The human population crash that occurred on Easter Island was due to
A)fire.
B)expanding forests and the consequent loss of farmland.
C)the aftermath of a volcanic eruption.
D)deforestation, soil erosion, and resource depletion.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The human population crash on Easter Island was mainly due to deforestation, soil erosion, and resource depletion. The island was once covered in lush forests that were depleted by the islanders for agriculture, housing, and transportation. This led to soil erosion, which further reduced the land's productivity, and eventually, the islanders were not able to produce sufficient food to meet their needs. This caused a decline in population and social collapse on the island. Fire, expanding forests, and volcanic eruptions might have also played a role, but they were not the primary cause of the population crash.

The Human Population Crash That Occurred on Easter Island Was