PCB 4043 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Bioremediation, Food Chemistry, Sulfur
19 May 2016
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Document Summary
Concept 5. 1: organisms obtain energy from sunlight, from inorganic chemical compounds, or through the consumption of organic compounds. Energy exists in many forms: radiant energy: sunlight, chemical energy: stored in the bonds of food molecules, kinetic energy: associated with movement of molecules; measured as temperature. Autotrophs: assimilate energy from sunlight (photosynthesis), or from inorganic compounds (chemosynthesis): the energy is converted into chemical energy stored in the bonds of organic molecules. Concept 5. 2: radiant and chemical energy captured by autotrophs is converted into stored energy in carbon-carbon bonds. Sunlight provides the energy to take up co2 and synthesize organic compounds. Chemosynthesis (chemolithotrophy): energy from inorganic compounds is used to produce carbohydrates: chemosynthesis is important in nutrient cycling bacteria, and in some ecosystems such as hydrothermal vent communities. In photosynthesis and chemosynthesis, energy is stored in the carbon carbon bonds of organic compounds: so ecologists often use carbon as a measure of energy.
