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The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment involving...
Autotrophs convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, lipids and other carbon compounds by absorbing it from the atmosphere. This in turn reduces the CO2 concentration of the atmosphere - it is currently 0.039% and lower in other areas of the Earth's surface where photosynthesis rates are high.
Carbon dioxide is soluble in water and thus in aquatic habitats is present as a dissolved gas and hydrogen carbonate ions. Carbon dioxide can dissociate to form hydrogen ions and hydrogen carbonate ions, later combining with water to form carbonic acid. Hence CO2 reduces water's pH.
Both dissolved CO2 and hydrogen carbonate ions are absorbed by aquatic plants and other autotrophs that live in water.
Autotrophs use carbon dioxide in the production of carbon compounds by photosynthesis or other processes. This reduces the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and thus sets up a concentration gradient between bodily cells and the surrounding air or water. Therefore, carbon dioxide diffuses from the atmosphere into autotrophs.
Carbon dioxide diffuses into land plants through the stomata in the underside of the leaves.
In aquatic plants the entire surface of the leaves and stems is usually permeable to carbon dioxide, and so diffusion can be through any parts of these parts of the plants.
Carbon dioxide is a waste product of aerobic cell respiration and is produced by all cells that aerobically respire. These can be grouped as:
Carbon dioxide produced by respiration diffuses out of cells and passes into the surrounding water or air.