Pesticide pollution can help a pest you are trying to destroy by killing predators and parasites of the pest. True or False?

Pesticide pollution can indeed adversely affect the ecosystem by eliminating not only the target pest but also its natural predators and parasites. When a pesticide is applied, it can travel through the environment and impact various species, including those that play a critical role in controlling pest populations. This disruption can lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem, allowing the pest population to surge, as their natural controls are removed.

The reality is that many pesticides do not discriminate between harmful pests and beneficial organisms, potentially creating a situation where the targeted pest experiences reduced competition and predation, which can result in increased numbers. Thus, pesticide pollution can inadvertently aid the persistence or spread of the pest you are trying to control, confirming the statement as true.

The nuances surrounding systemic pesticides or their application in large agricultural settings do not change the fundamental issue of pesticide pollution impacting non-target organisms, thereby contributing to the possibility of enabling pest population growth.