What type of respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen?

Aerobic respiration is the metabolic process that occurs in the presence of oxygen, allowing organisms to efficiently extract energy from glucose. During this process, glucose is broken down in a series of chemical reactions, primarily within the mitochondria of cells, to produce carbon dioxide and water as byproducts, along with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency of the cell.

Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, leading to a highly efficient conversion of energy and a significant yield of ATP. This is a crucial process for many living organisms, particularly those that require large amounts of energy, such as animals, plants, and some microorganisms.

In contrast, anaerobic respiration and fermentation occur in the absence of oxygen and yield less energy compared to aerobic respiration. While photosynthesis is a process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, it does not pertain to respiration and instead involves the fixation of carbon dioxide into glucose, utilizing sunlight. Thus, the clear distinction lies in aerobic respiration's dependence on oxygen for efficient energy production.