A biology student takes fish, algae, pond plants, invertebrates, and bottom sediment from a local pond and establishes them in an aquarium. When the system is stable, the student seals it into a large, airtight glass box and leaves the box in a sunny location. After 3 months, the organisms in the aquarium appear alive and healthy. Which statement about the experiment is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Energy must be entering the system from the sun for the organisms to survive, so choice A is false. Carbon dioxide is produced by the organisms in the system, so choice C is false. There is no information provided about the biomass of animal and plant life, so choice D cannot be determined. However, it is likely that energy is transferred from one organism to another through feeding and other interactions, making choice B true.

A Biology Student Takes Fish, Algae, Pond Plants, Invertebrates, and Bottom