Week 3 Flashcards
photosynthesis
A process that uses sunlight to provide the energy needed to take up CO2 and synthesize organic compounds, principally carbohydrates.
chemosynthesis
A process that uses energy from inorganic compounds to produce carbohydrates, is smaller but still important to some key bacteria involved in nutrient cycling.
fixation of CO2
The uptake of CO2 using energy from ATP and NADPH
biosynthesis
Manufacture of chemical compounds, membranes, tissues, and organelles
Calvin cycle
The biological pathway most commonly used to fix carbon (some bacteria use electrons directly to fix carbon)
light response curve
relationship between the light level and a plant’s photosynthetic rate.
compensation point
When there is enough light such that CO2 uptake is balanced by CO2 loss by respiration.
light saturation point
When the photosynthetic rate levels off, typically a level below full sunlight.
oxidize
lose elections, release energy
autotrophs
(“self-nourishing”) produce organic matter using CO2 using external energy
Photoautotrophs
use sunlight energy
Chemoautotrophs
use inorganic chemical energy.
Heterotrophs
(“nourishment from others”) use organic matter produced by other organisms.
allochthonous inputs
External energy inputs
autochthonous energy
While energy produced by autotrophs within the system.
