Final answer:
Increasing the number of building sites per acre can lead to ecological consequences such as reduced plant growth due to blocked sunlight, which can decrease food resources for herbivores leading to a possible decline in their population. This reflects habitat destruction and broader ecosystem disruptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
An increase in the number of building sites per acre would likely lead to several environmental impacts due to the alteration of the natural landscape. One specific scenario where a new set of buildings on the edge of a forest blocks sunlight from reaching the majority of one part of the forest could result in several ecological effects:
- The reduction in sunlight may cause a decline in plant growth within that part of the forest.
- This decline can lead to a decrease in food resources for herbivores, which may result in a reduction in herbivore abundance, contrary to what might be initially expected.
- Furthermore, this can affect the forest's nutrient cycle, as plants play a crucial role in nutrient uptake and distribution.
Therefore, an increase in building density can contribute to the destruction of habitat and has implications for the entire ecosystem, including water resources and farmland use, especially as population demands continue to grow.