photosynthesizers
Light-fed living things
Photosynthesizers are organisms that convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
Plants, algae, and certain bacteria are photosynthesizers—they use sunlight to produce sugars from carbon dioxide and water.
The term appears in biology and ecology: Phytoplankton are the ocean's primary photosynthesizers.
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- seaweedSaltwater aquatic plants
kelp · mosses · ferns · plants · trees · grasses · lichens · autotrophs
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
- pigmentColor-imparting material
- photosystemsChloroplast light-capture units
- chromophoresLight-absorbing molecular regions
Radiance from our star
- photolysisMolecular breakdown via light
- photosystemsChloroplast light-capture units
- excitationStimulation of response
Light-harvesting cell structure
Carbon dioxide formula
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- starchComplex plant carbohydrate
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- terrestrialRelating to land
- marineRelating to the sea
freshwater · rainforest · ocean · coral-reef · wetland · habitat · biodiversity
algae
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
seaweed · kelp · mosses · ferns · plants · trees · grasses · lichens · autotrophs · flora
chlorophyll
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- carotenoidsFat-soluble plant pigments
- pigmentColor-imparting material
- photosystemsChloroplast light-capture units
sunlight
Radiance from our star
- photolysisMolecular breakdown via light
- photosystemsChloroplast light-capture units
- excitationStimulation of response
chloroplast
Light-harvesting cell structure
- stromaSupportive tissue framework
- lamellaeThin parallel plates
- mesophyllPhotosynthetic tissue in leaves
stomata · membrane · organelle · plastid · cytoplasm · cell-wall
CO2
Carbon dioxide formula
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- starchComplex plant carbohydrate
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomassLiving material in aggregate
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
- terrestrialRelating to land
marine · freshwater · rainforest · ocean · coral-reef · wetland · habitat · biodiversity
photosynthesizersheterotrophs
Organisms needing external nutrition
consumers · decomposers · herbivores · carnivores · predators