Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT one of the rules of nature?

1. All matter that will ever exist on Earth is here now

2. Nature always guarantees perfect balance

3. The only input into the Earth system is solar energy

4. Disorder increases over time

The correct answer is: Nature always guarantees perfect balance

The assertion that nature always guarantees perfect balance is not consistent with the principles observed in ecological systems. While ecosystems may strive for balance or homeostasis under certain conditions, they are inherently dynamic and subject to fluctuations due to various factors such as environmental changes, natural disasters, human intervention, and species interactions. These factors can lead to disturbances that result in temporary imbalances. The other options are rooted in foundational ecological principles: all matter on Earth is indeed recycled through biogeochemical cycles, the primary energy input into the Earth system is solar energy, and the concept of entropy states that disorder tends to increase over time in isolated systems. These facts affirm a more complex and less predictable interplay within nature rather than a guarantee of perfect balance, highlighting the adaptive and changing nature of ecological relationships.