Question
Select the statement(s) that accurately predicts the impact that erosion has on food webs and ecosystems.
Erosion of topsoil will cause the loss of nutrient-rich soil and eventually loss of plant life.
Pollution of water ecosystems due to erosion runoff will cause loss of aquatic species and habitat.
Erosion will cause land to be better cleared for farming and use by people.
Erosion of land does not majorly impact ecosystems or food webs.
Runoff due to erosion will affect the small organisms at the bottom of the food web.
Erosion of topsoil will cause the loss of nutrient-rich soil and eventually loss of plant life.
Pollution of water ecosystems due to erosion runoff will cause loss of aquatic species and habitat.
Erosion will cause land to be better cleared for farming and use by people.
Erosion of land does not majorly impact ecosystems or food webs.
Runoff due to erosion will affect the small organisms at the bottom of the food web.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
Correct choices: 1, 2, and 5.
- Erosion of topsoil will cause the loss of nutrient-rich soil and eventually loss of plant life.
- True. Removing topsoil reduces soil fertility and water-holding capacity, lowering plant primary productivity and altering terrestrial food webs.
- Pollution of water ecosystems due to erosion runoff will cause loss of aquatic species and habitat.
- True. Sediment and attached pollutants increase turbidity, smother benthic habitats, and can drive eutrophication and oxygen loss, harming aquatic organisms.
- Runoff due to erosion will affect the small organisms at the bottom of the food web.
- True. Fine sediments, nutrients, and contaminants directly impact primary producers and benthic invertebrates, with cascading effects up the food web.
Incorrect statements:
- “Erosion will cause land to be better cleared for farming and use by people.” — Misleading: although vegetation may be removed, erosion degrades soil quality and long-term agricultural productivity.
- “Erosion of land does not majorly impact ecosystems or food webs.” — False: erosion can substantially alter habitats, productivity, and species composition.
- Erosion of topsoil will cause the loss of nutrient-rich soil and eventually loss of plant life.
- True. Removing topsoil reduces soil fertility and water-holding capacity, lowering plant primary productivity and altering terrestrial food webs.
- Pollution of water ecosystems due to erosion runoff will cause loss of aquatic species and habitat.
- True. Sediment and attached pollutants increase turbidity, smother benthic habitats, and can drive eutrophication and oxygen loss, harming aquatic organisms.
- Runoff due to erosion will affect the small organisms at the bottom of the food web.
- True. Fine sediments, nutrients, and contaminants directly impact primary producers and benthic invertebrates, with cascading effects up the food web.
Incorrect statements:
- “Erosion will cause land to be better cleared for farming and use by people.” — Misleading: although vegetation may be removed, erosion degrades soil quality and long-term agricultural productivity.
- “Erosion of land does not majorly impact ecosystems or food webs.” — False: erosion can substantially alter habitats, productivity, and species composition.