Algae often float on surface of water during day but sink down during ...
Liberation of oxygen is not concerned with cyclic photophosphorylation. This system is not concerned with photo-oxidation of water but only concerned with the production of ATP. Non-cyclic photophosphorylation is the light-requiring part of photosynthesis in higher plants, in which an electron donor is required, and oxygen is produced as a waste product. It consists of two photoreactions, resulting in the synthesis of ATP and NADPH.
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Algae often float on surface of water during day but sink down during ...
The reason of algae float to the surface during the day & sink at night is due to photosynthesis. In Day time, the algae is producing oxygen. When enough Oxygen is produced during the day , it gets trapped in bubbles and it can lift the clumps up to the surface. In night, this oxygen is consumed and CO2 is produced. So algae sinks.
Algae often float on surface of water during day but sink down during ...
Understanding Algal Behavior: Day vs. Night
Algae exhibit unique behavior in aquatic environments, floating during the day and sinking at night. This phenomenon can be attributed to their photosynthetic processes and the evolution of oxygen.
Daytime: Photosynthesis and Buoyancy
- During the day, algae undergo photosynthesis, a process that converts sunlight into energy while producing oxygen as a byproduct.
- The oxygen generated becomes trapped in the algae cells or forms bubbles that adhere to their surface.
- These trapped oxygen bubbles increase the buoyancy of the algae, allowing them to float on the water's surface, where they can access sunlight more effectively.
Nighttime: Sinking Mechanism
- At night, photosynthesis ceases, and algae consume stored energy.
- The production of oxygen halts, and the previously trapped bubbles may dissipate or escape.
- As a result, the overall buoyancy of the algae decreases, causing them to sink.
Conclusion: The Role of Oxygen Bubbles
- The critical factor behind this floating and sinking behavior is the trapping of oxygen bubbles during photosynthesis.
- This evolutionary adaptation allows algae to optimize their position for sunlight exposure during the day and adapt to changes in their environment at night.
Understanding this behavior is essential for grasping the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems and the role of algae within them.
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