Protists live in freshwater environments. The photosynthetic protist Volvox is commonly found in a local freshwater pond. Unfortunately, due to fertilizer runoff from a surrounding farm, the pH of the pond is starting to become more acidic. What do you think will be the likely outcome of the Volvox population?
I have no idea - we've been doing online learning and idk when we learned this. I'm assuming Volvox will adapt in some way but i'm not sure if there is a more specific answer
DW, I had the exact same question on a "quiz" for bio (hint hint). I mean it's really down to common sense at this point. There are two likely outcomes, but one is more right than the other. The first (and probably wrong one)is that the fertilizer will give nutrients to the algae (a type of protist) and the population will skyrocket.
The more right answer is down to common sense if we're just looking at the ph environment. If they normally live in neutral ph value water, they probably only survive in that, it's kind of like drinking water, you don't want the ph of your water to be very acidic unless you're... adventurous. The point is, the population will probably turn to zero.
Also, don't just copy-paste this, because now that it's online, "your" teacher can detect if you just paraphrased my answer.
When faced with a changing environment, organisms can respond in various ways. In the case of the acidification of the freshwater pond, the pH change can have different effects on the Volvox population. Here are a few possible outcomes:
1. Adaptation: Some organisms have the ability to adapt to changes in their environment, including changes in pH. If the Volvox population can tolerate and adjust to more acidic conditions, they may continue to survive and reproduce.
2. Decline: Acidic environments can be stressful for many organisms, including photosynthetic protists like Volvox. If the pH change exceeds the tolerance limits of the Volvox population, their ability to photosynthesize and perform essential functions may be compromised, leading to a decrease in population size.
3. Algal Blooms: While Volvox is a single-celled photosynthetic organism, excessive nutrients from fertilizers can cause algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems. These blooms can result in rapid growth of algae, including certain types of protists, leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem. This can negatively impact the Volvox population by reducing available resources and oxygen levels in the pond.
To determine the precise outcome for the Volvox population, it would be necessary to consider the specific details of their biology, including their ability to tolerate and adapt to pH changes, as well as the overall condition of the pond and the impact of other factors such as nutrient levels.