Humans make many alterations to natural ecosystems.They turn natural areas into agricultural areas, build canals to transport offshore oil, cut down forests for lumber, build cities and highways, and more.How do these changes affect human societies?
A) They all have positive effects; humans live safer, healthier, more prosperous lives.
B) They all have positive effects; humans are meant to live with technology, not nature.
C) They involve trade-offs; for every benefit provided, an ecosystem service may be lost or altered.
D) They all have negative effects; the benefits are worth less than the ecosystem services lost.
E) They all have negative effects; humans are meant to live with nature, not technology.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The alterations made to natural ecosystems involve trade-offs where benefits are gained, but ecosystem services may also be altered or lost. This can have both positive and negative effects on human societies, such as increased food production but also loss of biodiversity and clean water sources. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as each alteration has its unique set of trade-offs.

Humans Make Many Alterations to Natural Ecosystems