BIOL 3309 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Sexy Son Hypothesis, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Photosynthetic Efficiency
6 Feb 2017
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Photosynthetic autotrophs: use co2 as carbon source, sunlight as energy. Chemosynthetic autotrophs: use co2 as carbon source, inorganic chemicals (ex. Organic molecules as source of both carbon and energy. Eat photosynthetic algae and then can photosynthesize. Light propagates through space as a wave. Light interacts with matter as a particle. Enough energy to power photosynthesis, but not so much that molecules are damaged. Plants absorb all of the colors except green. Par is the number of photons striking m^2 per second, expressed in umol. Need high concentrations of co2 or rubisco catalyzes photorespiration. Used when water balance is not an issue. Does the reaction in two parts of the cell. Lower co2 concentration to reduce water loss. Chemosynthetic autotrophs- synthesize organic molecules using co2 as a carbon source and inorganic molecules as an energy source. Heterotrophs- use organic molecules both as a source of carbon and as an energy source. Usually have plenty of plants to feed on.
