Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Registered Environmental Manager Test using flashcards and multiple choice questions. Gain insights with hints and explanations for each question. Ace your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which type of feedback loop tends to stabilize a system?

Positive feedback loop
Negative feedback loop
Neutral feedback loop
Dynamic feedback loop

The correct answer is: Negative feedback loop

A negative feedback loop is essential in stabilizing a system because it works to counteract changes, maintaining equilibrium. When a system experiences a change, such as an increase or decrease in a particular element, the negative feedback mechanism triggers responses that oppose that change. For instance, in ecological systems, if the population of a species exceeds its carrying capacity, resources become limited, leading to a decrease in population size. This decrease stabilizes the ecosystem, preventing overpopulation and resource depletion. In contrast, positive feedback loops amplify changes and push the system away from its original state. They can lead to exponential growth or collapse, resulting in instability rather than stabilization. Neutral feedback loops, while they might indicate no significant changes in the system, do not actively contribute to stabilization. Dynamic feedback loops involve ongoing changes but do not inherently imply stability; they can encompass both positive and negative feedback mechanisms. Thus, the negative feedback loop's role in counteracting fluctuations is what makes it crucial for system stability.