Animal and plant tissues contain large amounts of water, and both types of organisms need
water for important metabolic functions. In both animals and plants, some water is
released as vapor during respiration, but this doesn't account for all the water taken in.
So what happens to the rest of the water? Many
animals use water to regulate internal body temperature. When we get too hot, we perspire,
and as the water on the surface of our skin evaporates, it cools us. Plants also need
water to perform certain functions. As we’ve seen, some water is used during
photosynthesis, but this is a relatively small amount. More than 95% of the water taken up
by plant roots is lost as water vapor during a process called transpiration.
|
|
|
|
|
