Question

name and describe the two types of food making found among autotrophs and give an example of each. Which is quantitatively more important to life on earth (which are there more of)?

Answer 1

Answer:

See the answer below

Explanation:

Autotrophs are organisms that have the capacity to manufacture their foods from freely available inorganic products. There are two types of autotrophs

1. The photosynthetic autotrophs: these are green plants and blue-green algae that possess chlorophyll. The chlorophyll is used to trap radiation from the sun in the presence of water and carbon dioxide to manufacture carbohydrates which serve as their primary foods.

$6CO_2 + 6H_2O + sunlight --> C_6H_1_2O_6 + 6O_2$

2. The chemosynthetic autotrophs: these are usually bacteria that make use of energy from inorganic chemicals (such as hydrogen sulphide, iron sulphide, etc) to reduce carbon dioxide and produce carbohydrates in the process.

$CO_2 + 4H_2S + O_2 -> CH_2O + 4S + 3H_2O$

Photosynthesis is quantitatively more important to life on earth because green plants form the base of several food chains. The energy locked in the carbohydrate produced during photosynthesis is important for other lives in the ecosystem and this is passed on through the various levels in the food chain. Also, the by-product of photosynthesis, the oxygen, is important for the survival of most life on earth who depends on oxygen for respiration. Chemosynthesis only occur in habitats where the radiant energy of the sun is lacking, such as hydrothermal vents.