Photosynthetic autotrophs or producers (plant, protistan, and bacterial members) harness light energy. They are "self-nourishing" and obtain carbon from carbon dioxide.
Heterotrophs or consumers feed on autotrophs, each other, and on organic wastes. Heterotrophs acquire carbon and energy from autotrophs. Heterotrophs include animals, protistans, bacteria, and fungi.
This animation (Audio - Important) describes the carbon cycle.
This animation describes the linkeage of photosynthesis and respiration
This figure summarizes the light and dark reactions.
The equation for photosynthesis which occurs in the leaves of plants is:
In plain English, this translates into: six molecules of water plus six molecules of carbon dioxide produce one molecule of sugar plus six molecules of oxygen.
In the chloroplast, the newly formed glucose has a phosphate group attached. The glucose phosphate molecules react further to form sucrose, starch, and cellulose.
This animation (Audio - Important) gives an overview of photosynthesis.
REVIEW: The internal membrane system of the chloroplast is called a
REVIEW: Thylakoid disks are
REVIEW: Stroma and grana are portions of
REVIEW: What do plants need to carry on photosynthesis?
REVIEW: Organisms that derive their chemical energy either from the process of chemosynthesis or
photosynthesis are classified as
REVIEW: The carbon source for organisms that derive their energy from photosynthesis is
REVIEW: Most carbon enters the web of life through
REVIEW: The oxygen released in photosynthesis comes from
REVIEW: Plants need which of the following to carry on photosynthesis?
REVIEW: Four of the five answers listed below are heterotrophs. Select the exception.
a. fungus
b. carrot
c. earthworm
d. lobster
e. parasite
REVIEW: The ultimate source of energy for living things is the
REVIEW: How many membranes surround a chloroplast from a plant cell?
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