Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Life Science to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
When plants first appeared on land about 470 million years ago during the Ordovician Period, Earth’s atmosphere contained far higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO
Diagram 1.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/degassing
Once plants evolved true roots, they began to physically and chemically break down rock minerals in a process known as biological weathering. Root systems released organic acids that dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium silicates. When these minerals combined with dissolved CO
As land plants diversified, the development of vascular tissues allowed plants to grow larger and colonize more environments. Forest ecosystems expanded dramatically during the Devonian and Carboniferous Periods. Vast swamp forests stored massive amounts of carbon in plant tissues. Much of this organic carbon was buried in low-oxygen environments, forming today’s coal deposits. This high rate of carbon burial contributed to steep declines in atmospheric CO
Fossil leaf stomata provide evidence of past atmospheric CO
At the same time, climate models show that global temperatures decreased as atmospheric CO
Together, these lines of evidence show that the carbon cycle and plant evolution are deeply interconnected. Land plants were not simply responding to Earth’s environment - they were major drivers of long-term atmospheric CO
Diagram 2.
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Co-evolution-of-land-plant-lifecycles-and-atmospheric-CO2-concentrations-a-depicts
Table 1.
Time (million years ago) | Atmospheric CO2 (ppm) | Land Plant Biomass Index |
|---|---|---|
480 | 4200 | 5 |
450 | 3800 | 20 |
420 | 3200 | 45 |
390 | 2600 | 70 |
360 | 1800 | 85 |
330 | 1200 | 95 |
Graph of Information - Figure 1.
Table 2.
Forest Cover (% of land area) | Relative Silicate Weathering Rate |
|---|---|
0 | 1 |
10 | 1.2 |
25 | 1.5 |
40 | 1.9 |
60 | 2.4 |
80 | 2.9 |
Graph of Information - Figure 2.
According to Table 1, which time interval shows the greatest drop in atmospheric CO
Using Figure 1, describe the relationship between atmospheric CO
Using Diagram 1, explain how early root systems influenced rock weathering and how this process contributed to long-term carbon storage. Base your answer only on information provided in the diagram and text.
Construct an argument explaining how the evolution and spread of land plants provide evidence that Earth’s systems and life have coevolved.
According to Table 2, how does forest cover relate to silicate weathering rate?
Using Figure 2, explain how increases in forest cover would have affected atmospheric