Final answer:
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between organisms and the environment is facilitated by ventilation (breathing) and gas exchange, with photosynthesis and cellular respiration playing key roles in the carbon cycle and recycling of oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exchange of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
The two processes responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between living organisms and the environment are ventilation or breathing, and gas exchange. Ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs, while gas exchange involves the actual transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and the blood within the lungs. Moreover, photosynthesis and cellular respiration complement these processes on a biological level by recycling oxygen in Earth's atmosphere and maintaining the carbon cycle.
Photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, mainly carried out by autotrophs such as plants. On the other hand, cellular respiration, which consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, takes place within all aerobic organisms. These reactions are critical to sustaining life and ecological balance, as they ensure a constant supply of the necessary gases for organisms to thrive.
Respiration by the respiratory system is essential for supplying oxygen for cellular respiration and removing carbon dioxide produced by cells during this process. Cellular respiration is a metabolic process where energy is obtained by 'burning' glucose in the presence of oxygen. In summary, breathing facilitates the inhalation of oxygen and the exhalation of carbon dioxide, while gas exchange and cellular processes manage the utilization and production of these gases.