What are the advantages and disadvantages of CAM photosynthesis?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of CAM photosynthesis?

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) has the advantage of essentially eliminating evapotranspiration through a plants stomata (water loss through gas exchange) during the day, allowing CAM plants to survive in inhospitable climates where water loss is a major limiting factor to plant growth.

What advantage do CAM plants have?

The most important benefit of CAM to the plant is the ability to leave most leaf stomata closed during the day. Plants employing CAM are most common in arid environments, where water comes at a premium.

Are CAM plants efficient?

CAM species exhibit the highest water-use efficiencies in plants which enable them to do well in water-limited environments, such as semi-arid deserts, and as epiphytes.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of CAM plants?

Explanation: The advantage CAM plants observe involves the ability to grow and reproduce in regions where competition from C3 and C4 plants is minimal. By closing stomata during the day, gas exchange (CO2 in and O2/H2O out) does not occur. This advantage (wrt water loss) also limits the total amount of photosynthesis the plant is capable…

How is carbon dioxide gathered in CAM plants?

In CAM plants, carbon dioxide is only gathered at night, when the stomata open. Click for more detail. During the day, the malic acid is converted back to carbon dioxide. With the sun shining, the light reactions can create energy for the Calvin cycle and the carbon dioxide can be converted into sugars.

What kind of environment does a CAM plant live in?

Comparisons of , , and CAM plants Type Separation of initial fixation and Calvi Stomata open Best adapted to No separation Day Cool, wet environments Between mesophyll and bundle-sheath cell Day Hot, sunny environments CAM Between night and day (in time) Night Very hot, dry environments

How are CAM plants able to minimize photorespiration?

plants minimize photorespiration by separating initial fixation and the Calvin cycle in space, performing these steps in different cell types. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants minimize photorespiration and save water by separating these steps in time, between night and day.