Question

The illustration shows one of the ways resources are removed from the deep sea. Describe what type of resources these are, including if they are renewable or non-renewable. Predict two consequences to the seafloor life if this process is not regulated.

Answer 1

Answer:

Marine mining is a process that can be done by dredging the seabed and is used for the extraction of mineral resources from the seabed, which are non-renewable, with a negative impact on marine ecosystems.

Explanation:

The illustration shows a process of marine mining by dredging, where the resource extracted is of a mineral nature, like copper, zinc, silver and gold. Gravel used for construction can also be extracted from the sea. Mineral resources extracted from the sea are not renewable.

The process of marine mining can be harmful to the ecosystems there, so it must be a process that requires control and management from the ecological point of view.

Two possible consequences of not regulating marine mining are:

1. Destruction of the habitat of life forms present on the sea floor, which endangers many species and even forces migration to more stable areas, with consequences on the food chains.
2. Extinction of marine species that inhabit the seabed. The flora and fauna of the sea floor usually have slow reproductive cycles and, in the case of fish, spawning takes place on the bottom of the sea. Mining endangers the reproductive cycles of the species, leading to induced extinction.

Responsible and controlled mining activity can be useful for humans, while avoiding negative consequences on the ecosystems that exist at the seabed.