4/25/23, 8:01 PM Biology-transpiration experiment

Transpiration - thinking scientifically

 

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plant surfaces, predominantly, through tiny holes
on the surface of leaves called stomata.

We can measure the rate of transpiration, using the method outlined below.

Equipment
Olive oil.
50 mL measuring cylinder.
A tree cutting.
A fan or heater.
Graph paper.
Pen
Microscope ( X400)
Slide
Clear sticky tape.
Scissors
Portable fan heater

Step 1 Fill the measuring cylinder with water to the 40mL mark. Cut a small branch from a
eucalyptus tree, preferably underwater, and quickly submerge the cut end of the branch in the
measuring cylinder with the water. Pour a small layer of oil on the surface and record the level of
the water.

Step 2 Leave the setup for 48 hours and record the amount of water loss. The image on the right
shows a 250 mL measuring cylinder being used but a 50 mL is more accurate in recording small
volumes of water.

Step 3 Cut the leaves from the branch and place each one on a piece of graph paper. Carefully
draw the outline of each leaf on the graph paper and measure the surface area of each leaf in
cm2.
Click to see a larger image of the picture on the right.

www.dynamicscience.com.au/tester/solutions1/biology/transpirationprac/transprationprac.html 1/3
4/25/23, 8:01 PM Biology-transpiration experiment

Step 4 Calculate the rate of water loss for every square centimetre of leaf surface area.

Step 5 Measure the density of stomata per square centimetre of leaf area on the top and on the
bottom. Take a leaf and using a ball point pen cover a small section of leaf with ink, as shown on
the right.

Step 6 Press a piece of clear sticky tape on to the ink and press firmly with you finger. Pull the
tape off and place it on a microscope slide.

Click to see an alternative way of counting stomata using nail polish.

Step 7 View the ink pattern under the microscope. A magnification of X400 is best to pick up the
stomata, as shown on the right. Only some of the stomata are shown with the yellow arrow.

At a magnification of X100 the diameter of the field of view is 1.50 mm but under X400
magnification the diameter of the field of view is diminished to 0.375 mm.

What is the total area of the field of view at X400 magnification in mm2?

A students set out to measure the density of stomata on the top and bottom surfaces of a
eucalptus leaf.
Click to see the top. The pointer points to a stoma.

Click to see the bottom.

Calculate the density of stomata per cm2 of leaf area for both the top and the bottom surfaces.

1) Is there a difference in the density of stomata when comparing the top and the bottom surface? If so what is the difference?

2) Eucalyptus trees are adapted to dry, hot conditions. Why do you think that eucalyptus trees have a greater density of stomata on the top
surface than on the bottom surface?

3) Outline investigations to determine the impact on transpiration of:

- temperature,
- wind.

www.dynamicscience.com.au/tester/solutions1/biology/transpirationprac/transprationprac.html 2/3
4/25/23, 8:01 PM Biology-transpiration experiment
i) State the dependent and independent variables.

4) A student was asked to conduct an investigation to determine the rate of transpiration of a

leafy, flowering desert plant. She used the same setup as the one shown on the right and
discussed above.

The student thought that with an increase in temperature would come an increase in water loss
through transpiration. Her results are shown in table form below.

i) What is the best way to represent the data shown on the left of a desert, flowering plant.
ii) Graph the results shown on the right on an appropriate set of axis.
ii) What was the student's hypothesis?
iii) What do the results suggest?
iv) Was the student's hypothesis supported by the results? Explain.
v) What changed every time the student did a new test?

5) Describe an experimental technique required to test for a difference in rates of transpiration between rainforest eucalyptus trees compared
to desert eucalyptus trees.
i) What are the dependent and independent variables in this investgation.

ii) What factors will stay the same in each test?

- Leaf surface area of each type of eucalypt.
- Length of cutting.
- Temperature
- Type of water used.
- Volume of water used
- Amount of sunlight
- The length of time the test is conducted for.

iii) What is a possible hypothesis ?

Extension activity.

A) Devise a method to workout the total leaf surface area of a tree and calculate the average volume of water, in litres, that will transpire per
day. Outline in detail your procedure.

www.dynamicscience.com.au/tester/solutions1/biology/transpirationprac/transprationprac.html 3/3