What is Halophytic adaptation?
Halophytes are well-adapted and thrive under high salinity by using two strategies, salt tolerance, and salt avoidance. Generally, halophytes follow three mechanisms of salt tolerance; reduction of the Na+ influx, compartmentalization, and excretion of sodium ions (Flowers and Colmer, 2008, 2015).
Which are structural adaptations of desert plants like cactus?
A cactus has special adaptations in its roots, leaves as well as stems that enable it to thrive in desert environments. These adaptations include – spines, shallow roots, deep-layer stomata, thick and expandable stem, waxy skin and a short growing season.
What is Hydrophytic adaptation?
Hydrophytes are plants that have adapted to life in very wet places. Most leaves in hydrophytes are thin, and many can float freely. The part of plants that allow for gas exchange, called the stomata, are located only on the part of the plant surface that’s exposed to air.
What is ecological adaptation?
Definition. Change in an organism so that it is better able to survive or reproduce, thereby contributing to its fitness.
Which germination is a unique feature of Halophytic plants?
However halophytes exhibit an interesting mechanism to cope with salt stress. Many halophytes produce heteromorphic seeds, which have different dormancy and germination behavior under saline conditions. This characteristic is related to the structural and physiological differences among heteromorphic seeds.
What are cactus adaptations?
Cacti are well adapted for survival in the desert. They have: Stems that can store water. The spines also protect the cacti from animals that might eat them. Very thick, waxy cuticle to reduce water loss by evaporation .
What are Hydrophytic plants examples?
Give some examples of hydrophytes.
- Lotus (Nelumbo)
- Hydrilla which is commonly seen in ponds lakes etc.
- Eichhornia which is commonly called as Water Hyacinth.
- Trapa.
- Vallisneria.
- Potamogeton.
- Salvinia.
How are fish adapted to aquatic environments?
Many structures in fish are adaptations for their aquatic lifestyle. For example, fish have a stream-lined body that reduces water resistance while swimming. Fish have gills for “breathing” oxygen in water and fins for propelling and steering their body through water.
What is the key ideas of ecological adaptation?
According to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, the organisms adapt to their environment so that they could persist and pass their genes onto the next generation. In the ecosystem, several species co-adapt, and in so doing they also co-evolve.
What are the xerophytic adaptations of cacti?
The xerophytic adaptations of cacti include: (1) their succulent, water-retaining stems, (2) a thick, waxy cuticle and few or no leaves to greatly reduce the losses of water through transpiration, (3) stems that are photosynthetic, so leaves are not required to execute this function,…
How does the shape of a cactus affect its function?
Cacti have varied shapes that contribute immensely to water storage and retention capabilities. Cylindrical and spherical shapes are adapted to bring about a low surface area to volume ratio which reduces water loss to the atmosphere. These shapes also reduce the heating effects of the sun.
How do desert cactus adapt to survive in the desert?
So cactus adaptations to collect water quickly and efficiently before the moisture evaporates away in the dry air are essential for the plant to survive. There are two features of desert cactus roots that give them the ability to do this.
Why do euphorbias and cacti store water in their stems?
The stems expanded becoming larger in size and extensive water storage tissues formed in the pith or cortex. Therefore, euphorbias and cacti could store water in their stems, preventing water wastage and sustaining the plant.