Final answer:
A decrease in temperature would slow down the metabolic activity of apple slices, resulting in a decrease in the rate of carbon dioxide production in an investigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A decrease in temperature would affect the rate of carbon dioxide production in this investigation by slowing down the metabolic activity of the apple slices.
Respiration, the process by which organisms release energy from food, including the production of carbon dioxide, is temperature-dependent. As temperature decreases, the metabolic reactions slow down, resulting in a decrease in the rate of carbon dioxide production.
This can be observed in the investigation as a lower rate of carbon dioxide production in the anaerobic conditions compared to ambient air.