Correct Response: B. Wetlands help absorb water that would otherwise directly enter downstream rivers and streams. Removal of wetlands along with their ability to store excess water has been shown to increase local flooding. Although human activity on the newly developed land may eventually lead to the excessive accumulation of nutrients in adjacent bodies of water (A) and increased pressure on nearby landfills (C), these potential environmental problems depend somewhat on how the land is used and are not the most direct consequence of draining wetlands. Removing the wetland habitat is likely to reduce biodiversity and is therefore unlikely to help establish exotic species in the area (D).
