A scientist conducts an experiment to determine how the CO2 levels in ocean water affect the number of plants that can grow in the ocean. What is the dependent variable?

number of plants that grow in the ocean

Explanation:

The dependent variable would be the number of plants that grow in the ocean.

The dependent variable is the actual variable being measured in an experiment. The value of dependent variables is directly affected by another variable in an experiment - the independent variable. The latter is the manipulatable variable that is directly inputted during experiments.

In the illustration, the main aim of the experiment is to determine how CO2 levels in ocean water affect the number of plants that can grow in the ocean. The manipulatable input variable would be the CO2 while the outcome variable - the dependent variable - would be the number of plants that grow in the ocean.