Question

Which of the following might happen if plants stop releasing oxygen into the atmosphere?
A. Plants will be healthier
B. Number of plants will increase
C. Number of animals will increase
D. Animals will die from the lack of oxygen

Answer 1

Photosynthesis is the process responsible for the production of oxygen from plants by consuming carbon dioxide. If photosynthesis does not take place, there won’t be any release of oxygen into the atmosphere. Oxygen is the life of the earth. It is present everywhere, including in oceans. It is the source of respiration of most of the animals and humans.

Complete answer
Option A Plants will be healthier: If plants stop releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, they won’t be able to take up further carbon dioxide. This leads to disturbance of metabolic functions, which will be detrimental to their health.
Option A is not correct.
Option B Number of plants will increase: If the health deteriorates, the plants will start to die. So, the number of plants will decrease.
Hence, Option B is not correct
Option C Number of animals will increase: If plants won’t increase in number, there will be disturbance in the food chain and food web, which will negatively impact the herbivore population.
So, Option C is not correct
Option D Animals will die from the lack of oxygen: Respiration process in animals need oxygen. If there is more carbon dioxide and less oxygen in the atmosphere, animals will face difficulty in absorbing oxygen and eventually they die.
Option D is correct

Therefore, Option D is the correct answer

Note:
Carbon dioxide is the substrate for plants in photosynthesis and oxygen is the product released into the atmosphere. Oxygen forms the basis of respiration and energy in cells. The process is a chain reaction, which will end up in the death of tertiary carnivores and heterotrophs. If oxygen declines and becomes zero in the atmosphere, there will be no life on earth except a few anaerobic bacteria.