Lecture 15

Photosynthesis

The process of converting light

energy into chemical bond energy

(Bagley Chpt. 7)
 Ecosystems
Unusable
Low-grade
Thermal Top
Energy Waste
o
3 Consumers and
Dead,
2o Consumers
Uneaten
Primary Consumers Organisms

Primary Producers
Sunlight
Inorganic Constituents
(Water, CO2, N, P, minerals, etc.) Detrivores

Lost Energy
Comparative annual productivity of
aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
g organic matter
m-2 year-1
Open ocean:
phytoplankton 140
Freshwater lake:
phytoplankton 0 – 3,000
macrophytes (temperate) 650
free-floating plants (tropical) 5,000
 g organic matter
m-2 year-1
Wetland:
papyrus swamp 7,500
Terrestrial:
tropical rainforest 2,250
boreal forest 900
savannah grassland 790
temperate grassland 560
Fig. 6-2 Food Chain from Mass (Nutrients)
Figure 4-1 drawn using Stored Energy
Energy Symbols Detrivores Exported

Sun

Storage Top
Consumers
1°

Producers

1° 2° 3°
Consumers
Mass (nutrients)

Ecosystem Boundary
Thermodynamics
e.g., Production of glucose:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

∆G°(W) = +688 kJ/mol glucose

G = “Gibbs free energy”

= a measure of the chemical E for reactions
∆G°(W) = change in free energy at 1atm, 25°C, pH 7
∆G is +ve hence, the formation of glucose from CO2
and water requires energy
The reverse reaction releases energy:

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy!

- a common biochemical reaction in cells used

to produce the energy needed by cells and
organisms to survive
∆G is -ve hence, the formation of CO2 and water
from glucose releases energy
How do photosynthetic organisms convert
electromagnetic radiation into useful chemical
bond energy?

12 H2O → 6 O2 + 24 H+ + 24 e–
Oxidation reaction (atoms lose electrons)

6 CO2 + 24 H+ + 24 e– → C6H12O6 + 6 H2O

Reduction reaction (atoms receive electrons)
Result:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Photosynthetic organisms carry out the half
reactions separately:
• Oxidation during the light phase of
photosynthesis
• Reduction (synthesis) during the dark
phase (no light required)
– Occurs in BOTH daylight and darkness
Oxidation vs Synthesis

Time
Change in
O2 levels

Time
 Simplified Photosynthetic Pathways + +
NADP + H
High
P430 NADPH
Electron Transport 2 e–
Chains ADP

ATP e–
C550 e– e–

Energy Level
ADP Photosystem I
ATP
Light P700
400 - 500 nm e–

1
2 O2 + 2 H+

P680 2e – Light Low

H2 O ~700 nm
Photosystem II
 The Effect of Fall
Ratio of PSII:PSI
decreases in autumn

Chlorophyll - green
Carotene - yellow
Anthocyanins - red
 Possible Climate Change Impacts
• Effect of photoperiod (daylight hours)
interacts with effect of temperature
• Likely to affect relative participation of
photosystems I and II
• Even though fall temperatures may be
higher, since there is less light per day the
overall result is reduced photosynthesis
– Reduced energy capture
– Reduced O2 generation
Busch et al., 2008, Plant Physiology, 147, 402-414.