What downstream ecological disaster typically ensues when wetlands are reclaimed for agriculture?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Nutrient leaching leading to catastrophic eutrophication and oxygen depletion (hypoxia)
- Step 1: The final sentence warns: 'accumulated pollutants leach into adjacent fluvial systems, triggering catastrophic eutrophication and hypoxia in downstream aquatic basins.'
- Step 2: Hypoxia denotes lethal dissolved oxygen depletion triggered by algal blooms.
Answer
Nutrient leaching leading to catastrophic eutrophication and oxygen depletion (hypoxia).
Why not the others: 'Prolonged atmospheric drought and glacial expansion' is unrelated; 'Permanent eradication of all freshwater fish parasites' is unsupported; 'Severe volcanic soil acidification...' is completely fabricated.
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