Answer the following questions based on the diagram and what you’ve learned from this lesson.
Based on what you’ve learned, why did plants most likely evolve to use photosynthesis? Which environmental factors would select for this process for storing solar energy, or sunlight, in the form of organic molecules?
Plants have used photosynthesis for more than 500 million years. What does this tell you about the evolution of plants and the importance of photosynthesis? Can you describe an environment that would select for other mechanisms of energy conversion and storage besides photosynthesis?
Based on the diagram and what you’ve learned, what conclusions can you draw about specific advantageous traits that led to the evolution of photosynthesis?
Photosynthesizing plants covered much of the Earth and moved onto land before animals evolved to become land based. What is one impact that this most likely had on the evolution of animal
based on what you’ve learned, why did plants most likely evolve to use photosynthesis?
Plants most likely evolved to use photosynthesis as a way to efficiently convert solar energy into usable energy in the form of organic molecules. This process allowed them to create their own food and survive in various environments. Environmental factors that would select for photosynthesis include access to sunlight, availability of water, and the presence of carbon dioxide.
plants have used photosynthesis for more than 500 million years. What does this tell you about the evolution of plants and the importance of photosynthesis?
The fact that plants have used photosynthesis for such a long time indicates that this process has been crucial for their survival and evolution. Photosynthesis has allowed plants to successfully colonize various habitats and adapt to changing environmental conditions over millions of years. It highlights the importance of this process in sustaining life on Earth.
Based on the diagram and what you’ve learned, what conclusions can you draw about specific advantageous traits that led to the evolution of photosynthesis?
One advantageous trait that likely led to the evolution of photosynthesis is the ability to capture sunlight energy and convert it into chemical energy. Plants developed specialized structures such as chloroplasts and pigments like chlorophyll to efficiently carry out photosynthesis. The ability to store energy in organic molecules enabled plants to grow, reproduce, and thrive in diverse environments.
Photosynthesizing plants covered much of the Earth and moved onto land before animals evolved to become land based. What is one impact that this most likely had on the evolution of animals?
One impact that the widespread presence of photosynthesizing plants on land may have had on the evolution of animals is providing a source of food and oxygen. Animals that evolved to feed on plant material or other animals that fed on plants indirectly benefitted from photosynthesis. Additionally, the release of oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis likely played a role in shaping the evolution of aerobic respiration in animals.