It easily evaporates form the surface of their bodies; causing dehydration
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What three adaptations have insects evolved to reduce water loss?
- Small surface area to volume ratio - Waterproof coverings - Spiracles
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How does a small surface area to volume ratio reduce water loss?
It minimises the area over which water could potentially evaporate from
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How does a waterproof covering reduce water loss?
This waterproof covering over their body's surface doesn't allow as much water to escape
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How do spiracles reduce the amount of water loss?
They are the openings of the tracheae at the body's suraface, and they can be closed to prevent water evaporating from them
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What are xerophytes?
Plants that are adapted to living in areas where water is in short supply.
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If xerophytes didn't have certain adaptation they would desiccate and die- what does desiccate mean?
To remove the moisture from something
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What five adaptations do xerophyte plants have to limit water loss?
- A tick waxy cuticle - Rolling up of leaves - Hairy leaves - Stomata in pits/grooves - A reduced surface area to volume ratio of leaves
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How does a thick waxy cuticle reduce water loss?
It creates a waterproof barrier that reduces how much water can evaporate from the leaves
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How does rolling up of the leaves reduce water loss?
As stomata are mostly on the underside of the leaf, some leaves roll up, enclosing the underside stomata to protect it from the outside. This creates a region that is saturated with water vapour which increases the water potential in this region -->
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-->
The water potential gradient decreases and hence water loss decreases
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How does having hairy leaves reduce water loss?
The hairs, generally on the lower epidermis, trap still and moist air around the stomata to reduce the water potential gradient, hence reducing water loss by evaporation
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How does having stomata in pits or grooves decrease water loss?
The pits and grooves trap still, moist air next to the leaf hence reducing the water potential gradient
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Why is having pine needles instead of having leaves reduce water loss?
They have a reduced surface area to volume ratio than leaves, which reduces the rate of diffusion and limiting water loss
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What three adaptations have insects evolved to reduce water loss?
Back
- Small surface area to volume ratio - Waterproof coverings - Spiracles
Card 3
Front
How does a small surface area to volume ratio reduce water loss?
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