There have been experiments with this and id does have an effect on growth. Particularly with plants, because they are easier to experiment with. Increased carbon dioxide does increase plant growth.
But it is not just a matter of available gas.
Take a dragonfly. A balanced design based on flight. A power to weight ratio. A power to lift ratio.
They do not have lungs. They absorb O2 in a chamber of small tubes in their abdomen.
Growing biger means more tissue to fuel, means more tubes to breath, means more weight, more power to lift it, more muscle for power, more tubes to fuel the muscle etc. There is a limit. And end to cost benefit.
The idea of big things with more Oxygen is basically this. The cost benefit ratio changes.
In a heavy oxygen environment a dragonfly can adapt it's genetics to grow larger and more powerful while using less tubes to breath, because the air fuel mixture is more potent. They can fuel more muscle with less tubes. So more of the body is dedicated to lift, and a smaller percentage to fuel.
The power to weight ratio changes. More power, more lift, with less to lift. So there is excess power to lift an increased body size.
So they could grow to a few feet long and fly at around 100mph.
But if you take a modern dragonfly who's genetics are designed for a low oxygen environment and must be small, light and fuel efficient...It will grow better with more oxygen. To a limit. To the maximum size programed by it's genetics.
Like fish in our tanks. Limit resources and you stunt growth. It will not reach the full potential allowed by it's design.
With unlimited resources it will reach it's maximum potential easier.
But only to the maximum limit of it's genetic potential.
You might grow the biggest guppy we have ever seen.
But you can't change him into a Great White shark.
Because he is only, and always will be a guppy.
He can only breath so much and eat so much and grow so much.
But if you breed generations for a million years, maybe his children would learn to use the increased resources to grow larger and remain efficient.
But it is not just a matter of available gas.
Take a dragonfly. A balanced design based on flight. A power to weight ratio. A power to lift ratio.
They do not have lungs. They absorb O2 in a chamber of small tubes in their abdomen.
Growing biger means more tissue to fuel, means more tubes to breath, means more weight, more power to lift it, more muscle for power, more tubes to fuel the muscle etc. There is a limit. And end to cost benefit.
The idea of big things with more Oxygen is basically this. The cost benefit ratio changes.
In a heavy oxygen environment a dragonfly can adapt it's genetics to grow larger and more powerful while using less tubes to breath, because the air fuel mixture is more potent. They can fuel more muscle with less tubes. So more of the body is dedicated to lift, and a smaller percentage to fuel.
The power to weight ratio changes. More power, more lift, with less to lift. So there is excess power to lift an increased body size.
So they could grow to a few feet long and fly at around 100mph.
But if you take a modern dragonfly who's genetics are designed for a low oxygen environment and must be small, light and fuel efficient...It will grow better with more oxygen. To a limit. To the maximum size programed by it's genetics.
Like fish in our tanks. Limit resources and you stunt growth. It will not reach the full potential allowed by it's design.
With unlimited resources it will reach it's maximum potential easier.
But only to the maximum limit of it's genetic potential.
You might grow the biggest guppy we have ever seen.
But you can't change him into a Great White shark.
Because he is only, and always will be a guppy.
He can only breath so much and eat so much and grow so much.
But if you breed generations for a million years, maybe his children would learn to use the increased resources to grow larger and remain efficient.
