1. KEY CONCEPT As the human population grows, the demand for Earth’s resources increases. Please write in the vocab words.

2. In this section, we will investigate the following MI State Standards.
L3.p3A -- Identify the factors in an ecosystem that influence fluctuations in population size.
L3.p4A -- Recognize that, and describe how, human beings are part of Earth’s ecosystems. Note that human activities can deliberately or inadvertently alter the equilibrium in ecosystems.
B3.4C -- Examine the negative impact of human activities.

3. Earth’s human population continues to grow.
The good news is that our technology and medical advances have allowed more people to live longer lives.

4. Earth’s human population continues to grow.
Earth’s human carrying capacity is unknown*.
* It has changed as our technology has advanced.

5. Technology has helped to increase Earth’s carrying capacity.
gas-powered farm equipment to utilize the natural resources better
medical advancements to cure/prevent diseases

6. The growing human population exerts pressure on Earth’s natural resources.
Nonrenewable resources are used faster than they form.
coal
oil

7. Renewable resources cannot be used up and can replenish themselves over time.
wind
water
sunlight
Growing use of nonrenewable resources may lead to a crisis.
Resources must be properly managed.

8. Earth’s resources must be used responsibly.
Effective management of Earth’s resources will help meet the needs of the future.
Earth’s resources must be used responsibly.
Careless use of resources makes them unavailable to future generations.
Easter Island is an example of irresponsible resource use.
L3.p4A -- Recognize that, and describe how, human beings are part of Earth’s ecosystems. Note that human activities can deliberately or inadvertently alter the equilibrium in ecosystems.

9. Effective management of Earth’s resources will help meet the needs of the future.
Easter Island was once covered with trees. Through
clear-cutting
(removal of all the trees)
the island has been
stripped of its
renewable resource,
and is now bare of
any significant tree
population.

10. The land must produce and maintain enough
An ecological footprint is the amount of land needed to support just one person.
The land must produce and maintain enough
food and water…
shelter…
energy…
and handle all the waste.

11. An ecological footprint is the amount of land needed to support just one person.
Different cultures use/require
different ecological footprints
More developed societies have families with the largest ecological footprints.
Small, extremely primitive families also have very small footprints.
A flower has a very small ecological footprint.

12. Several factors affect the size of the ecological footprint.
amount and efficiency of resource use
amount and toxicity of waste produced

13. The ecological footprint for the North America is 9
The ecological footprint for the North America is 9.7 (almost 10) hectares.
Q: (1) Which region has the highest ratio of ecological footprint size to population size?
(2) Which region
has the lowest ratio?