Factors affecting photosynthesis Transitional Reasoning Download PDF

Questions

1. 1.

   A student measures the photosynthetic rate of an aquatic plant kept under high light intensity and a constant water temperature of 22 °C, observing that increasing the light intensity further does not raise the rate of oxygen gas production. However, when a small amount of sodium bicarbonate is dissolved into the water under these same conditions, the rate of oxygen bubble release immediately increases. Based on these observations, which conclusion regarding the factors affecting photosynthesis is valid?

   • A) Light intensity serves as the primary limiting factor whenever water temperature remains constant.
   • B) Carbon dioxide was the limiting factor, so increasing light intensity alone could not elevate the photosynthetic rate.
   • C) Temperature denatured rubisco enzymes prior to the addition of the sodium bicarbonate solution.
   • D) Water availability directly constrained the rate of photolysis throughout the aquatic trial.