An established bacterial community is exposed to a dark environment for several days. Bacteria that require light to reproduce will show compared to bacteria that do not require light to reproduce (1 point)
the same amount of growth
lack of growth
more growth
uncontrollable growth
lack of growth
Lack of growth
In this scenario, when an established bacterial community is exposed to a dark environment for several days, the bacteria that require light to reproduce will likely show a lack of growth compared to bacteria that do not require light to reproduce.
To understand why this is the case, it is essential to know that some bacteria have evolved the ability to undergo photosynthesis, the process of converting light energy into chemical energy. These bacteria, also known as phototrophic bacteria, use light as their primary source of energy to carry out various cellular processes, including growth and reproduction.
When these phototrophic bacteria are deprived of light in a dark environment, they become unable to carry out photosynthesis. As a result, their energy supply is significantly reduced or completely cut off, leading to a lack of growth and reproduction.
On the other hand, bacteria that do not require light for reproduction, such as non-photosynthetic or heterotrophic bacteria, obtain their energy by breaking down organic compounds or other sources of sustenance. These bacteria are not reliant on light for their growth and can continue their reproductive processes even in the absence of light.
Therefore, when an established bacterial community is exposed to darkness, the non-photosynthetic bacteria that do not rely on light will continue to grow and reproduce, while the phototrophic bacteria will show a lack of growth due to the absence of their energy source.