As global atmospheric CO₂ levels continue to rise, A) C₄ plants will have an advantage over C₃ plants. B) C₃ plants will have an advantage over C₄ plants. C) the growth rates of rice and wheat will decrease. D) photorespiration will increase. E) CAM plants will have an advantage over C₃ plants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As atmospheric CO2 levels rise, C3 plants (C₃ plants) will have a disadvantage compared to C4 plants (C₄ plants). This is because C4 plants have a more efficient CO2 uptake mechanism that bypasses photorespiration, resulting in higher photosynthetic rates in high CO2 environments. Therefore, C₃ plants will have a disadvantage, and C₄ plants will have an advantage. Rice and wheat are C3 plants, so they will be negatively affected by the rising CO2 levels. Photorespiration is expected to decrease in C4 plants, not increase. CAM plants are a type of C4 plant, so they will also have an advantage over C3 plants.

As Global Atmospheric CO2 Levels Continue to Rise

As Global Atmospheric CO₂ Levels Continue to Rise