Question

How could the loss of biodiversity affect humans?
It may cause an increase in the human population as competition is reduced.
It may lead to the loss of potential medicines, foods, and products.
It could lead to a decrease in infectious and other diseases that affect humans.
It could cause a decrease in the amount of pollutants on the planet.

Answer 1

Correct answer: It may lead to the loss of potential medicines, foods, and products. (Only statement 2 is generally true.)

Brief explanations:
- 1 is misleading: losing other species doesn’t reliably increase human population; more often it reduces ecosystem services (food, water, pollination) and can lower human wellbeing and carrying capacity.
- 2 is true: many medicines, crops and industrial products come from wild species and their genetic diversity; losing species removes those future options.
- 3 is false in general: biodiversity loss often increases some infectious disease risks (by disrupting predator/prey or host communities), though effects can be complex and disease-specific.
- 4 is false: diverse ecosystems help filter and break down pollutants; losing biodiversity usually reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb or process pollution.