Plants have mitochondria and can perform cellular respiration. When would plants need to release energy by cellular respiration? Plants would release energy through cellular respiration in times when sunlight is not present.

The animals in the food web release CARBON DIOXIDE into the environment, which plants then use for PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

Animals and plants need oxygen. The cells in both plants and animals perform respiration. Carbon dioxide is also released into the atmosphere when fuels are burned, such as in automobiles or factories. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen through their leaves.

Plants, like animals, undergo cellular respiration to break down food (in the form of sugar, or glucose, C6H12O6) for energy to live. Respiration requires oxygen to convert the glucose into energy, water, and carbon dioxide. And in fact, plants undergo respiration all the time, both night and day.

The outcome of cellular respiration is that the plant takes in glucose and oxygen, gives out carbon dioxide and water and releases energy. Plants respire at all times of the day and night because their cells need a constant energy source to stay alive.

During photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air. Through a series of steps, much like cellular respiration, they convert these reactants into the products oxygen and glucose. The plants then can use the oxygen and glucose to make ATP in cellular respiration.

The increase in temperature enhances the rate of cellular respiration. It is due to the heat speeds up the reactions, means the kinetic energy is higher. It means reactions speed up and rate of cellular respiration increases. When temperature decreases, in order to conserve energy, cellular processes slow.