3. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing in all biomes on Earth. A research group decided to study the effects of the increase in carbon dioxide levels on the growth of an invasive desert species. They measured the effects of present-day CO ₂ levels (ambient) and elevated CO ₂ levels on the number of seeds and seed mass from three different plants: Vulpia and Lepidium (native to the area) and Bromus (invasive to the area).

(a) Identify data from the table below that are most helpful in determining whether Bromus could become a greater invasive threat in the future than it is at present. Justify your selection of data. (2 points)

(b) Predict the effects on the native species over the next 50 years given the changing atmospheric conditions. (2 points)

Genus	CO 2 levels	Average number of seeds per plant	Average seed mass (mg)
Bromus	ambient	97	2.13
	elevated	196	1.95
Vulpia	ambient	107	0.43
	elevated	138	0.51
Lepidium	ambient	200	0.33
	elevated	634	0.33