Before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, humans had vastly changed the area.They had destroyed wetlands, extracted oil and gas (which led to sinking of the ground), constructed dams and levees, dredged, and built channels for ship traffic.Also, rising sea levels had caused the death of some cypress swamps.These changes suggest that development of New Orleans destroyed which major ecosystem service that might have lessened the hurricane's devastation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The destruction and alteration of wetlands and other natural features of the area removed the natural protection that these ecosystems provided against flooding. Wetlands act as natural buffers that can absorb and slow down floodwaters while also helping to prevent erosion of the shoreline. Without these natural features, New Orleans was left much more vulnerable to the severe flooding that resulted from Hurricane Katrina.

Before Hurricane Katrina Devastated New Orleans in 2005, Humans Had