Liquid Water in Organisms and their Environment

Abstract

Almost all of the water in living organisms is liquid, rather than vapor. In addition, water is taken up from the organism environment mainly in the liquid phase. Good physical descriptions of water in the liquid phase are necessary to understand liquid-phase water exchange and organism response. The energy state of liquid water can also affect the vapor pressure and concentration of water at evaporating surfaces. Vapor exchange is therefore also influenced by the state of the liquid water.