Question

What argument can you make about how monoculture farming affects biodiversity?

Claim:
Write your argument.



Evidence:
Provide two pieces of evidence from the scenario.





Reasoning:
Explain how the evidence supports your claim about biodiversity and ecosystem stability.







Scenario 8: Medical Advances and Population Growth

Medical innovations such as vaccines, antibiotics, and improved healthcare have helped people live longer and healthier lives. As a result, the global human population has increased significantly over the past century. With more people needing food, water, housing, and energy, more land is being developed for farms, cities, and infrastructure. Forests and natural habitats in some areas are being cleared to make room for these developments. Environmental scientists are studying how increased human demand for resources may affect ecosystems and biodiversity around the world.

Question:
What claim can you make about how medical advancements can indirectly impact ecosystems?

Claim:
State your argument.





Evidence:
Provide two pieces of evidence from the scenario.

Answer 1

Part A — How monoculture farming affects biodiversity

Claim:
Monoculture farming reduces biodiversity and makes ecosystems less stable and more vulnerable to disturbances.

Evidence (from the scenario):
1. “With more people needing food… more land is being developed for farms…” — increased demand for agricultural land.
2. “Forests and natural habitats in some areas are being cleared to make room for these developments.” — conversion of diverse habitats into agricultural land.

Reasoning:
As human population and food demand rise, agricultural expansion often favors large-scale, single-crop (monoculture) farms because they are more efficient to plant, harvest, and manage. Clearing forests and natural habitats to create these farms removes the variety of plants and the habitats animals, insects, fungi, and microbes need to survive, causing local species loss (reduced species richness and genetic diversity). Monocultures also simplify food webs and ecosystem structure, weakening services such as pollination, pest control, nutrient cycling, and soil health. Because monocultures lack species diversity, they are more susceptible to pests, disease outbreaks, and environmental stress (drought, flooding), so the overall ecosystem becomes less resilient and less stable.

Part B — How medical advancements can indirectly impact ecosystems

Claim:
Medical advances that increase human lifespan and population can indirectly harm ecosystems by increasing demand for resources and causing habitat loss.

Evidence (from the scenario):
1. “Medical innovations such as vaccines, antibiotics, and improved healthcare have helped people live longer and healthier lives. As a result, the global human population has increased significantly…” — medical progress → population growth.
2. “With more people needing food, water, housing, and energy, more land is being developed for farms, cities, and infrastructure. Forests and natural habitats… are being cleared to make room for these developments.” — population growth → land conversion and habitat loss.

(You can use the reasoning above to connect these points: population-driven agricultural expansion often leads to monocultures, habitat destruction, and reduced biodiversity, lowering ecosystem stability.)