Photosynthetic reactions can occur without oxygen that is anoxygenic; thus, they do not produce oxygen. There is a process called Phototrophy by which organisms trap light energy or photons to store it as chemical energy in the form of ATP or adenosine triphosphate and/or reducing power in NADPH. Two major types of phototrophy are –…
In photosynthesis, desert plant’s green leaves use water and carbon dioxide and fuel of sunlight as raw materials to manufacture food (carbohydrates) and oxygen. The leaf of a tree or a shrub is a miniature factory where food is made using fuel and raw materials. Leaves use chlorophyll, a green photoreceptive pigment (a light-receiving chemical)…
By definition, rainforests are woodlands characterized by lush vegetation and comparatively high temperature and rainfall throughout the year. The rainforest represents the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems ever to be spotted on Earth! Although the rainforest region accounts for less than 7 percent of the land surface on Earth, it contains more than 50 percent…
A food chain is a sequence of transfer of matter and energy through food, from one organism to another. Due to the fact that most consumers in a food chain feed on more than one type of plant or animal, an intertwined network of the food chain is often found in most ecosystems. This complex…
Virtually all animals and plants need water, light, air, and nutrition to grow and survive. Green plants get their nutrition through a complex chemical process known as photosynthesis. So, what is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and certain microorganisms use the energy from the sun to produce sugar. Water and Carbon…
The Ozone Layer is an important element in the history of life on earth. Without it, many living things probably would not exist and the earth would be extremely different. Millions of years ago, only single cell creatures existed on earth. At that time, the earth had no oxygen that would support life. But as…
The biosphere is also known as ecosphere. It is the worldwide sum of all ecosystems, incorporating all life forms and their relationships, which includes their interactions with the elements of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Simply put, the biosphere is the space on or near the Earth’s surface where land, air, and water interact with…
In an ecological food chain, consumers are classed into primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Primary consumers make up the second trophic level as they feed on primary producers. In other words, primary consumers are organisms that take up food directly from plants. Primary consumers are normally herbivores. They are also referred to as heterotrophs as…
All living organisms on Earth have carbon present in their systems. Carbon is an essential component that makes up the complex molecules of various organisms, humans included. The presence of carbon in living organisms distinguishes them from inorganic elements whose compounds lack the said element. Without carbon, biomolecules such as carbohydrates would never be completed….
Photosynthesis is the process through which plants convert light energy from the sun to chemical energy. The chemical energy is then stored as sugar. During the process of photosynthesis, plants capture light energy and use it to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen (released into the air) and glucose (stored in the plant and…
Chemical energy is one of the various forms energy can take, including kinetic energy, mechanical energy, and thermal energy. It is energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, such as sugar and gasoline. It is one of the most convenient forms we have for storing energy. Chemical energy comes in different forms and may…
Aquatic plants are simply plants that live in or around water. The opposite of an aquatic plant is a terrestrial plant, which simply means a plant that lives on land. Aquatic plants occur naturally in bodies of saltwater or freshwater, but they’re also commonly found in aquariums, water gardens, and decorative ponds. Just like terrestrial…
Taiga biome is derived from the Russian word, meaning forest. Despite that fact that it’s the largest terrestrial biome in the world, it’s a cold and lonely place, and many people are not familiar with the name. Although Taiga biome is so cold and remote, humans have had a deep influence here. Ancient humans hunted…
The word Tundra stems from the Finnish word tunturia, which means treeless mountain tract, and that’s what characterizes this biome. Out of all the biomes existing in the world, tundra is the coldest. Although peaceful, tundra has unique and rich biodiversity. It’s cover about 10% of the earth’s surface. Scientists believe that it’s the youngest…
If you’ve ever scuba-dived or snorkeled near a coral reef, then you know that these series of small and gigantic structures are part of an interesting yet sensitive ecosystem. Coral reefs are important to marine animals as they provide them food, shelter and breeding grounds. Many think that coral reef is a composition of the…