Question 85 of 90
Q.Explain 'Rivet Popper' hypothesis.
Telangana TsbieTelangana Board of Intermediate Education (Intermediate 1st Year) 2023Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
94% · 85/90 Questions
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →The Rivet Popper hypothesis (Paul Ehrlich) likens species in an ecosystem to rivets in an aeroplane - losing a few is tolerable, but losing many leads to collapse, showing that every species matters.
Explanation:
- The Rivet Popper hypothesis was put forward by the ecologist Paul Ehrlich to explain the importance of biodiversity for the stability of an ecosystem.
- In this analogy, the ecosystem is compared to an AEROPLANE and the SPECIES in it to the RIVETS (bolts) that hold the aeroplane together.
- If a passenger (or mechanic) starts popping out a few rivets, the plane may still fly safely, because each rivet contributes only a little to its strength.
- But as MORE AND MORE rivets are removed, the plane becomes increasingly weak and unsafe, and eventually it will crash.
- Similarly, the loss of a few species from an ecosystem may not cause immediate harm, but the continued loss of species progressively weakens the ecosystem's functioning and stability until it finally collapses.
- Moreover, the loss of a KEY species (like a rivet on the wings) is far more damaging than the loss of a minor one. …
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