Question

Anthropogenic ecosystem
(a) Show a high degree of nutrient cycling
(b) Show low productivity
(c) Show great biodiversity
(d) Do not possess self- regulatory mechanisms

Answer 1

Hint: The term anthropogenic refers to the activities of the ‘humans’. Global warming, human population rise, hyper- consumption, deforestation, exploitation of the environment, degradation of the environment are some of the factors that negatively impact our ecosystem.

Complete answer:
The anthropogenic ecosystems are altered by human activities and thus do not have self- regulatory mechanisms to govern the ecosystem. Some activities of the humans that have impacted our ecosystem are:
- The increasing human population is a very big threat to the ecosystem. David Attenborough referred to the rise in the human population as ‘the plague of our Earth’ and he states that it leads to biodiversity loss.
- The overconsumption of food is a term given when the use of the resources exceeds the sustainable capability of our ecosystem. The human occupancy has destroyed 83% of the wildlife and more than 50% of the plants. Additionally, due to overconsumption, there is an increasing demand for meat globally which has further led to the loss of biodiversity.
- Various agricultural practices have induced innumerable changes in the environment. The soil degradation, change of the climate, deforestation, etc., are some of the environmental changes that are induced by the agricultural processes.
- Mining leads to biodiversity loss and causes soil erosion. The chemical leakage in the mining process severely affects the human population in that locality.
- The nuclear power plants, petroleum had exerted various impacts on the environment. The nuclear power plants use radioactive substances that are cancer- causing. Petroleum is highly toxic to several animals.
- Furthermore, the paper, paint, dye, pharmaceutical industries will have positive as well as negative impacts on our environment. 

So, the correct answer is ‘Do not possess self- regulatory mechanisms’.

Note: The advancement in technology is also a major concern for our environment. It has been stated that the technologies are used to improve the order of human life. But these technologies disrupt nature’s order. In other words, the entropy of nature increases which in turn will negatively impact the environment.