Certain bacterial photoautotrophs use bacteriochlorophyll for photosynthesis.Bacteriochlorophyll molecules absorb light of longer wavelengths than the chlorophyll a molecules of other photosynthesizing organisms.The longer wavelengths pass through other organisms.What is the ecological advantage to this?
A) Bacteria can grow below dense layers of algae, using light not absorbed by the algae.
B) Bacteria can grow beneath algae layers because short wavelengths passing through algae are converted to longer wavelengths.
C) Bacteria can grow above algae because absorption of long wavelengths helps algae, on which bacteria feed.
D) The long wavelengths are absorbed and used to produce bioluminescence.
E) There is no ecological advantage to absorbing light of a longer wavelength.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By using bacteriochlorophyll to absorb longer wavelengths of light, certain bacterial photoautotrophs can still perform photosynthesis even in environments where other photosynthesizing organisms, such as algae, have already absorbed the shorter wavelengths of light. This allows the bacteria to occupy a niche that might not be available to other organisms, giving them an ecological advantage.

Certain Bacterial Photoautotrophs Use Bacteriochlorophyll for Photosynthesis