Question

Explain the rivet Popper hypothesis.

Answer 1

According to Rivet Popper’s hypothesis by Paul Ehrlich, it describes the effect of loss of biodiversity on the ecosystem. Removal of rivets (species) by passengers on a plane may not affect the safety of flight initially but as more and more rivets are removed, it becomes weak. Removal of rivets of a critical part like a wing (species performing major ecosystem functions) will pose a very serious immediate threat to the safety of the flight. In an ecosystem, various species act as rivets and the role of each species is important and well defined.