Textbook Question
Trees can be killed by girdling—the removal of bark and vascular cambium in a ring all the way around the tree. Explain why.
Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
Not the one you use?Change textbookSelect a different textbook
Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 34, Problem 13c
Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil, and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions. How does acid rain affect plant growth? Which meristem was likely affected in the chinaberry tree?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the impact of acid rain on plant growth: Acid rain primarily affects plants by altering the soil pH, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies. It can also damage the protective waxy layer on leaves, making plants more susceptible to diseases and reducing their ability to photosynthesize effectively.
Identify the types of meristems in plants: Meristems are regions of active cell division in plants. The main types are apical meristems, which are found at the tips of roots and shoots, and lateral meristems, which are responsible for the growth in thickness of stems and roots.
Determine which meristem is likely affected by acid rain: Acid rain can impact the apical meristems by damaging the leaves and stems, which are crucial for the plant's vertical growth. This can lead to stunted growth and reduced ability to produce new leaves and flowers.
Consider the specific case of the chinaberry tree: If the chinaberry tree is exposed to acid rain, the apical meristems in the shoots are likely affected, as these are responsible for the tree's height and leaf production. Damage to these meristems can result in reduced growth and vitality.
Explore potential solutions or adaptations: Plants may adapt to acid rain by developing thicker cuticles or altering their root systems to better access nutrients. Understanding these adaptations can help in developing strategies to mitigate the effects of acid rain on plant growth.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
1mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Acid Rain
Acid rain is precipitation with a lower pH than normal, caused by atmospheric pollution from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These compounds react with water vapor to form sulfuric and nitric acids, which can strip essential nutrients from the soil and damage plant tissues, affecting growth and development.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:45
Acids
Plant Meristems
Meristems are regions in plants where active cell division occurs, leading to growth. There are two main types: apical meristems, found at the tips of roots and shoots, and lateral meristems, responsible for thickness growth. Damage to meristems can hinder a plant's ability to grow and repair itself.
Recommended video:
Guided course
07:52Primary Meristems
Impact of Acid Rain on Plant Growth
Acid rain affects plant growth by leaching essential nutrients from the soil, such as calcium and magnesium, and damaging the protective waxy cuticle on leaves. This can lead to reduced photosynthesis, stunted growth, and increased susceptibility to diseases and environmental stress.
Recommended video:
Guided course
06:53Secondary Growth
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions.
How does acid rain affect plant growth?
Develop a hypothesis on the likely effects of acid rain on primary growth in trees.
Based on your hypothesis, make some predictions about the impact of acid rain on the height of tree trunks.
Textbook Question
Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil, and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions. How does acid rain affect plant growth? Researchers tested the effects of acid rain (pH 2.0) on seedlings of two different species, camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and chinaberry tree (Melia azederach), using distilled water as a control. Results of the experiments are shown here. Note that acid rain caused a significant reduction of growth in chinaberry trees (*** means P < 0.001), but not in camphor trees. What was the approximate percentage of growth reduction observed in the chinaberry trees treated with acid rain?
Textbook Question
Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil, and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions. How does acid rain affect plant growth? Give a plausible explanation for the differential effect of acid rain on height in camphor and chinaberry trees (i.e., what structural features might offer more protection from acid rain in one species versus another?).
Textbook Question
Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions. How does acid rain affect plant growth?
Based on the results presented here, predict the impact of acid rain on the vascular cambium in the two species.
How would that effect be apparent in the amount of wood produced in the tree trunks?
Textbook Question
Plants experience a vast array of conditions that can alter their growth and development, including temperature and availability of water, nutrients, and light. They are also exposed to pollutants such as acid rain formed largely as a result of burning fossil fuels and volcanic eruptions. Acid rain can strip minerals and nutrients from the soil and eat away the outer waxy layer of tissue that protects a plant. Acid rain is still a major environmental problem in certain regions. How does acid rain affect plant growth?
Beyond primary and secondary growth, what other aspects of plant growth might be negatively affected when plants are exposed to environmental stress?
1
views