Question

Tami is growing a species of algae in a test tube containing a trace amount of phosphate. The algae multiply until all the phosphate runs out. If Tami adds more phosphate, the algae will start multiplying again. What is the role of the phosphate in this system? a. Consumer b. Limiting factor c. Constant d. Biotic factor

Answer 1

Phosphate would be the limiting factor, so the answer would be B. The experiment shows that the algae is only growing if phosphate is present and when it's absent the algae does not grow. Which means that phosphate is an important variable that will determine algae growth.