1. Day 9 – Human Populations & Ecological Footprints
Science 10 Ecology

2. Humans and Carrying Capacity
The populations of most species are regulated by carrying capacity.
Intellectual abilities of humans have allowed us to increase the carrying capacity of the biosphere for our population.
We need to use resources sustainably and responsibly.
Sustainable use: using resources in a way
that will not cause long-term depletion of the resource (so it will be available for future generations)
that will not affect the diversity of ecosystems

3. Humans and Carrying Capacity (cont.)
Human exploitation of natural resources has produced improvements to health, education, agriculture, medicine and technology = increased human carrying capacity.
Early humans were regulated by carrying capacity. Now on exceptional growth (p. 294). Current doubling time of 60 years.

6. Ecological Footprints and Carrying Capacity
The only way to increase the carrying capacity of an ecosystem is to increase the amount of energy and resources that can be consumed and to alter behaviour in the ecosystem

7. Ecological Footprints
Ecological Footprint: amount of land needed to provide resources and absorb wastes
a measure of the impact of a human individual or population on the environment.
Often given in amount of land required each year per person
Information used to measure an ecological footprint:
Energy consumption
Land use
Waste production

8. Sustainability
Sustainability: trying to use environmental resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Getting more from less
Reduce, reuse, recycle, recover
Restore and reclaim damaged environments
Conserve and develop substitutes for scarce resources
Reduce consumption (need vs. want)

10. To Do
Day 9 Activity - Calculating your Ecological Footprint & Questions
Try with your parents and compare your answers