Question

A window aquarium contains algae and herbivorous snails.Which of the following statements 13 mOslikely true of the system?a) If the algae are removed, the oxygen level will go up.b) If the snails are removed, carbon dioxide will no longer be produced.c) If predators of the snails are introduced, the algal population will grow.d) If the algae are removed, the snails will become filter feeders.e) The level of carbon dioxide is likely to be lower at night than during the day.

Answer 1

In the aquarium, the algae fix carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen needed for the snails, while the snails feed from the algae, use the oxygen in respiration and release carbon dioxide.

This means option a cannot be true because if you remove the algae, the oxygen levels would drop.

Option b is not true either, because algae also perform cellular respiration, so they release some carbon dioxide.

Option c is possible because if the snails' population decreases, fewer algae would be consumed.

Option d is not possible, because snails cannot change their diet.

Option e is not true because algae don't have CAM photosynthesis, so the processes happen simultaneously.

This means the option that would be most likely to be true is c) If predators of the snails are introduced, the algal population will grow.