What adaptation do C4 and CAM plants have for different environments?

C4 and CAM plants are specifically adapted to thrive in hot and dry environments, which are conditions that typically challenge the efficiency of photosynthesis in most plants. One of the main issues in these conditions is photorespiration, a process that can occur when the enzyme RuBisCO mistakenly attaches to oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, ultimately reducing the plant's productivity.

To combat this, C4 plants have developed a distinct pathway that allows them to concentrate carbon dioxide at the site of the Calvin cycle, effectively minimizing the chances of photorespiration occurring. They do this by initially converting carbon dioxide into a four-carbon compound in mesophyll cells, which is then transported to bundle-sheath cells for sugar production.

On the other hand, CAM plants take a different approach by separating the intake of carbon dioxide and the photosynthetic process between night and day. They open their stomata at night to absorb carbon dioxide and store it as malate, which they then use for photosynthesis during the day when the stomata are closed to minimize water loss. This adaptation also serves to reduce the potential for photorespiration since they can concentrate carbon dioxide when it's needed most for the Calvin cycle.

Therefore, the ability of C4 and CAM plants to reduce photorespiration in