What are some adaptations of cacti?
What are some adaptations of cacti?
Eg cactus plants:
- thick, waxy skin to reduce loss of water and to reflect heat.
- large, fleshy stems to store water.
- thorns and thin, spiky or glossy leaves to reduce water loss.
- spikes protect cacti from animals wishing to use stored water.
- deep roots to tap groundwater.
- long shallow roots which spread over a wide area.
What are the adaptations of the cactus stem?
White dense spines help reflect sunlight! Spines provide shade! Cacti stem is thick and fleshy to store lots of water! Stem has waxy waterproof coating to help keep water in the cacti.
What is the adaptive structure of cactus?
Areoles are a key adaptation of cacti because they gave rise to the spine clusters that are so important to cactus survival, and they can cover the plant with spines much more effectively than plants that grow spines directly from their stems.
How do plants not poison themselves?
They found that the plant is able to decompose poisonous cyanogenous glycosides without producing any toxic substances. The nitrogen stored in these substances, which is indispensable for the plant, is recovered in the form of ammonium. The main role in this process is played by the enzyme nitrilase.
How do plants defend themselves chemically?
Many plants have an inbuilt defence system that, when activated, releases hydrogen cyanide to ward off insects and fungi. It is directed at the part of the plant under attack. This is what makes bitter almonds, apricots, and apple pips toxic when crushed.
What are some common predator adaptations?
Under the pressure of natural selection, predators have evolved a variety of physical adaptations for detecting, catching, killing, and digesting prey. These include speed, agility, stealth, sharp senses, claws, teeth, filters, and suitable digestive systems.
What do you call spines and thorns of some plants which they used to protect themselves from danger?
Answer. 1. Barrel cactus. The barrel cactus is found in desert regions of North America. …
Which physical adaptation reduces a plant’s chances of being eaten?
associational resistance
Which adaptation might help protect a plant from being eaten *?
Answer. Explanation: Plant defenses include: Mechanical protection on the surface of the plant; complex polymers that reduce plant digestibility to animals; and toxins that kill or repel herbivores.
What plant has a chemical defense?
The geranium, for example, produces the amino acid, quisqualic acid in its petals to defend itself from Japanese beetles. Within 30 minutes of ingestion the chemical paralyzes the herbivore. While the chemical usually wears off within a few hours, during this time the beetle is often consumed by its own predators.
How do potatoes defend themselves?
Aphid Alarm Pheromone Even more sophisticated is the strategy used by a type of wild potato to defend itself against aphids. The plant manufactures the active ingredient of the so-called aphid alarm pheromone, a chemical that an aphid under attack releases into the air to warn other aphids of danger.
What chemical adaptations do plants have to protect themselves from predators?
Beyond bark and the waxy cuticle, each plant cell has a cellulose cell wall which acts as another barrier against infection. Some pathogens overcome this barrier by releasing enzymes that soften the cell wall.
How do plants use nitrates?
Plants use nitrates as a supply of nitrogen, which is needed to make proteins for healthy growth. Plants absorb nitrates in water through their roots. Nitrates are present in high levels in plant fertilisers. Without nitrates, the amount of chlorophyll in leaves reduces.