Question

James wants to create a self-sustaining ecosystem, or vivarium. Which method would most likely result in an ecosystem that is viable for the longest amount of time with no additional care?

A.Put a few plants, water, sand, and a heat lamp inside a clear glass aquarium and seal the top. Place it in a sunny location.

B.Put water, fertilizer, soil, plants and insects in an open, clear glass aquarium. Place it in an area that has some sunlight and some shade.
 
C.Put rocks, water, and many plants in an open, dark-colored plastic tub. Place it in an area with direct sunlight.
 
D.Put soil, water, many plants, and a few insects in a sealed, clear plastic aquarium. Place it in an area with indirect sunlight.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option D. "Put soil, water, many plants, and a few insects in a sealed, clear plastic aquarium. Place it in an area with indirect sunlight".

Step-by-step explanation:

One characteristic that helps a self-sustaining ecosystem, or vivarium, to last as long as possible without no additional care is isolating it form external factors that could alter its equilibrium. The option that accomplish this characteristic is to put soil, water, many plants, and a few insects in a sealed, clear plastic aquarium and place it in an area with indirect sunlight. Also, this vivarium has the elements needed for plants to grow, and a few insects that function as primary consumers to naturally select the strongest plants.

Answer 2

The correct answer is option B

Self sustaining ecosystem or vivarium is the system is a closed system which is used for research purpose. A self sustainable system is a system in which biotic factors as well as abiotic factors both are present.

An area with water, soil, fertilizer and plant and some insects were kept in a clear glass aquarium which will receive some sunlight for the process of photosynthesis and some shade for dark reactions.

The insect present in the ecosystem will provide carbondioxide to plants and the plants will provide oxygen to the insect.