Final answer:
Environmental modification examples include the use of pesticides, soil erosion, and desertification, all of which can lead to long-term negative effects on soil productivity and ecosystem health. Alternative methods like bioremediation are employed to mitigate these damages. The correct option is 4) All of the above
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of environmental modification include the use of pesticides, soil erosion, and desertification. Pesticides have been widely used since the "Green Revolution" to increase food production but have led to negative long-term effects such as pesticide resistance and a decline in soil quality.
Soil erosion and desertification, which can be exacerbated by poor agricultural practices and overgrazing, are forms of soil degradation that reduce the land's productivity and can lead to the creation of barren 'brown zones' where nothing can grow.
Furthermore, these environmental issues contribute to other problems such as the increase of salts in the soil and nutrient-poor soils, making it difficult for traditional farmers to sustain their livelihoods.
Alternative methods, such as bioremediation—the use of plants to remove toxic metals from soils—are examples of efforts to counteract some of the damage done by environmental modifications. The correct option is 4) All of the above