Photosynthesis

What is Photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process where green plants make organic
food from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight.
Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast. (Mainly in leaf cells)
Sunlight is absorbed by a green pigment called chlorophyll
found inside the chloroplast.
Oxygen is also produced during photosynthesis. It is released
into the environment where it can be used by other organisms
(including plants) for respiration.

Word Equation for Photosynthesis

A word equation can be used to summarize the process of
photosynthesis as seen below:

What happens to the glucose made by photosynthesis?

Some is used in respiration to provide energy

1.

Some is converted to sucrose & sent from the leaves to

other parts of the plant where it is needed.
2.

Some is used to make cellulose cell walls

3.

Some is converted to starch & stored in special parts of the

plant. E.g. stem, roots, chloroplast
4.

Importance of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis provides energy in food which can be

used by other organisms.
Photosynthesis produces oxygen which can be used by
other organisms for respiration.

Experiment

Food Chains
A food chain shows how energy passes from one organism to
another in the form of food.
In a food chain, an arrow points from the organism being eaten
to the organism doing the eating

It is understood that Primary source of energy in a food chain is

the sun
Each organism in a food chain occupies a feeding position called
a trophic level

A food chain begins with a producer (autotroph) e.g. green plant

since it make its own food using sunlight (i.e. producers occupy
the 1st trophic level)

Consumer (Heterotroph) an organism that obtains food

and energy by eating other organisms
Types of Consumers:

1.

Herbivores (primary consumers) organisms that eat only

plants Example: cow

2. Carnivores (secondary consumers) organisms that eat only

animals Example: lion
3. Omnivores organisms that eat both plants and animals
Example: humans

Example of Food Chain

Activity: Use the Food Chains Above to Complete the

table Below:

Terrestrial Food Chain

Aquatic Food
(Freshwater)

Chain Aquatic Food Chain Trophic Level

(Marine)

Producer

Primary Consumer

Secondary Consumer

Tertiary Consumer

Why are food chains usually short

Food chains are usually short i.e. i.e. only has about 4 to 5
trophic levels.
Why?
Only 10 % of energy is passed on from one trophic level to
the next. Therefore there isnt enough energy to support
more than 4 -5 trophic levels.
What happens to the other 90% of energy?
Some is used by the organism
Some is lost as heat
Some is lost in indigestible material or waste material

Energy Flow vs. Nutrient Flow

The flow of energy in a food chain is said to be NONCYCLIC or Linear, because it is not recycled.

However nutrients like carbon and nitrogen can be recycled

in the environment. Therefore nutrient flow is said to be
CYCLIC.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Carbon cycle - the cycling of carbon through the environment and living
organisms.
Carbon is found in the atmosphere as Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Plants, animals and decomposers all release carbon dioxide which was
produced by Respiration
Plants absorb Carbon dioxide from the air to use in photosynthesis.
Plants & animals which have died millions of years ago form fossils (i.e.
fossilization). Fossils have carbon which can be used as a fuels for energy
(i.e. fossil fuel). e.g. crude oil
Carbon dioxide is also produce when we burn substances/fuel (i.e.
Combustion)

Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle - the cycling of nitrogen through the

environment and living organisms.

Processes involved in the Nitrogen Cycle:

1.Nitrogen fixation the conversion of nitrogen into nitrates. This occurs
during lightning and by the action of nitrogen fixing bacteria living
either in the soil (or in the roots of legumes e.g. red bean plant)
2. Decomposition Proteins in dead organic matter is converted to
ammonium compounds by micro-organisms called decomposers
(fungi + bacteria)
3. Nitrification the conversion of ammonium compounds in to
nitrites and nitrites into nitrates. This is done by the nitrifying bacteria.
4. Denitrification the conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen. This is
done by denitrifying bacteria.

Water Cycle
The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on,
above and below the surface of the Earth.

Processes involved in the Water Cycle

1.

Evaporation energy from the sun converts water from a liquid to

a gas/water vapor

2.

Transpiration the loss of water vapor from plants

3.

Respiration water is produced during respiration

4.

Condensation water vapor cools in the atmosphere and

condenses into water droplets forming clouds

5.

Precipitation water is released from clouds as rain, snow or hail

6.

Surface run off the water flowing over the earths surface

7.

Percolation the seeping of surface water into the soil