant adaptation:

  Cold ↔️ Conical shape, waxy needles

  Hot ↔️ Thick cuticle, small leaves
• What is the benefit of waxy needles in cold-climate plants?

  Retains water
• Plant adaptations to temperature are similar to adaptations to light and water