Question

salt water is an abundant resource but unusable for irrigation and drinking. as demands on freshwater sources increase, the use of desalination processes to remove salt from ocean water is increasing. a concern of desalinating water is the large amounts of recovered salts that are returned to the ocean. which of the following describes the most likely impact of desalination on the surrounding ocean environment? a. nonrenewable resources in the ocean environment would become depleted and upset the ecosystems balance. b. methane gas would pollute the ocean environment as shoreline organisms begin to die and decay. c. alteration in ocean salt levels would cause loss of species and unbalanced populations in marine food webs. d. increased levels of salts and minerals in the ocean would result in overpopulation of marine bivalves due to strengthened shells.

Explanation:

Desalination returns large - amounts of recovered salts to the ocean. This would change the ocean's salt levels. Marine organisms are adapted to specific salt - level ranges. A change in salt levels can lead to species loss and imbalances in food webs as organisms may not be able to adapt quickly enough.

Answer:

C. Alteration in ocean salt levels would cause loss of species and unbalanced populations in marine food webs.