Field Botany: Photosynthetic Processes

This set of flashcards includes key terms and definitions related to variation in photosynthetic processes, including C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis, as discussed in the Field Botany lecture.

Photorespiration

A process in C3 photosynthesis where RuBisCO captures oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, leading to a net loss of carbon.

C3 photosynthesis

A type of photosynthesis in which carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle occur in the same location and time.

C4 photosynthesis

A physiological adaptation that spatially separates carbon uptake and fixation to enhance water use efficiency.

CAM photosynthesis

A type of photosynthesis that temporally separates CO2 uptake and fixation, commonly found in succulents and epiphytes.

RuBisCO

The enzyme that catalyzes the first step of carbon fixation in the Calvin cycle.

Calvin cycle

A series of biochemical redox reactions that take place in the stroma of chloroplasts during photosynthesis.

Stomata

Small openings on the surface of leaves that allow the exchange of gases (CO2 and O2) with the environment.

Light energy

The energy that plants absorb from sunlight to drive photosynthetic processes.

4-carbon acids

Compounds formed during the initial fixation of CO2 in C4 photosynthesis.

Water use efficiency

The ratio of carbon dioxide fixed to water lost during photosynthesis, higher in C4 and CAM plants compared to C3 plants.