TeXes Science Practice Test

How do bryophytes transport water and minerals?

1. Vascular system

2. Diffusion

3. Osmosis

4. Transpiration

The correct answer is: Diffusion

Bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, lack a true vascular system. Instead, these plants primarily rely on diffusion to transport water and minerals. Diffusion is the process by which substances move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, allowing bryophytes to absorb water and nutrients directly through their cell membranes. This method of transport is effective in the moist environments where bryophytes typically thrive, as they are often found in damp habitats where water is readily available. The absence of vascular tissues means that bryophytes do not have specialized structures for transporting water as seen in vascular plants, such as xylem and phloem. While osmosis is crucial in the absorption of water by plant cells, diffusion specifically describes how water and minerals move through the tissues of bryophytes. Transpiration, on the other hand, refers to the process of water vapor loss from the aerial parts of plants and is more relevant to vascular plants, as it involves the movement of water through a vascular system.