Monday, May 26, 2014

Transpiration Lab

1. Describe the process of transpiration in vascular plants.

Transpiration is the process in which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves. It changes to vapor and is released to the atmosphere. It also includes a process called guttation, which is the loss of water in liquid form from the uninjured leaf or stem of the plant, principally through water stomata.

2. Describe any experimental controls used in the investigation.

Type of photometer and amount of time for each experiment.

3. What environmental factors that you tested increased the rate of transpiration? Was the rate of transpiration increased for all plants tested?

The temperature and light of the surrounding are tested for the rate of transpiration. The rate increased when there temperature is higher, the amount of light is higher and the amount of wind is higher.

4. Did any of the environmental factors (heat, light, or wind) increase the transpiration rate more than the others? Why?

Yes, they all did because the wind blows away water vapor from the plant, causing a higher rate for transpiration.

5.Which species of plants that you tested had the highest transpiration rates? Why do you think different species of plants transpire at different rates?

Coleus has the highest transpiration rate. Different species of plants transpire at different rate because their leaves and pores differ in size.

6.Suppose you coated the leaves of a plant with petroleum jelly. How would the plant's rate of transpiration be affected?

The plant will not be able to evaporate water into the atmosphere since the pores are blocked. Therefore, the rate will decrease.

7. Of what value to a plant is the ability to lose water through transpiration?

It helps cool the plant and transport nutrients.

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