You're looking at an experiment by Joseph Priestley from 1771, which helps illustrate the relationship between animal respiration and plant photosynthesis. The graph shows how the respiration rate of a mouse changes over time and how the introduction of a mint plant affects it.
Let's go through the questions:
1. What is the relationship between the mouse and mint plant (What does the plant give off that the mouse takes in)?
The mint plant gives off oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which the mouse takes for respiration.
2. Explain why the respiration rate of the mouse would increase as less and less oxygen is available. (See 0 – 60 min)
As the oxygen levels decrease, the mouse's respiration rate increases as it tries to take in more air to compensate for the lower oxygen availability. This is a physiological response to ensure that adequate oxygen reaches the body's cells.
3. For what does the mouse use oxygen?
The mouse uses oxygen for cellular respiration, the process by which cells produce energy (ATP) from food.
4. How does the addition of the mint sprig affect the mouse?
Adding the mint sprig introduces a source of oxygen through photosynthesis, which can help stabilize and increase the oxygen availability in the sealed jar, potentially decreasing the mouse's respiration rate as the oxygen levels go up.
5. Why does the rate of respiration change after the sprig of mint was added?
The rate of respiration changes after the mint is added because the mint produces oxygen, which increases the oxygen concentration in the jar. This allows the mouse to breathe more normally without having to increase its respiration rate to get the oxygen it needs.
6. How do the process of the mouse and the process of the mint relate?
The process of the mouse (respiration) and the process of the mint (photosynthesis) are complementary. The mouse consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide as it breathes, while the mint consumes generallyincreasingit and releases oxygen during photosynthesis. This creates a symbiotic relationship where the byproduct of each process serves as a reactant for the other.
The answer to the first question on your worksheet seems to be a misunderstanding. The mint does not make the respiration rate decrease; it actually contributes to the oxygen level, which in turn may stabilize or reduce the respiration rate from what it would be in a low-oxygen environment. The plant helps to balance the oxygen levels in the sealed environment, which would otherwise decrease due to the mouse's respiration.