Questions
The following questions are on your next assignment in Google Classroom. Read the notes below and do the interactives to find these answers. We'll also be discussing the notes in class.
- What is photosynthesis for?
- What 2 ingredients does a plant need to make its own food and where do they come from?
- Where does a plant get the energy to make it's own food?
- What is released as "waste" into the air during photosynthesis?
- What is respiration for?
- What 2 ingredients are needed for respiration and where do they come from?
- What is released into the air as "waste" during respiration?
- Do plants respire?
- Explain the relationship between organisms that photosynthesize and organisms that respire? (in other words, how do they depend on each other?
Photosynthesis, Respiration & Interdependence
Two of the 5 basic habitat resources are food and air. Organisms depend on each other for these resources and get it through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
Remember! All living things need energy to live and they get that energy from food. Some organisms make their own food using a process called photosynthesis. They are called producers. [If you need a refresher on this go to this link.] Organisms that consume other organisms to get their food are called consumers.
Whether you are a producer (i.e., a plant) or a consumer (i.e., an animal), you must change the food (biomatter) you consume into energy. The process of turning your food into energy is called respiration. The energy produced by respiration is used to run your metabolism - or the processes that maintain life.
Remember! All living things need energy to live and they get that energy from food. Some organisms make their own food using a process called photosynthesis. They are called producers. [If you need a refresher on this go to this link.] Organisms that consume other organisms to get their food are called consumers.
Whether you are a producer (i.e., a plant) or a consumer (i.e., an animal), you must change the food (biomatter) you consume into energy. The process of turning your food into energy is called respiration. The energy produced by respiration is used to run your metabolism - or the processes that maintain life.
II. Photosynthesis, Respiration & Interdependence
A. 2 of the 5 habitat resources are food and air
1. 1.Producers & consumers depend on each other for both these resources using processes of ‘photosynthesis’ & ‘respiration’
B. Photosynthesis: process used by plants, algae and some bacteria to produce their own food while releasing oxygen (O2) into the air
1. A plant takes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air through its stomata (little pores on the leaves), and water (H2O) from the soil (through its roots) and, using the sun's energy, converts (or changes) them to a sugar (the plant's food, called glucose) and oxygen (O2), which is released
2. Plants produce more O2 than they need, so most of the O2 is released into the air as waste
a. One tree can produce enough extra O2 for 4-6 adults
b. 70-80% of the Earth's O2 is produced by photosynthesizing ocean algae
C. Respiration: process used to turn food (biomass) back into energy
1. Most organisms- including producers- use O2 for respiration & release CO2 and H2O as a waste
a. That CO2 is then available for the plants to use again for making their own food
i. It's a cycle of interdependence - organisms that photosynthesize depend on organisms that respire for CO2 and respirers depend on photosynthesizers for food and O2
A. 2 of the 5 habitat resources are food and air
1. 1.Producers & consumers depend on each other for both these resources using processes of ‘photosynthesis’ & ‘respiration’
B. Photosynthesis: process used by plants, algae and some bacteria to produce their own food while releasing oxygen (O2) into the air
1. A plant takes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air through its stomata (little pores on the leaves), and water (H2O) from the soil (through its roots) and, using the sun's energy, converts (or changes) them to a sugar (the plant's food, called glucose) and oxygen (O2), which is released
2. Plants produce more O2 than they need, so most of the O2 is released into the air as waste
a. One tree can produce enough extra O2 for 4-6 adults
b. 70-80% of the Earth's O2 is produced by photosynthesizing ocean algae
C. Respiration: process used to turn food (biomass) back into energy
1. Most organisms- including producers- use O2 for respiration & release CO2 and H2O as a waste
a. That CO2 is then available for the plants to use again for making their own food
i. It's a cycle of interdependence - organisms that photosynthesize depend on organisms that respire for CO2 and respirers depend on photosynthesizers for food and O2
b. Plants use up most (90%) of the food they make for their own energy needs
i. The remaining 10% is used for growth & is stored in the plant as biomass that primary consumers may use as food C. Almost all consumers depend on photosynthesizing organisms (directly or indirectly) for food and O2 1. Primary consumers need plants for food and oxygen so they may turn their food into energy through respiration 2. Other consumers need plants to feed the primary consumers they eat and to turn their food into energy |
The 'Simple' Story of Photosynthesis & Respiraton
I usually don't teach about ATP at this grade level, but I liked how this video explains the relationship between photosynthesis and respiration. just know that when you respire (convert your food into chemical energy), the energy is stored in the form of a molecule called ATP. This is what all cells use as their energy source, but it has to first be produced through the process of respiration in the mitochondria.
We've learned that chloroplasts in plant cells are where glucose is made, but ALL cells need energy - even plant cells - to carry out these processes. So all eukaryotic cells also have mitochondria to turn the food into useable energy. Think of the mitochondria as the power plant in a factory where, for example, coal is burned to make electricity. In respiration, glucose is 'burned' to make energy. Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm going to take a run to burn off some calories?" If you're out running, you need to use more energy than if you were sleeping. So your mitochondria have to work harder to convert your food into the energy your muscle cells need to go out running. Notice that you're also breathing harder when you run. Why? Because respiration requires oxygen!
We've learned that chloroplasts in plant cells are where glucose is made, but ALL cells need energy - even plant cells - to carry out these processes. So all eukaryotic cells also have mitochondria to turn the food into useable energy. Think of the mitochondria as the power plant in a factory where, for example, coal is burned to make electricity. In respiration, glucose is 'burned' to make energy. Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm going to take a run to burn off some calories?" If you're out running, you need to use more energy than if you were sleeping. So your mitochondria have to work harder to convert your food into the energy your muscle cells need to go out running. Notice that you're also breathing harder when you run. Why? Because respiration requires oxygen!