Which of the following is an example of pollution affecting wildlife?

Study for the Pennsylvania Junior Envirothon Test. Explore environment-related topics through interactive quizzes, detailed explanations, and hints. Get ready for your exam!

Contaminated water sources serve as a clear example of pollution affecting wildlife because pollutants can have severe and often lethal impacts on aquatic organisms, as well as on terrestrial animals that rely on these water sources for drinking and breeding. Contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and pathogens can disrupt the endocrine systems of wildlife, leading to reproductive failures, developmental abnormalities, and even death. Additionally, contaminated water can reduce the availability of clean habitat, further stressing populations. In ecosystems, such pollution can lead to the decline of species and disrupt the food web, affecting both predator and prey species.

The other options refer to conditions that generally imply positive effects on wildlife. Increased food resources and stronger habitats can enhance survival and reproduction, while enhanced breeding cycles suggest improved reproduction conditions. These outcomes, however, are typically not associated with pollution, which characteristically results in negative impacts on wildlife. Therefore, the negative implications of contaminated water sources distinctly highlight how pollution directly harms wildlife populations and their ecosystems.

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