Plants in the desert a. effectively conserve and retain water b. have high levels of transpiration c. release 50-80% of water back into the ecosystem d. make their own precipitation

a. effectively conserve and retain water

Explanation:

In deserts, the soil is usually very arid due to low amount of precipitation this results in low or zero soil water availability. In order for desert plants to survive, they developed adaptive techniques to survive. One example is the cactus plant, which developed a thick and fleshy skin that allows it to store any available water.  Its stem is also waxy waterproof which allows it to prevent water loss.

Most desert plants conserve water by adapting their body parts to store water and then minimize water loss through the surface of their leaves.