Question

How do cellular respiration and photosynthesis relate to the interactions within an ecosystem How does energy and chemical elements move through the ecosystem

Answer 1

Answer -Two most important and fundamental cellular processes are :

• cellular respiration and
• photosynthesis.

Cellular respiration is the process by which cells release stored energy from sugars. Photosynthesis is the process in which producer cells use carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients to produce glucose and oxygen.

Together these two processes make the recycling of carbon possible within the ecosystem, and move necessary molecules, both chemicals and energy molecules through the ecosystems.

Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis are connected within an ecosystem :

The products of one process are the reagents of the other process. As shown below, the chemical equation for cellular respiration is the direct opposite of photosynthesis:

• Cellular Respiration: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O
• Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6+ 6O2

Photosynthesis makes the glucose that is used in cellular respiration to make ATP. The glucose is then converted back into carbon dioxide, which is reagent for photosynthesis. Here water is broken down to form oxygen during photosynthesis, but in cellular respiration oxygen is combined with hydrogen to form water.

While photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, the cellular respiration requires oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. This released oxygen is used by us and most other organisms for cellular respiration.

Other than these chemicals, energy also move in the ecosystem. Energy flows through an ecosystem in only one direction. Energy is passed from organisms at one trophic level or energy level to organisms in the next trophic level. According to 10% Law, only ten percent of energy of first trophic level is available at second trophic level and so on. This Ten percent law for the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next was introduced by Lindemann.

Cellular respiration and photosynthesis are important parts of the carbon cycle. Here in carbon cycle, chemicals and energy both move through the ecosystem. The carbon cycle is the pathway through which carbon is recycled in the biosphere. Here, on one hand the cellular respiration releases carbon dioxide into the environment, but on the other hand the photosynthesis drives carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen during these two processes within the ecosystem keeps atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide at stable levels, with a dynamic equilibrium existing there.

Also, through food chains and food webs various organisms, both autotrophs and heterotrophs are linked together in the ecosystem where both chemicals and energy molecules move throughout the ecosystem on the basis of biogeochemical cycles (like carbon cycle involving both cellular respiration and photosynthesis) and the 10% Law of Lindemann, respectively.

so, cellular respiration and photosynthesis are linked intricately within an ecosystem and both provide feeders into each other in the form of chemicals and energy molecules.