BIOL 215 Lecture Notes - Carboniferous, Biome, Herbivore
11 Mar 2013
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Document Summary
Primary production in aquatic systems cannot harvest like terrestrial production - not effective here. Photosynthesis confined to the upper layers of the lake or ocean. Light decays exponentially as it penetrates into any body of water. Photosynthesis is roughly proportional to light; greater rate of photosynthesis at higher depths. Sometimes photosynthesis is weaker at the surface of water (ocean). This is known as photo-inhibition where light levels are too strong and actually inhibitory. Difference between clear lake and lake tahoe (very few coloured matter) is that rate of photosynthesis can penetrate deeper if less coloured matter is absorbing the light. If we were to measure the relative amount of light that penetrated to the depth were photosynthesis is almost zero, it corresponds to about. 1% of the light at the surface; 1% light depth. Below that depth, there is too little light to allow photosynthesis to occur.
