GPT Photosynthesis and Biomass 10/20

Biomass refers to the organic material produced by living organisms, primarily plants, as a result of photosynthesis.

1. What is biomass in the context of photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which serves as the building block for plant growth and biomass production.

2. How does photosynthesis contribute to the creation of biomass?

Reactants: Carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and sunlight.

Products: Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂).

3. What are the basic reactants and products of photosynthesis that contribute to biomass?

Plants use photosynthesis to create organic matter, which serves as the foundation of the food chain, supporting all other life forms.

4. Why are plants considered the primary producers of biomass?

Glucose is used for energy through respiration, stored as starch, or converted into structural materials like cellulose, which increases plant biomass.

5. What happens to the glucose produced during photosynthesis?

More sunlight leads to higher photosynthetic activity, increasing glucose production and plant growth, which results in more biomass.

6. How does the amount of sunlight affect biomass production?

Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and converts it into chemical energy, enabling photosynthesis and the production of organic material that contributes to biomass.

7. What role does chlorophyll play in biomass production?

Faster photosynthesis leads to more plant growth, increasing biomass, which supports herbivores and the entire food web.

8. How does the rate of photosynthesis impact an ecosystem’s biomass?

Rainforests receive abundant sunlight, water, and nutrients, leading to high photosynthetic rates and large amounts of plant biomass.

9. Why do tropical rainforests have high biomass compared to deserts?

Carbon from CO₂ is incorporated into glucose molecules, which are then used to build plant structures like leaves, stems, and roots.

10. What happens to the carbon in CO₂ during photosynthesis, and how does it contribute to biomass?