Refer to the Following Information to Answer the Next Few

question 74

Multiple Choice

Refer to the following information to answer the next few questions.
Researchers decided to test the hypothesis that if the 2-m tall Polytrichum gametophyte- sporophyte plants had acted as a physical buffer, then they would have reduced water's ability to erode the soil and carry away its nitrogen. They began with four equal-sized areas where Polytrichum mosses grew to a height of 2 m above the soil surface. One of the four areas was not modified. In the second area, the mosses were trimmed to a height of 1 m above the soil surface. In the third area, the mosses were trimmed to a height of 0.5 m above the soil surface. In the fourth area, the mosses were trimmed all the way to the ground, leaving only the rhizoids. Water, simulating rainfall, was then added in a controlled fashion to all plots over the course of one year. The figure below presents four graphs that depict potential results of this experiment.

-Which of these potential results of applying a metabolic poison to the rhizoids of Polytrichum should interfere the least with the ability to draw valid conclusions from this experiment?

• A)if, upon dying, the rhizoids leak nitrogenous compounds into the soil before final nitrogen content is measured
• B)if, upon dying, decomposition of the rhizoids introduces nitrogenous compounds to the soil before final nitrogen content is measured
• C)if the metabolic poison is hydrogen cyanide (HC
• N)or sodium azide (NaN₃), and much of the poison remains in the soil
• D)if the metabolic poison acts against the mitochondria of the rhizoid cells
• E)if the metabolic poison absorbs nitrogen and strongly adheres to soil particles, acting as a sort of glue

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