GEOL 3070 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Limiting Factor, Nutrient Cycle, Redfield Ratio
25 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Primary production: synthesis of organic matter (reduced c-h-o molecules) from dissolved inorganic carbon, water, and energy --> autotrophic process. Energy from environment is converted into stored chemical energy (carbohydrates) Stored chemical energy can be retrieved through respiration, either by the autotrophs or by the heterotrophs that eat it. >90% of marine production is from unicellular plankton. = conversion of solar energy into stored chemical energy. Temperature storage of electrical energy in intermediary chemical bonds. Long-term energy storage --> intermediary bond energy used to reduce carbon (transfer electrons from o to c), producing "fixed" carbon molecules (carbohydrates) Electrons are transferred from o (in h2o) to c (in c6h12o6) Valence state: # of excess or deficit electrons relative to protons. Often = # of electrons required to fill outer shell. Sign is net charge on atoms (protons - electrons) =retrieval of energy from organic molecules by both autotrophs and heterotrophs. Organic carbon is re-oxidized by donating electrons to an electron accepter.
