A biology teacher takes fish, algae, pond weed, invertebrates, and bottom muck from a local pond and establishes them in an aquarium. When the system is stable, the teacher seals it into a large, airtight glass box and leaves the box in a sunny location. After three months, the organisms in the aquarium appear alive and healthy. Which of the following statements about the experiment is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Energy must enter the system in order for the organisms to survive. This energy comes from the sun, which provides light for photosynthesis of the algae and pondweed. The invertebrates and fish eat the algae and pondweed, and energy is transferred from one organism to another in the process. Therefore, choice A is incorrect. The sealed box also means that carbon dioxide is present for the plants to undergo photosynthesis, so choice C is also incorrect. The experiment does not provide any information about the biomass of the plant and animal life, so choice D cannot be determined from the given information.

A Biology Teacher Takes Fish, Algae, Pond Weed, Invertebrates, and Bottom