Workshops: Study of the condition of plant stomata from an ecological perspective

Main ecological idea. The activity of plant stomata reflects environmental conditions and shows how plants adapt to water scarcity, pollution and/or climate change. In hot, dry conditions, stomata close to reduce water loss. This protects the plant, but slows down photosynthesis, which limits plant growth and ecosystem productivity. Pollutants (ozone, dust) can damage stomata, which disrupts the entry of CO₂ into the leaf - photosynthesis slows down. High temperatures increase water evaporation, plants close their stomata more often - changing adaptation strategies. When the amount of CO₂ in the air increases, stomata may be less open - plants save water, but the balance of ecosystems change