Question

Which of the following represents the largest manmade ecosystem?
(a)Zoo
(b)Garden
(c)Aquarium
(d)Agroecosystem

Answer 1

Hint: Man-made ecosystems are replications of natural ecosystems containing both biotic and abiotic components. These can be sustained only by human interventions. They are not self-regulating with almost no diversity. The largest man-made ecosystem is the one that has maximum diversity in terms of species and environments fit for each of them.

Complete step by step answer:
Man-made ecosystems are artificial ecosystems that are not self-regulated but handled by human activity. Examples include zoos, aquariums, gardens, orchards, botanical gardens, and so on.
- A zoo holds animals from different biomes in protected enclosures for their conservation and/or public viewing. Occasionally, they are also bred.
- A zoo has the largest diversity of species and environments required for their survival. Hence, out of the given options, it is the largest manmade ecosystem.

So, the correct answer is ‘Zoo’.

Additional information: Zoos, aquariums, and other related ecosystems are constructed for study, tourism, conservation, and hobbies.
- Artificial ecosystems are constructed for human benefits, such as agricultural benefits, recreation, etc. They are characterized by their high productivity as in the case of agroecosystems and orchards that are constructed solely for the production of specific plants for consumption.
- Man Made ecosystems have almost negligible food webs.
- A natural ecosystem is not created by human activity. Examples include forests, sea biomes, rivers, etc. These ecosystems are self-regulatory and have a rich biodiversity.

Note:
Man Made ecosystems also include planned villages, cities, agricultural lands, etc.
- The first manmade ecosystem is the agricultural land that was formed for fulfilling the needs of the increasing human population.