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Light is the main source of energy for almost all ecosystems, because producers use it for photosynthesis. The light intensity, wavelength and duration (day length) all affect organisms.
Light intensity. The rate of photosynthesis increases with light intensity until another factor becomes limiting. Where light is low, such as on a woodland floor under a dense canopy or deep in water, fewer plants can grow, so primary productivity is lower.
Adaptations to shade. Plants that grow in shade often have larger, thinner leaves and more chlorophyll in their chloroplasts, so they absorb as much of the available light as possible. Many woodland plants such as bluebells grow and flower in early spring, before the trees come into leaf, when light still reaches the ground.
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Key terms in this lesson
- primary productivity
- The rate at which producers convert light energy into chemical energy in organic matter.
More in The Nature of Ecosystems
- Primary Succession
- Climax Community
- Secondary Succession
- Case Study: Sand Dune Succession
- Temperature
- Wind and Water Currents
- Water Availability
- Oxygen Availability
All 39 lessons in The Nature of Ecosystems · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics