The main challenge for coastal redwood trees is trying to avoid cavitation while they are going through transpiration. Transpiration is the process when the xylem of the tree draws water from the roots along the vessels and trunks to the stomata of leaves. It is a challenge for these tall trees because the taller the tree, the higher chance of cavitation. Cavitation is formation of bubbles that occur in the xylem because of the water tension being too high from transpiration. Water molecules can easily pull apart, as the tree gets taller so it has lower water potential. The lower water potential increases the risk of cavitation occurring. The conditions that make it possible for this redwood to get to its height are the high humidity and the large soil particles. The high humidity causes the water potential to get higher (less negative). The water potential is very low in the atmosphere so it causes the force for water to move up from the soil to the roots but as the water potential in the atmosphere is close to the water potential in the roots the slower the water moves up the roots. The coastal redwood would not be as successful as it is with its height if it were to live in an area that had low humidity like the desert. It would not be able to have any water flowing through its xylem since it will cause cavitation right away with such low …show more content…
Soil increases the risk of cavitation as the tension increases inside because more suction is needed to pull water from the soil. The large soil particles give the redwoods less chance of cavitation since smaller soil particles have more surface area for the water to bind to than the larger soil particles. The soil’s water potential is less negative which does not cause the water molecules to pull apart and form air bubbles as easily as if the redwoods were to be in an area with smaller soil particles that are more negative in water