In nature, organisms are usually part of a dynamic and complex ecosystem. They exchange energy and nutrients among themselves and with the environment. In your investigation, you used algae and carbon dioxide indicator solution to study the balance between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. How could you investigate photosynthesis and cellular respiration in an ecosystem?

Photosynthesis produces most of energy that occurs in an ecosystem. Respiration returns Carbon Dioxide to the ecosystem to be used again in Photosynthesis

Explanation:

Photosynthesis is the process by which light energy is used to produce oxygen, glucose, and

water from water and carbon dioxide. The reactions of photosynthesis can be summarized as:

122 + 62 → 62 + 6126 + 62

At the same time photosynthesis is occurring, respiration is also taking place. While

photosynthesis is an energy-acquiring process, respiration is an energy-releasing process.

6126 + 62 → 62 + 62

What happened when you put algae beads in the carbon dioxide indicator:

The CO2 indicator will turn more alkaline under light conditions because the algae beads photosynthesize faster than they respire, resulting in a decrease of CO2, which increases the pH of the CO2 indicator. ... No, cellular respiration decreases the observed rate of photosynthesis by producing CO2.

Why the pH of the indicator solution change as the algae undergoes photosynthesis and cellular respiration:

The pH of the CO2 indicator would increase as the algae photosynthesizes in the light. ... As a result of this decrease, less carbonic acid dissociates, decreasing the amount hydrogen ions, thus the pH is increased. However, as the cells respire, the concentration of carbon dioxide is increases.

The roles of photosynthesis and respiration in the ecosystem:

Photosynthesis produces the energy that is the basis of the energy in an ecosystem. The energy pyramid has the energy of photosynthesis as the base of the pyramid. The second layer of the energy level of the ecosystem the first level consumers is limited to only 10% of the energy produced by photosynthesis.

Both plants and animals use the energy produced by photosynthesis for metabolic process necessary for life. Cellular respiration is the process by which the potential biochemical energy produced by photosynthesis is and utilized by the cells in plants and animals.

Respiration produces Carbon Dioxide as a by product. Carbon dioxide is essential to the process of photosynthesis, Without the Carbon Dioxide produced by cellular respiration life would cease as photosynthesis would cease.