What effect does high humidity generally have on plant respiration?

In a high humidity environment, the amount of water vapor in the air is elevated, which can influence plant respiration. High humidity often results in stomatal closure to prevent excess water loss. When stomata are closed, the exchange of gases, including carbon dioxide intake and oxygen release, is limited. As respiration is linked to gas exchange, the overall respiration rates can decline in high humidity conditions due to this restricted gas exchange. Therefore, the assertion that high humidity decreases respiration rates is accurate.

It's important to understand how humidity interacts with environmental factors, such as temperature and light, which can also affect respiration rates. While high humidity can lead to different physiological responses in plants, the general trend is that respiration rates decrease when humidity is high because of the stomatal regulation response to conserve water.