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Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata

During photosynthesis, plants acquire the necessary carbon dioxide and release the produced oxygen back into the atmosphere. Openings in the epidermis of plant leaves is the site of this exchange of gasses. A single opening is called a stoma—derived from the Greek word for “mouth.” Stomata open and close in response to a variety of environmental cues.

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Water and Mineral Acquisition

Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance Transport of Resources

Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.

C4 Pathway and CAM

C4 Pathway and CAM

Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Measurement of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance and Stomatal Conductance and Their Responses to Irradiance and Dehydration Using the Evaporative Flux Method (EFM)

Measurement of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance and Stomatal Conductance and Their Responses to Irradiance and Dehydration Using the Evaporative Flux Method (EFM)

Published on: December 31, 2012

Rooting depth explains [CO2] x drought interaction in Eucalyptus saligna.

Remko A Duursma¹, Craig V M Barton, Derek Eamus

¹Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. remkoduursma@gmail.com

Tree Physiology

|May 17, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) did not alleviate drought effects in Eucalyptus saligna trees as expected. Instead, eCO2-grown trees showed reduced transpiration under drought, influenced by tree size and deep root water uptake.

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Measurement of Leaf Hydraulic Conductance and Stomatal Conductance and Their Responses to Irradiance and Dehydration Using the Evaporative Flux Method (EFM)

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Published on: August 17, 2022

A CO2 Concentration Gradient Facility for Testing CO2 Enrichment and Soil Effects on Grassland Ecosystem Function

A CO₂ Concentration Gradient Facility for Testing CO₂ Enrichment and Soil Effects on Grassland Ecosystem Function

Published on: November 21, 2015

Area of Science:

Plant physiology
Ecology
Climate change research

Background:

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) can influence plant water use and drought response.
Stomatal conductance typically decreases under eCO2, potentially delaying drought onset and mitigating its effects.
Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting forest responses to climate change.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the interactive effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) and drought on Eucalyptus saligna water use.
To determine how tree size and root distribution influence water uptake under varying CO2 and soil moisture conditions.
To assess the impact of eCO2 on drought tolerance mechanisms in trees.

Main Methods:

A whole-tree chamber experiment was conducted with Eucalyptus saligna.
Trees were exposed to ambient (aCO2) and elevated (eCO2) conditions for 18 months.
A subsequent 4-month dry-down period simulated drought, with water use monitored using neutron probes to a depth of 4.5m.

Main Results:

Trees grown under eCO2 were smaller than those under aCO2, a difference maintained throughout the experiment.
Contrary to expectations, drought induced a greater reduction in transpiration for eCO2-grown trees compared to aCO2-grown trees.
Larger trees demonstrated greater capacity for deep soil water extraction (below 1.5m), indicating a significant role of rooting depth in drought response.

Conclusions:

The response of tree water use to eCO2 is complex, involving interactions between tree size, root distribution, and soil moisture availability.
Expected direct effects of eCO2 on mitigating drought stress may be overridden by these interacting factors.
Future research and interpretations of experimental results must consider these intricate interactions for accurate predictions of forest behavior under changing environmental conditions.