Which of the following was a result of the Hubbard Brook watershed deforestation experiment? (A) Most minerals were not recycled within the intact forest ecosystem. (B) Calcium levels remained high in the soil of deforested areas. (C) Deforestation decreased water runoff. (D) The nitrate concentration in waters draining the deforested area became dangerously high.

Video transcript

Welcome back. Here's our next question. A reforestation program was conducted in Rio grande watershed. This activity will result in all of the following except well, let's recall from our content videos. A watershed is an area um where all of the water in a certain part of the environment is draining into a central point, usually the lowest point draining down by gravity. So and we have a reforestation program going on. So there used to be trees in the trees in the area. They have been gone for some time and now new trees being planted obviously. So we're looking for an incorrect statement. Since our question says this activity will result in all the following except so let's look through our answer choices. Choice A says more carbon dioxide to be sequestration. Well, this is a true statement because when we have more trees, those trees are obviously using up carbon dioxide and they're through their respiration processes, they are taking up C. 02 and then storing it um converting it to glucose, storing it as carbohydrates. So more carbon dioxide will be removed from the atmosphere, more carbon dioxide sequestration in those trees. So that is a true statement and therefore cannot be our answer choice B says decrease of animal species diversity. Well, when we're planting those trees where they were missing before we've created an increased number of ecological niches and when we see more niches open up, we should see an increase in diversity of species um with that added added habitat, those trees that we planted. Um We'll see more species moving in to those increased number of niches. So this is an incorrect statement. So that's what we're looking for here. So Choice B should be our answer. But just to be thorough, we'll keep on going through here. Choice C says decrease of water runoff. So we've got all this water draining into this area and now we've planted more trees and this should be the case because with our trees, we're going to see an increase of um water being taken up by the roots of the trees. The roots growing in the soil are going to create conditions that allow more infiltration of water into the soil, so more water will drain into the soil be taken up by the plants and less running off. So this is true, and therefore, Choice C is not going to be our answer. And finally, Choice D. Are related uh issued Choice D increased rain water absorption and yes, this is also true. Again, we've got these tree roots taking up water and also creating soil conditions that allow more rainwater to be absorbed and infiltrate into the soil. So also a true statement, and therefore not our correct answer. So, Choice B, decreased animal species diversity is the correct answer to our problem. That reforestation will result in all the following except Choice B. See you in the next video