Which of the following statements about the impact of climate change caused by natural disasters on ecosystems is correct?

• A. Climate change caused by natural disasters only affects non-living components of ecosystems.
• B. Natural disasters can contribute to climate change, which may negatively affect ecosystems.
• C. Ecosystems are always able to fully recover from any climate change caused by natural disasters.
• D. Climate change caused by natural disasters cannot have a negative impact on ecosystems.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the concept of ecosystems. Ecosystems consist of both living (biotic) components, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, and non-living (abiotic) components, such as water, air, and soil. These components interact with each other to form a balanced system.
2. Step 2: Recognize the role of climate change in ecosystems. Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, and other environmental factors. These changes can disrupt the balance of ecosystems, affecting both biotic and abiotic components.
3. Step 3: Analyze the impact of natural disasters on climate change. Natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions, can release greenhouse gases or alter environmental conditions, contributing to climate change. This, in turn, can negatively affect ecosystems by disrupting habitats, food chains, and species survival.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the recovery potential of ecosystems. While some ecosystems may have mechanisms to recover from disturbances, the extent of recovery depends on the severity of the impact, the resilience of the ecosystem, and the duration of the climate change effects. Not all ecosystems can fully recover from significant changes caused by natural disasters.
5. Step 5: Conclude by identifying the correct statement. Based on the analysis, the statement 'Natural disasters can contribute to climate change, which may negatively affect ecosystems' is correct because it acknowledges the interconnectedness of natural disasters, climate change, and ecosystem health.