Question

What would happen if photosynthesis did not occur in plants? How would it affect other organisms? Write 3-5 sentences.

a) Oxygen levels would decrease, affecting aerobic organisms.
b) Food chains would collapse due to lack of primary producers.
c) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would rise.
d) Ecosystems reliant on plant energy production would suffer collapse.

Answer 1

Without photosynthesis, oxygen levels would drop, disrupting aerobic life; food chains would collapse without primary producers; carbon dioxide levels would rise, disrupting the carbon cycle; and ecosystems relying on plants would suffer severe collapses.

Step-by-step explanation:

If photosynthesis did not occur in plants, several critical changes would unfold in the environment. Firstly, oxygen levels would decrease since photosynthesis is responsible for producing the majority of oxygen in the atmosphere, thereby affecting aerobic organisms that depend on oxygen for respiration. Secondly, since plants are primary producers in most ecosystems, their absence would cause food chains to collapse, as animals and other organisms that depend on plants for food would be left without a vital energy source. Further, there would be a rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, as photosynthesis helps to regulate carbon dioxide by converting it into organic compounds. Finally, ecosystems particularly reliant on plant energy production, such as forests and aquatic environments where algae contribute significantly to the food web, would suffer profound collapses with far-reaching impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.