What Are Examples of Homeostasis in Plants?
Homeostasis in plants includes the regulation of carbon dioxide and water levels necessary to perform photosynthesis. Homeostasis in plants also allows plants cells to store the proper amount of water in their cells to help keep them from wilting and dying during times of drought.
Homeostasis is any biological process performed by an organism that perpetually regulates and maintains their internal systems and is triggered by external stimuli that require the organism to adapt and alter their internal processes to function properly under the new internal or environmental circumstances. All living organisms require some type of homeostasis to maintain life.
Plants are typically dependent on photosynthesis to produce energy to maintain their biological processes. Photosynthesis is a chemical process performed by plants in which sunlight is converted into energy. Homeostasis is essential during this process and is performed by cells known as stomata, which are commonly found on the outer surface of plants. Stomata open to allow sunlight and carbon dioxide to enter the cell, while releasing oxygen produced by photosynthesis.
Plant cells lose a portion of their water content while the stomata are open, leaving the plant susceptible to dehydration. Special guard cells surrounding the stomata react to chemical changes in their physiology and may inflate to allow water and gas exchange from the stomata to the environment, or deflate to protect the stomata and prevent excess water loss.
