What are the dangers associated with pesticide use? How can biocontrol and use of crops with high genetic diversity help to decrease the amount of pesticides used?

What will be an ideal response?


Pesticides are toxins that are general biocides that kill many nontarget useful species, such as pollinators and predators, and also can harm humans. Pesticide use has increased to lower crop loss due to pests and increase yield. Increased use results in resistance developing in pest populations. When this occurs, the type of pesticide used has to be altered so that pests can be controlled. Increasing the toxicity of pesticides is often the solution. Biological control can decrease pest density by introducing enemies of the pests to the field. This decreases pest numbers without chemicals. Increasing the genetic diversity of the crop can also decrease pest numbers because pests may not be able to consume all genetic varieties in the crop. Different species also "host" predators of pests and balance nutrient use. This will result in higher yields through healthier plants and reduction of pest populations.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Between 2000 and 2006 the _______________ population growth accounted for approximately half of the nation's growth, and grew about four times faster than the country as a whole.

-Midwestern -Mexican -Hispanic -African-American -Asian

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

What continent has a majority of the world's Internally Displaced Persons?

A) Africa B) Asia C) Europe D) North America E) South America

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

?Match each term with the most appropriate description.

A. ?changing the genetic characteristics of populations with similar genes B. ?an organism whose genetic information is modified in a way not found in natural organisms C. ?significant rise in extinction rates D. ?new sequences of DNA using such genetic information to design and create artificial cells, tissues, body parts, and organisms not found in nature E. ?species found only in one area

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which statement about John Joly's salty ocean theory to calculate Earth's age is false?

A) John Joly's theory gives a more accurate estimate of Earth's age now that more accurate observational data is available. B) Joly believed that the ocean began as a salty body of water and that salt entered it from rock sources at a steady rate. C) Joly's method was less accurate than Kelvin's. D) Joly underestimated the amount of precipitated rock salt in the world.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences