To make hydroelectric energy unsustainable, the scientist could increase the rate of pollution in the river, leading to decreased water quality and biodiversity. Additionally, the scientist could disrupt the natural flow of the river by damming it, which could negatively impact fish populations and other organisms that rely on the river for survival.
If the simulated human population consumes hydroelectric energy at an increased rate, it could lead to overexploitation of the resource and potential depletion of the energy source. This could result in inadequate management of the hydroelectric resource and ultimately lead to a decrease in biodiversity in the area above the dam as the ecosystem becomes imbalanced.
Switching the energy source from hydroelectric to natural gas could increase pollution in the area due to the burning of fossil fuels. This could negatively impact air and water quality, leading to decreased biodiversity in the river ecosystem associated with the dam. The release of greenhouse gases could also contribute to global climate change, further impacting biodiversity on a larger scale.
A scientist is programming a computer simulation to illustrate the relationships among methods of resource management, biodiversity, and the sustainability of human populations
Part A
The scientist sets hydroelectric energy as a sustainable energy source for the simulated human population. What are two factors in the ecosystem or numan population that the scientist could change to make this energy source unsustainable?
(2 points)
The scientist increases the rate at which the simulated human population consumes hydroelectric energy. How would this increase affect management of the hydroelectric resource and the biodiversity in the area above the hydroelectric dam?
The scientist switches the source of energy for the simulated human population from hydroelectric to natural gas. How could this change affect pollution in the area and biodiversity in the river ecosystem associated with the dam?
1 answer
4 answers