6-exam 5: Land Usage And Biotechnology

The natural home or environment of an organism is referred to as its habitat. It is the specific place where an organism lives and obtains all the necessary resources for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and mates. The habitat provides the suitable conditions and interactions with other organisms that allow the organism to thrive and reproduce.

Excessive logging and mining can result in the destruction of the forest floor, leading to a decrease in leaf litter. Leaf litter refers to the layer of dead leaves, twigs, and other organic materials that accumulate on the forest floor. This layer plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling, soil fertility, moisture retention, and providing habitat for various organisms. Therefore, excessive logging and mining disrupt the natural balance of the forest ecosystem by reducing the amount of leaf litter, which can have negative impacts on the overall health and biodiversity of the forest.

Continuing to use the slash and burn technique on our forests will lead to desertification. This is because the slash and burn technique involves cutting down and burning large areas of trees and vegetation. This process removes the protective cover of the forest, exposing the soil to erosion and making it more susceptible to drying out. Without the trees and vegetation to hold the soil in place and provide shade, the land becomes arid and barren, eventually turning into a desert-like environment. Desertification is a serious environmental problem that can have detrimental effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihoods.

Insulin was the first human protein to be produced via biotechnology. This is because in the 1970s, scientists successfully used recombinant DNA technology to produce human insulin in bacteria. Prior to this, insulin was extracted from the pancreas of animals, such as pigs and cows. The production of human insulin through biotechnology revolutionized the treatment of diabetes, as it provided a safer and more reliable source of insulin for patients.

The answer of 50% suggests that half of the Earth's forests have been lost. This indicates a significant and alarming rate of deforestation worldwide. The loss of such a large percentage of forests has negative consequences for biodiversity, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on forests. This answer highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts and sustainable practices to protect and restore the remaining forests.

Soil is not a nonrenewable resource because it can be replenished through natural processes such as weathering of rocks, decomposition of organic matter, and the formation of new soil layers. While soil erosion and degradation can occur due to human activities and natural processes, the overall availability of soil can be sustained through proper land management practices and conservation efforts.

Water, wind, gravity, and ice are all agents of soil erosion. Water erosion occurs when water moves over the soil surface, carrying away soil particles. Wind erosion happens when wind blows over the soil, picking up and carrying away loose soil particles. Gravity erosion occurs when soil is moved downhill due to the force of gravity, typically through landslides or mass wasting. Ice erosion, also known as glacial erosion, occurs when glaciers or ice sheets scrape and transport soil and rock materials. These four agents play significant roles in the process of soil erosion, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil and potential environmental issues.

Land loss, slash and burn, and invasive species are all types of habitat destruction. Land loss refers to the physical loss of land due to factors such as urbanization, deforestation, or erosion. Slash and burn is an agricultural practice where vegetation is cut down and burned to clear land for farming, causing habitat destruction. Invasive species are non-native species that invade and disrupt natural ecosystems, often outcompeting native species and causing habitat degradation. Extinction and gravity are not types of habitat destruction, as extinction refers to the complete loss of a species, and gravity is a natural force that does not directly cause habitat destruction.

The correct answer is US and China because both countries are known to be the largest producers of hazardous waste in the world. The US has a significant industrial sector, which contributes to the generation of hazardous waste, while China's rapid industrialization and manufacturing activities also result in a large amount of hazardous waste production. These countries have a high population and extensive industrial activities, which contribute to their status as major producers of hazardous waste.