Question

phosphorus availability is a limiting factor to the growth of autotrophic phytoplankton. which of the following consequences would take place if we removed all of the phosphorus from the marine environment?
proteins would decrease
lipids would increase
carbohydrates would increase
nucleic acids would decrease

Explanation:

Proteins contain phosphorus in their structure (e.g., in some amino - acid side chains or in phosphorylated proteins). If phosphorus is removed (a key element for protein synthesis), the production of proteins would be affected. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) also contain phosphorus (in the phosphate - sugar backbone), but the question is about the consequence for autotrophic phytoplankton growth. Phytoplankton, as autotrophs, need proteins for various cellular functions (enzymes for metabolism, structural proteins). Lipids (in general) do not have phosphorus as a major component (except for phospholipids, but the overall impact on lipids is less compared to proteins in terms of growth - related cellular functions). Carbohydrates do not contain phosphorus.

Answer:

Proteins would decrease