Terrestrial Ecosystem
Description:
In the Terrestrial Ecosystem, carbon cycles between land plants and animals. The plants get carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to perform photosynthesis which makes sugars, and the animals get the energy they need from the sugars in plants. The carbon used by plants for photosynthesis is turned into sugars, such as glucose, sucrose, fructose and starch. It sometimes is used to make the cell walls called cellulose. The carbon stored in the animals are in the form of fats (lipids) and proteins. When they exhale carbon dioxide, it goes straight to the atmosphere.
In the Terrestrial Ecosystem, carbon cycles between land plants and animals. The plants get carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to perform photosynthesis which makes sugars, and the animals get the energy they need from the sugars in plants. The carbon used by plants for photosynthesis is turned into sugars, such as glucose, sucrose, fructose and starch. It sometimes is used to make the cell walls called cellulose. The carbon stored in the animals are in the form of fats (lipids) and proteins. When they exhale carbon dioxide, it goes straight to the atmosphere.
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Carbon Transfer Process: Photosynthesis
NET EFFECT: Removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores Carbon in Chemicals.
Carbon Flux: about 102 Billion Metric Tons / Yr is removed from the atmosphere.
Plants such as the one shown below removes CO2 from the atmosphere and store it. Photosynthesis uses CO2 from the atmosphere, energy from the sun, and water to produce carbohydrates (sugar) and oxygen. Light enegy from the sun is stored in the chemical bonds of the surgar molecues. Some of these carbohydrates are incorporated into plant tissue, where they are stored. The net effect of this process is that CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the tissue of plants. A generalized chemical equation for the process of photosynthesis is:
Carbon Flux: about 102 Billion Metric Tons / Yr is removed from the atmosphere.
Plants such as the one shown below removes CO2 from the atmosphere and store it. Photosynthesis uses CO2 from the atmosphere, energy from the sun, and water to produce carbohydrates (sugar) and oxygen. Light enegy from the sun is stored in the chemical bonds of the surgar molecues. Some of these carbohydrates are incorporated into plant tissue, where they are stored. The net effect of this process is that CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the tissue of plants. A generalized chemical equation for the process of photosynthesis is:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy --> C6H12O6 (sugar) + 6 O2