A company is growing algae in big tanks to make fish food. However, the algae is not growing very quickly, and they suspect either phosphorus, nitrogen, or iron is limiting. What could the company do to figure out which nutrient is limiting?a)Add phosphorus to one tank, nitrogen to another, and iron to a third, and see which treatment increases algal growth.b)Add phosphorus, iron, and nitrogen to all tanks, and see which nutrient increases algal growth.c)Add phosphorus to all tanks, because phosphorus is the nutrient that limits algal growth.d)Add nitrogen to all tanks, because nitrogen is the nutrient that limits algal growth.

Respuesta :

Experiment

In this experiment, as the question the investigators are trying to answer is what component is the limiting one, it is necessary to test every one of them, independently. Therefore, the best option is to change the concentration of one of them and leave the rest unchanged. To accomplish this, would be necessary three different tanks, one for phosphorus, one for iron, and one for nitrogen (option A).