The Discovery of Photosynthesis - Julian Rubin

Indeed, Finelli et al. (2006) discuss the link between coral tissue thickness and damage by 'harmful levels of oxygen.' Their discussion concerned water motion and photosynthesis - that will be our topic for next time, along with synergistic effect of bicarbonate.

Carbon dioxide + Water + Light energy → Glucose + Oxygen)
In this equation, carbon dioxide, water and sunlight are the reactants which are present at the start of the reaction, while glucose and oxygen are the products of this process.

What are the Products of Photosynthesis ? - BiologyWise

A Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer (Junior PAM, Heinz Walz GmbH, Effeltrich, Germany) with a fiber optic cord measured the relative rate of photosynthesis (relative electron transport rate, or rETR) of the coral's zooxanthellae under conditions of low, natural, slightly elevated, and high alkalinity. Alkalinity concentrations were adjusted upwards with a commercially available buffer (Reef Builder, Seachem Laboratories, Madison, Georgia, USA.) Alkalinity was measured with a colorimeter (Alkalinity Checker HI755, Hanna Instruments, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA.) and doubled checked initially by titration to a pH of 4.2 through use of a commercially available titrant (1.6N sulfuric acid) and a digital titrator (Hach, Loveland, Colorado, USA.)

Various other living beings, including humans, are either direct, or indirect beneficiaries of photosynthesis.



Sunlight is one of the basic requirements when it comes to photosynthesis and that explains why plants don't photosynthesize at night.

Photosynthesis | Article about photosynthesis by The …

While hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide and used by the plant to produce its food, oxygen―being a by-product of the entire process―is released into the atmosphere through the stomata.

The entire process can be put forth in the form on an equation:


The Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plants, which are usually found in arid regions, have a unique way of photosynthesizing.

Importance of Light in Photosynthesis (Procedure) : …

To answer this question, experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that alkalinity concentrations could affect the rates of photosynthesis.

What is the Significance of Photosynthesis?

Natural seawater in a 10-gallon (38 liter) aquarium was spiked with ammonium hydroxide, and the nitrification process (conversion of ammonia to nitrate) reduced alkalinity to an unnaturally low concentration over the course of a few weeks. Once fully nitrified, half of this water was transferred to a five-gallon (19 liter) aquarium which contained a rack fashioned of plastic egg crate material. Fragments of the stony coral (glued to 'reef plugs') were then placed on this rack. Lighting was provided by a LED luminaire (dimmable) made by BuildMyLED (Austin, Texas, USA) and maintained at a sub-saturating intensity of 100 µmol·m²·sec as measured by a LiCor quantum meter and submersible LI-192 2 sensor (LiCor Biosciences, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.) A Tunze 6040 (Tunze Aquarientechnik GmbH, Penzberg, Germany) variable speed propeller pump moved water in this aquarium.

Photosynthesis - Song with Free Worksheets and Activities

This carbon dioxide is stored as a four-carbon acid, and is eventually used during the process of photosynthesis on the next day.

Other than plants, even some species of algae and bacteria resort to this process in order to generate their food.

LabBench Activity Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis

Reef aquarists should routinely monitor the alkalinity content of their aquaria as it is important for a number of reasons. Alkalinity acts as a buffer against downward shifts in pH which is important since the nitrification process destroys it. Carbonates and calcium are essential in formation of corals' skeletons. But what of its importance in acting as an inorganic carbon source for photosynthesis?

They are 'plants', with approx 5 in a team

Figure 1. Rates of photosynthesis (expressed as relative electron transport rates) of zooxanthellae within a coral under various alkalinity concentrations. For those preferring alkalinity reported as dKH, 53 ppm = 2.968 dKH; 114 = 6.384; 155 = 8.68 and 215 = 12.04.