Question

Fact 1: Dissolved oxygen is one of the most important nutrients needed by fish in the aquatic environment to survive.

Fact 2: Unlike solids, whose solubility increases with increasing temperature, the solubility of gases generally decreases with increasing temperature.

Which scenarios may be explained by the facts on the left? Check all that apply.

There is more dissolved oxygen in colder waters than in warm water.

There is less dissolved oxygen in colder waters than in warm water.

Fish life in the ocean is more abundant during the seaons with warmer water than seasons with cooler water.

If ocean temperatures rise, then the risk to the fish population increases

Answer 1

Select:
- There is more dissolved oxygen in colder waters than in warm water. — Supported: gas solubility decreases as temperature rises, so cold water holds more dissolved oxygen.
- If ocean temperatures rise, then the risk to the fish population increases. — Supported: fish need dissolved oxygen, and warmer water holds less of it, so warming tends to reduce oxygen availability and raise risk to fish.

Do not select:
- There is less dissolved oxygen in colder waters than in warm water. — Contradicted by the facts.
- Fish life in the ocean is more abundant during the seasons with warmer water than seasons with cooler water. — Not supported by the given facts (colder seasons should have more dissolved oxygen, all else equal).