Palm oil, produced from palm trees, is not only a

biofuel, but is also used in food additives,

cosmetics, and lubricants. Palm tree plantations

are now cultivated in areas that were formerly

natural forests. One ecological concern raised by

this expansion is that

(1) the natural forest ecosystem may harm the

palm trees

(2) the use of the land for agriculture will

increase the biodiversity of the area

(3) humans are changing the basic processes of

the palm trees

(4) planting large expanses of one crop reduces

the biodiversity of the area

Question

Keyon Zuniga

Biology

2 November, 02:50

Palm oil, produced from palm trees, is not only a

biofuel, but is also used in food additives,

cosmetics, and lubricants. Palm tree plantations

are now cultivated in areas that were formerly

natural forests. One ecological concern raised by

this expansion is that

(1) the natural forest ecosystem may harm the

palm trees

(2) the use of the land for agriculture will

increase the biodiversity of the area

(3) humans are changing the basic processes of

the palm trees

(4) planting large expanses of one crop reduces

the biodiversity of the area

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Mia Andersen · Answer 1

The correct answer to your question would be (4) - planting large expanses of one crop reduces the biodiversity of the area.

This should be evident - once you're planting only one crop in a certain area this necessarily decreases the biodiversity of that area. What is even more problematic with palm oil, however, is that it's often associate with the reduction of the natural habitat of different animals such as orangutans for example.