[Campbell Biology P.254] Which statement best describes the trends in dry mass for corn and ... | Practice Question

Which statement best describes the trends in dry mass for corn and velvetleaf as atmospheric CO2 concentration increases from 350 ppm to 1000 ppm, according to the experiment?

  • A: Corn's dry mass consistently increases, while velvetleaf's dry mass consistently decreases.
  • B: Both corn and velvetleaf show a decrease in dry mass.
  • C: Corn's dry mass slightly decreases, while velvetleaf's dry mass consistently increases.
  • D: Both corn and velvetleaf show a consistent increase in dry mass.

Explanation

The table shows that as CO2 concentration increased from 350 ppm to 1000 ppm, the average dry mass of corn decreased from 91g to 80g. In contrast, the average dry mass of velvetleaf increased from 35g to 54g. Therefore, corn's dry mass slightly decreased, while velvetleaf's dry mass consistently increased.