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What type of organism is responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy that can be used by all members of an ecosystem?

User Igbanam
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Plants (and some other autotrophic organisms like algae) are responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, providing energy for the entire ecosystem.

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Final answer:

Photoautotrophs such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, which is then used by other organisms in the ecosystem.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of organism responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy that can be used by all members of an ecosystem are known as photoautotrophs. These include plants, algae, and a specific group of bacteria called cyanobacteria. They perform a process known as photosynthesis, which captures solar energy and converts it into chemical energy, most notably in the form of glucose molecules. This energy is then made available to other organisms within the ecosystem, known as heterotrophs, which rely on consuming the sugars produced by photoautotrophs for their energy needs. Additionally, chemoautotrophs are a group of bacteria that synthesize sugars not by using the energy from sunlight, but rather by extracting energy from inorganic chemical compounds.

User Dirk Reichel
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