Question

Why is the adaptation in the previous question an advantage in hot, dry climates? (Think about photosynthesis, sun exposure, transpiration rate...)

Answers:
A. Small leaves are less susceptible to water loss through evaporation, but photosynthetic rate can improve by increasing leaf density.
B. Large leaves hold on to large amounts of water and the weight of the plant will be too great for small plants to withstand.
C. Small leaves prevent animals from nesting in the plant structure preventing plants from being eaten.

Answer 1

A: It makes the most sense, and when you think photosynthetic rate, you think surface area. The leaves don’t need to be bigger since they already have sun, but to prevent evaporation it makes sense to have smaller leaves