How was primary productivity measured in the phytoplankton experiment?
A)net CO₂ uptake
B)the number of cells produced
C)net CO₂ production
D)accumulation of mutations

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Primary productivity was measured by measuring the net CO₂ uptake by the phytoplankton. This is because primary productivity refers to the amount of organic matter produced by photosynthesis in a given time period, and this can be determined by measuring the rate of CO₂ uptake. Option B, the number of cells produced, is not a direct measure of primary productivity since cell abundance can be influenced by factors such as cell division and mortality. Option C, net CO₂ production, is the opposite of primary productivity since it refers to the amount of CO₂ released during respiration. Option D, accumulation of mutations, is not relevant to primary productivity since it relates to genetic changes in the phytoplankton population over time.

How Was Primary Productivity Measured in the Phytoplankton Experiment