Chapter 4 The Human Population and the Environment

Basic Concepts of Population Dynamics Population: –A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area of interbreeding and sharing genetic information. Species: –All individuals that are capable of interbreeding. –Made up of populations Population dynamics –The general study of population changes.

Age Structure Population age structure: –The proportion of the population in each age class –Affects current and future birth rates, death rates and growth rates –Has an impact on the environment –Has complications for current and future social and economic status.

Forecasting Population Change Formula to represent population change: P 2 = P 1 + (B – D) + (I – E)

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A Brief History of Human Population Growth 1. Hunters and gatherers The world’s population was probably less than a few million 2.Early, pre-industrial agriculture Allowed a much greater density of people The first major increase in human population 3.Machine age Industrial revolution led to rapid increase in human population 4.The Modern era Rate of population has slowed in wealthy nations but continues to increase rapidly in poorer, less developed nations.

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Projecting Future Population Growth Exponential growth and doubling time The logistic growth curve – “S” shaped curve that is generated by the logistic growth equation. A small population grows rapidly But the growth rate slows down The population eventually reaches a constant size. Logistic carrying capacity –The population size at which births equal deaths and there is no net change in population

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The Demographic Transition Demographic transition: –Three-stage pattern of change in birth rates and death rates. –Occurred during the process of industrial and economic development of Western nations. –Leads to a decline in population growth. Stage I: Decline in death rate Stage II: High growth rate Stage III: Birth rate drops toward the death rate, leading to low or zero growth rate.

© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

Population and Technology The total impact of the human population on the environment is: –the average impact of an individual multiplied by the total number of individuals T = P x I

The Human Population, the Quality of Life, and the Human Carrying Capacity Human carrying capacity –The number of people that can live on Earth at the same time? –To determine: 1.Extrapolate from past growth 2.The “Packing Problem” approach –Considers how many people might be packed onto Earth, not taking into sufficient account the need for lands and oceans to provide food, water, energy, construction materials, and scenic beauty and the need to maintain biological diversity

Human Death Rates and the Rise of Industrial Societies Acute or epidemic disease  Appears rapidly in the population,  Affects a comparatively large percentage of it,  Declines then almost disappears, only to reappear later Chronic disease  Is always present in a population  Typically occurs in a relatively small but relatively constant presentation of the population  Examples include heart disease, cancer, and stroke

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Longevity and its Effect on Population Growth Maximum lifetime: –The genetically determined maximum possible age to which an individual of a species can live Life expectancy: –The average number of years an individual can expect to live given the individual’s present age

Limiting Factors 1.Short-term factors Those that affect a population during the year in which they become limiting 2.Intermediate-term factors Those whose effects are apparent after one year but before ten years 3.Long-term factors Those whose effects are not apparent for ten years Some factors fit into more than one category

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How Can We Achieve Zero Population Growth? Delay the age of first childbearing by women Birth control –Biological and Social Breast-feeding, which can delay resumption of ovulation Abstinence Induction of sterility with natural agents Contraceptive devices –National Programs to Reduce Birth Rates Formal family planning programs to –explain the problems arising from rapid population growth –Describe the benefits to individuals of reduced population growth.