Submerged hydrophytes have dissected leaves for

Options

A. decreasing surface area
B. increasing surface area
C. reducing effect of water currents
D. increasing number of stomata

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Submerged Hydrophytes**: Submerged hydrophytes are aquatic plants that grow entirely underwater. They have adapted to their environment in various ways, including their leaf structure.

2. **Observation of Leaf Structure**: These plants typically have dissected or finely divided leaves. This means that instead of broad, flat leaves, they have leaves that are broken up into smaller segments.

3. **Function of Dissected Leaves**: The primary reason for this adaptation is to reduce the effect of water currents. In aquatic environments, water can flow rapidly, and broad leaves would create resistance against the current, potentially damaging the plant.

4. **Mechanism of Adaptation**: By having dissected leaves, the surface area of the leaves is effectively reduced in a way that allows water to flow through and around them more easily. This minimizes drag and helps the plant remain stable in the water.

5. **Elimination of Incorrect Options**:
- **Decreasing Surface Area**: This option is incorrect because the dissected leaves do not necessarily decrease the surface area in a way that is beneficial; they are designed to manage water flow.
- **Increasing Surface Area**: This option is also incorrect as the adaptation is not about increasing surface area but rather about managing the effect of water currents.
- **Increasing Number of Stomata**: This option is incorrect because submerged hydrophytes do not have stomata like terrestrial plants; they absorb gases directly from the water.

6. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is that dissected leaves in submerged hydrophytes help in reducing the effect of water currents, allowing these plants to thrive in their aquatic environments.