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Multiple Choice
In moving to land, which of the following challenges did plants have to overcome?
A
Less available CO2 in the atmosphere than in the oceans
B
Competition from other photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria
C
Many herbivores on land
D
All of the listed responses are correct.
E
Desiccation
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: Plants originally evolved in aquatic environments where water was abundant, and moving to land presented new challenges.
Identify the challenges: Desiccation, or drying out, is a major challenge for plants on land due to the lack of constant water availability.
Consider the atmospheric conditions: While CO2 is more abundant in the atmosphere than in water, plants had to develop mechanisms to efficiently capture and utilize CO2 in a terrestrial environment.
Evaluate competition: On land, plants faced competition from other photosynthetic organisms, but this was not as significant a challenge as desiccation.
Assess herbivory: While herbivores are present on land, the primary challenge for early land plants was desiccation, leading to adaptations like waxy cuticles and stomata to minimize water loss.