An Experimental Forest Ecosystem Is Enclosed in a Sealed Greenhouse

Multiple Choice

An experimental forest ecosystem is enclosed in a sealed greenhouse. The entire ecosystem, including the air and soil, is treated with an extremely potent fungicide that kills all fungal life stages including spores. What will probably happen next?

A) Tree growth will increase because the dead fungi will act as a fertilizer.
B) Plants will enjoy a long-term increase in growth and survival because of the removal of fungal pathogens.
C) Dead organic matter will accumulate on the forest floor; plant growth will decline because of a lack of nutrients and the loss of mycorrhizal partners.
D) A few animals will go extinct due to loss of their fungal food sources, but otherwise the forest will be largely unchanged.