Question

question 6 of 10
in which sealed container would the organisms be able to continuously cycle
o₂ and co₂ gases?

a. an aquarium with fish and plastic plants

b. a terrarium with mice and wood shavings

c. a terrarium with a frog and a pool of water

d. an aquarium with water plants and a snail

Explanation:

To cycle \( \text{O}_2 \) and \( \text{CO}_2 \) continuously, there needs to be both a producer (to do photosynthesis, using \( \text{CO}_2 \) and producing \( \text{O}_2 \)) and a consumer (to do respiration, using \( \text{O}_2 \) and producing \( \text{CO}_2 \)).

• Option A: Plastic plants aren't living, so no photosynthesis. Fish respire but no producer to make \( \text{O}_2 \) from \( \text{CO}_2 \), so can't cycle continuously.
• Option B: Mice are consumers (respire), wood shavings are non - living (no photosynthesis). No producer, so can't cycle.
• Option C: Frog is a consumer (respire), pool of water has no producer (like plants) to do photosynthesis. So no continuous cycling.
• Option D: Water plants are producers (do photosynthesis: take in \( \text{CO}_2 \), release \( \text{O}_2 \)), snail is a consumer (does respiration: take in \( \text{O}_2 \), release \( \text{CO}_2 \)). So the \( \text{CO}_2 \) from snail's respiration can be used by water plants for photosynthesis, and the \( \text{O}_2 \) from plants' photosynthesis can be used by the snail for respiration. This allows continuous cycling of \( \text{O}_2 \) and \( \text{CO}_2 \).

Answer:

D. An aquarium with water plants and a snail