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Termites live in the tropical rainforest breaking down dead and decaying plant material. As they break down the plant material they release methane, a greenhouse gas. Annually, 1,000 termites release approximately 500 grams of methane. Given a density of 3.5 X 106 termites per hectare, what is the annual amount of methane released, in kilograms, by the termites inhabiting a 3,000 hectare of tropical rainforest.

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Answer:

Approximately 5,250,000 kg of methane would be released.

Explanation:

Given: 1,000 termites release approximately 500 g of methane annually

3.5 x
10^(6) termites per hectare

Thus, population of termites inhabiting 3,000 hectares = number of termites per hectare x 3,000

= 3.5 x
10^(6) x 3,000

= 10 500 000 000

= 1.05 x
10^(10)

Since 1,000 termites release 500 g of methane, then 10 500 000 000 termites would release:


(10500000000)/(1000) x 500 g

= 5250000000 g

But 1000 g = 1 kg, so that;


(5250000000)/(1000)

= 5250000 kg

Approximately, 5,250,000 kg of methane would be released by termites inhabiting 3,000 hectares of tropical rain forest.

User Daniel Serodio
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