Photosynthesis and respiration

Abstract The effect of light on oxygen uptake and production by algae has been studied. Illumination was found to influence oxygen uptake by two mechanisms. Oxygen uptake was found to be inhibited at low light intensities and accelerated at medium to high intensities. The inhibition of uptake was mainly sensitized by chlorophyll a. The effects of starvation, glucose supplementation, and DCMU inhibition on the oxygen uptake rates in the light are described.