The graphs below show the results of an experiment in which

The graphs below show the results of an experiment in which a species of diatom was cultured in a chemostat for 50 hours, at which point the nutrient input rates were all doubled. Which of the choices below can be inferred from these results? Diatom growth is unaffected by nutrients Diatom growth is most strongly affected by nitrogen availability. Diatom growth is most strongly affected by phosphorus availability Diatom growth is most strongly affected by silicon availability.

Solution

diatom growth is most strogly affected by phosphorus availability,

according to graph ,nutrient (nitrogen or phosphorus ) input rate is double at 50 hrs but in case of silicon it\'s play negative role in this experiment, silicon gradually decrease and diatom population increase because nutrient phosphorus is only (101 micro/gm ml) very less amount of phosphorous nutrient affect the diatom growth compared to other nutrient like nitrogen concentration is very high 5750 micro/gm ml, but diatom population not increase drastically. silicon is negatively affect the diatom population,