Environmental factors can cause various changes in ecosystems. Which of the following would most likely have the greatest lasting effect on an ecosystem?

Construction can permanently change the landscape by removing or fragmenting habitats, altering drainage, and changing the conditions organisms depend on. A seasonal fertilizer excess, disease outbreak, or drought may seriously affect an ecosystem, but these effects are often temporary or limited compared with lasting physical changes to the landscape. Therefore, the best answer is change to the landscape from construction.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.