C3 plants and CAM plants differ primarily in the timing of carbon fixation, with C3 plants operating during the day and CAM plants at night. C3 plants directly convert CO2 into 3-carbon compounds, whereas CAM plants convert CO2 into organic acids for storage. These adaptations help CAM plants survive in arid conditions, unlike C3 plants which prefer more temperate climates. ;
C3 plants fix carbon dioxide during the day through RuBisCO, producing a three-carbon compound, while CAM plants fix carbon at night, storing it as organic acids. This adaptation allows CAM plants to thrive in dry conditions, unlike C3 plants that prefer more temperate climates. The key differences are their timing of carbon fixation and their respective environmental adaptations.
;