Reasons behind the shedding of leaves by tropical deciduous forest during summer season:

Tropical deciduous forests are found in regions with a distinct dry season and rainy season. During the dry season, the temperature rises and precipitation decreases, which leads to water scarcity and high temperatures. The trees in these forests adopt different strategies to cope with this harsh environment, and shedding leaves is one of them.

Adaptation to water scarcity:

Leaves are the primary site of transpiration, where water is lost through stomata. In the dry season, water becomes scarce, and plants cannot afford to lose it through transpiration. By shedding leaves, the trees reduce the surface area available for transpiration and conserve water. This adaptation helps them survive the dry season.

Adaptation to high temperatures:

Leaves are also the primary site of photosynthesis, where energy from sunlight is converted into food. During the dry season, the temperature rises, and the trees face the risk of losing more water through transpiration than they can absorb. The high temperature also increases the rate of photorespiration, which is a wasteful process that reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis. By shedding leaves, the trees reduce the risk of water loss and photorespiration and conserve energy.

Adaptation to nutrient scarcity:

During the dry season, nutrient availability in the soil decreases due to lack of rain. Shedding leaves is a way for the tree to conserve nutrients that would have been lost through transpiration. The nutrients are stored in the stem and roots, which helps the tree to survive the dry season.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves during the summer season as an adaptation to cope with the harsh environment characterized by water scarcity, high temperatures, and nutrient scarcity. By shedding leaves, the trees conserve water, energy, and nutrients, which helps them survive the dry season.

Tropical deciduous forests shed their leaves for about six to eight weeks in summer. As this is a hot-dry season, the leaves get dry due to high temperature and deficiency of moisture causing these trees to shed their leaves.