Answer 1:
Plants need oxygen when they're not
photosynthesizing (e.g. at night).
There are other life-forms capable of
photosynthesis and producing oxygen, including
many forms of algae and some bacteria. However, if
all photosynthetic life were to become extinct,
then animals (including humans) would die out as
well, yes.
|
Answer 2:
You are absolutely correct, plants definitely
need oxygen just like most other organisms. Plants
generally have a net uptake of CO2
compared to O2. The plant uses this
carbon to create sugars (for energy) and construct
plant tissue (for structure, this is how plants
grow). Oxygen is used to break apart the sugars
and release energy when needed. If all plants were
gone (let's say that this means all photosynthetic
organisms including bacteria), then yes, we would
all suffocate from lack of oxygen as it would get
used up by all of the organisms left on earth.
Nothing would survive, but I don't foresee this
happening as there are many, many different
organisms that photosynthesize and release oxygen
into the atmosphere. Here is the history of Oxygen
build-up in our atmosphere: click
here to read about
Click Here to return to the search form.
|