Industrial logging threatens many forested ecosystems. Which of the following environmental consequences will most likely result from clear-cutting deciduous forests for logging?

A. More carbon dioxide will be added to the atmosphere and increase anthropogenic climate change.

B. Farmers will be able to utilize more land, resulting in a decrease in the number of floods.

C. Less oxygen will be used by the trees, so more oxygen will be in the atmosphere for humans and other animals to use.

D. The regulating services of the area, such as nutrient cycling and water regulation, would increase with fewer trees in the landscape.

The answer is A)

Explanation:

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Fewer trees can lead to a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If the forest or felled trees are burned, which they often are, it released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the most common gas that is released by humans. That means the anthropogenic cause of enhanced climate change will be increased. Floods will increase as less interception and less vegetation storage is causing the ground to become saturated quickly and this leads to floods. The water cycle in the are will be disrupted and so to will the nutrient cycle as there are fewer plants and fewer animals to provide nutrients.