Question

**Botany Related Question**

If an asteroid strikes Earth and kicks up a thick cloud of dust that lowers the rate of photosynthesis by 90%, what immediate and long-term effects would you expect to find in animal and plant populations? What would be the political, economic, and social implications?

Answer 1

Answer: According to the situation given in the question after the striking of an asteroid with Earth which kicks the dust cloud that eventually exerts detrimental effects on the environment. As a result of it, the rate of photosynthesis is severely depleted to 90% which is a huge reduction.

We know that among all the living organism only plants (some cyanobacteria) have the ability to prepare there own food hence called autotrophs. Rest of the living organisms depends on plants either directly or indirectly for food hence called heterotrophs. Plants use carbon dioxide and water in presence of sunlight and produce their food and oxygen.

Photosynthesis is a very essential phenomenon in the life of plants which indirectly relates to animals and humans survival. So, any decline in its rate will surely have bad impacts on the environment and all its associated components which will be discussed below:

Effects on Plants

Photosynthesis is a metabolic process of plants and a reduction in its rate to 90% will rapidly result in poor growth and development. Long-term effects include decreased yield of agricultural crops and a drastic decline in the plant population.

Effects on Animals

Animals depend on plants for their food and other requirements like medicine, timber etc. Animals also use oxygen for breathing which is released by plants during photosynthesis. As an immediate effect due to this herbivore(animals who feeds on plants) are unable to get proper food and are on the verge of starvation. Other animals like carnivores(who eats on herbivore) also face the same situation and so on. In this way, the whole food chain will be disrupted and animals start getting weak and their growth and developments get retarded. Long-term effects will lead to the death of animals due to both lack of food as well oxygen which are the basic requirements for survival and life.

Political Implications: As a result of this the political environment of every country will change and all the previous important issues will be overlooked.

Economic Implications: Due to the decline in the population of plants and animals the world economy will also be gone on severe trauma and badly affected.

Social Implications: Due to less food there is brokage of social fabric because everyone wants food and it is extremely limited due to loss of photosynthesis so over competition exists which will result in violence and disharmony. It will also provoke more crime and other complication. Less availability of oxygen will also create a very unhealthy environment with an enormous number of diseases and health issues.