Photosynthesis

AP Biology· difficulty 3/5

The Elodea trial was repeated at three CO2 concentrations: low (0.04 percent), medium (0.4 percent), and high (1 percent). Each curve plots O2 production vs light intensity.

Light intensity O2 rate low med high

What does the comparison demonstrate?

  • A

    CO2 is irrelevant once a saturation point is reached.

  • B

    Only the medium CO2 condition supports photosynthesis.

  • C

    CO2 concentration sets the maximum rate even when light is abundant.

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  • D

    Light is the only factor that controls photosynthesis.

Explanation

Each curve plateaus at a higher rate as CO2 increases, showing that CO2 imposes a ceiling on photosynthesis once light is saturating.

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