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How do plants cope with extreme climates? From drought to cold, these survival skills will open your eyes!
As humans face the crisis of climate change, the survival ability of plants is particularly important. The resilience and adaptability they display in extreme climates makes us wonder: How do they face adverse growing conditions?
Plant hardness and survival challenges
The hardness of plants generally refers to their ability to survive harsh growing conditions, especially in difficult climates. A plant's tolerance to cold, heat, drought, flooding, or strong winds is often used as a measure of hardness. These abilities are evident in the geographical distribution of wild vegetation. For example, the resistance of plants in temperate zones to cold is called "cold tolerance," and this is often simplified by a system called hardness zones.
Plant survival hardness can be divided into two categories: cold-resistant plants and soft plants. Hardy plants can withstand temperatures below freezing, while soft plants will die in these conditions.
Winter tolerance and growth
In cold environments, some plants can remain healthy even in winter and are called winter-hardy plants. For example, some varieties of cabbage and carrots fall into this category. Some bulbs, such as tulips, need to survive a cold winter in order to bloom, while others, such as flower bulbs, can survive freezing winters.
The mechanism of plants responding to cold
Woody plants face the challenge of freezing temperatures and often survive by inhibiting the formation of ice within their cells or by allowing water to freeze in parts of the plant that are not affected by ice. These plants sometimes use a supercooling mechanism to lower their own temperatures to −40°C (−40°F). Some plants need to be sufficiently adapted when exposed to freezing or they will not be able to use these survival displays. Certain plants, such as those that live in Antarctica (such as Colobanthus quitensis), can withstand freezing conditions year-round.
Hardness evaluation system
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed a hardness zone system based on average annual minimum temperatures, which is one of the most widely used hardness assessment systems. In contrast, Britain's Royal Horticultural Society issues hardness ratings (H1a to H7) for its temperate maritime climate. These hardness indicators provide useful data for plants to choose a suitable growing environment.
Most outdoor plants in the UK typically have a hardness range between H4 (−10°C to −5°C) to H5 (−15°C to −10°C), making them suitable for Protection from stress in cold climates.
Characteristics of cold-resistant plants
Cold-hardy plants generally tolerate extreme temperatures, harsh environments, and poor or eroded soils. Their great resilience allows them to occupy a niche in the changing natural environment.
Other tolerances
In addition to cold climate resistance, plants also need to cope with other climatic factors, such as heat tolerance, drought and flooding. These characteristics may not necessarily be mentioned more and more, but they are integral to the survival of plants. When plants face the challenge of wind, in addition to possible physiological adaptations, they will also show different evolutionary forms in body shape, allowing them to survive in changing weather.
Conclusion
As global climate change intensifies, the survival challenges faced by plants become increasingly severe. Not only do they need to cope with extreme climatic conditions, they must also be resilient to future environmental changes. The survival strategies of plants allow us to continuously explore the mysteries of nature, and even make us think: What can humans learn from such changes?
