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Describe how processes such as enantiostasis and homeostasis are used to maintain metabolic functions when salt concentration varies in plants living in estuarine environments. - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 26 - 2009 - Paper 1
Question 26
Describe how processes such as enantiostasis and homeostasis are used to maintain metabolic functions when salt concentration varies in plants living in estuarine en... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe how processes such as enantiostasis and homeostasis are used to maintain metabolic functions when salt concentration varies in plants living in estuarine environments. - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 26 - 2009 - Paper 1
Step 1
Main Features of Enantiostasis and Homeostasis
Answer
Enantiostasis refers to the mechanisms that organisms employ to maintain stability in their internal environment, particularly in response to external changes, such as varying salt concentrations. Homeostasis, on the other hand, is the process by which living organisms regulate their internal conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, and concentration of ions) to maintain a stable, constant state.
In estuarine environments, where salt concentration fluctuates due to tidal changes, both of these processes are crucial for plant survival.
Step 2
Processes Maintaining Metabolic Functions
Answer
Plants utilize osmotic adjustment to manage the changes in external salt concentration. When salinity increases, plants may accumulate compatible solutes (e.g., proline, glycine betaine) to balance osmotic pressure without interfering with metabolic functions. This adaptation allows for continued cellular respiration and photosynthesis even when salinity levels are high.
Additionally, ion transport mechanisms, such as the activity of salt glands or specialized root cells, help in the exclusion or regulation of excess sodium ions, which could be toxic and disrupt metabolic processes.