When the water availability of a plant's environment decreases, the plant can respond by closing its stomata. This reduces the amount of water that the plant loses through its leaves due to transpiration.

Closing the stomata also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that the plant can take in through its leaves, which will most likely result in


A.
a decreased rate of photosynthesis.
B.
an increased rate of photosynthesis.
C.
no change in the cellular processes of the plant.
D.
an increased rate of cellular respiration.