AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The red anthocyanins apparently prevent damage to leaves from intense light energy by absorbing ultraviolet light. There is also evidence that unpalatable compounds are often produced along with anthocyanins, which may be the plant’s way of advertising its toxicity to potential herbivores.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 2001, William Hoch, now at Montana State University, Bozeman, suggested that the pigment acts as a protective sunscreen, helping to keep leaves on the trees for longer so that more nutrients can be harvested from them.

Detailed explanation-3: -Other plants, like a red-leafed tree, have plenty of chlorophyll, but the molecule is masked by another pigment. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light, “reflecting, and thus appearing, green, ” Dr. Pell said. Chlorophyll uses this electromagnetic energy, along with carbon dioxide and water, to make glucose and oxygen.

Detailed explanation-4: -First, because anthocyanins are responsible for the colors of fruits and flowers as well as of leaves, it was natural to concentrate on pigmentation in the former economi-cally important organs, for which the function of anthocyanin seems obvi-ous-to attract animals for pollination and seed dispersal.

Detailed explanation-5: -The simplest hypothesis for how plants get rid of these extra photons is that once the light-harvesting complex absorbs them, chlorophylls pass them to nearby molecules called carotenoids. Carotenoids, which include lycopene and beta-carotene, are very good at getting rid of excess energy through rapid vibration.