Which of the following is not an impact of toxic chemicals?

The correct response highlights that toxic chemicals do not reduce existing stressors; rather, they often contribute to the overall stress experienced by organisms and ecosystems. Toxic chemicals typically have harmful effects that can be lethal or sub-lethal. Lethal effects occur when exposure to these chemicals results in the death of organisms, while sub-lethal effects refer to impacts that do not immediately kill but can impair functionality, reproduction, or behavior.

In addition, toxic chemicals can reduce fecundity, meaning they can negatively affect the reproductive success and the ability of organisms to produce offspring. This is a crucial concern in wildlife ecology as decreased reproductive rates can lead to population declines.

In contrast, the idea that toxic chemicals would somehow reduce existing stressors contradicts the known ecological principles since the introduction of such chemicals adds to the environmental burden, exacerbating stress on populations already suffering from natural or anthropogenic pressures.