Human Population and Its Environmental Impact
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Questions and Answers

How many more people are estimated to be on earth by 2050?

9.8 billion

What are some environmental stresses that could be caused by growing populations?

  • Biodiversity losses (correct)
  • Infectious diseases (correct)
  • Climate change (correct)
  • Water shortages (correct)
  • Traffic congestion (correct)
  • Pollution of the seas (correct)

    • What has contributed to the control of infectious diseases? (Select all that apply)

    Sanitation systems, Antibiotics, Vaccines

    Population growth in developing countries is increasing at a slower rate than in developed countries.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the "optimum population"?

    <p>The number of people an area can support sustainably (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term "cultural carrying capacity" refer to?

    <p>The number of people who can live in reasonable freedom and comfort without decreasing the ability of the earth to sustain future generations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three main categories of age structure in a population?

    <p>Reproductive ages (A), Pre-reproductive ages (B), Post-reproductive ages (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some major changes that occurred in the US between 1900 and 2000?

    <p>The percentage of homes with flush toilets increased (A), The percentage of people living in suburbs increased (B), Life expectancy increased (C), The number of homicides per 100,000 people increased (D), The hourly manufacturing job wage (adjusted for inflation) increased (E), The percentage of high school graduates increased (F), The percentage of homes with electricity increased (G), The percentage of married working women outside the home increased (H)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some factors that affect birth rates and fertility rates?

    <p>Children as part of the labor force, Cost of raising and educating children, Availability of private and public pension, Urbanization, Educational and employment opportunities for women, Infant mortality rate, Average age of a woman at birth of first child, Availability of legal abortions, Availability of reliable birth control methods, Religious beliefs, traditions, and cultural norms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factors contribute to people living longer and fewer infants dying?

    <p>Increased food supply and distribution, Better nutrition, Medical advances, Improved sanitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some challenges facing the US with respect to its infant mortality rate?

    <p>Inadequate health care for poor women during pregnancy and their infants, Drug addiction among pregnant women, High birth rate among teenagers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factors affect the migration patterns of individuals or groups?

    <p>Economic improvement, Religious freedom, Political freedom, Wars, Environmental refugees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The United States has a long history of immigration.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two types of immigration to the United States?

    <p>Legal immigration, Illegal immigration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the four stages of the demographic transition?

    <p>Preindustrial, Transitional, Industrial, Postindustrial</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Family planning has been credited for reducing TFRs by 55%.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some ways to slow and stabilize population growth?

    <p>Invest in family planning, Reduce poverty, Elevate the social and economic status of women</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some ways to empower women to slow population growth?

    <p>Education, Paying jobs, Human rights without suppression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    China's one-child policy was successful in slowing population growth, but it also led to some challenges.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some challenges facing India in terms of population growth?

    <p>Population control, Poverty, Malnutrition, Environmental problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Human population growth

    The increase in the number of humans on Earth.

    Environmental resistance

    Limits on population growth imposed by the environment.

    Cultural carrying capacity

    The maximum sustainable population size that a region can support without harming the environment or future generations.

    Demographic transition

    A model describing how birth and death rates change over time as a country develops.

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    Crude birth rate

    The number of births per 1,000 people in a population per year.

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    Crude death rate

    The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.

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    Fertility rate

    The average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive years.

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    Infant mortality rate

    The number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births.

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    Life expectancy

    The average number of years a person is expected to live.

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    Migration

    The movement of people from one place to another.

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    Age structure

    The distribution of people among different age groups.

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    Family planning

    The practice of controlling the number and spacing of children.

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    Demographic trap

    A situation where a country's population growth outpaces its economic development.

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    One-child policy

    A population control policy implemented in China to reduce population growth.

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    Developing countries

    Countries with lower levels of economic development and income.

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    Developed countries

    Countries with higher levels of economic development and income.

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    Optimum population

    The number of people a region can sustain without decreasing the ability of the earth to support future generations.

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    Infectious diseases

    Illnesses caused by germs that pass easily from one person to another.

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    Biodiversity Loss

    The decrease in the variety of life on Earth.

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    Water shortages

    Lack of available freshwater.

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    Pollution

    Harmful substances entering the environment.

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    Climate change

    Significant and lasting changes in weather patterns.

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    Study Notes

    Human Population and its Impact

    • An estimated 9.8 billion more people are projected by 2050.
    • Concerns exist about whether there are already too many people.
    • The question of whether technological advancements can overcome environmental resistance is also a concern.
    • The potential need for population control is a topic of debate.

    Environmental Stresses from Growing Populations

    • Increased environmental stresses are a potential consequence of growing populations.
    • Infectious diseases may increase.
    • Biodiversity losses are a concern.
    • Water shortages could become more common.
    • Traffic congestion is another possible consequence.
    • Pollution of the seas is a concern.
    • Climate change is likely to worsen.

    Reasons for Human Population Increase

    • Movement into new habitats and climate zones.
    • Early and modern agriculture methods.
    • Control of infectious diseases through sanitation systems, antibiotics, and vaccines.

    Uneven Distribution of Population Growth

    • Population growth in developing countries is significantly faster than in developed countries (approximately 15 times faster).
    • By 2050, 97% of population growth is expected to occur in developing countries.
    • The concept of cultural carrying capacity as a basis for optimum sustainable population is discussed.

    Optimum Sustainable Population

    • The optimum population is the number of people an area can support sustainably.
    • It balances the needs of society and the environment.
    • The population should be high enough to enable economic growth but low enough to avoid overusing resources.

    Cultural Carrying Capacity

    • Cultural carrying capacity is the number of people who can live in reasonable freedom and comfort without decreasing the ability of the Earth to sustain future generations.

    Global Connections: UN World Population Projections by 2050

    • Projections of global population by 2050 show three different scenarios (high, medium, and low).

    Science Focus: How Long Can the Human Population Keep Growing?

    • Thomas Malthus recognized the limitations of unchecked population growth in 1798.
    • 83% of the earth's land surface has been altered by humans.
    • The question of indefinite human population growth is posed.

    Natural Capital Degradation

    • Humans are altering nature by reducing biodiversity.
    • The amount of the Earth's net primary productivity is increasing more from human use.
    • Pest species and disease-causing bacteria are becoming resistant to treatments.
    • Many natural predators are being eliminated.
    • Some renewable resources are being used faster than they can replenish.

    The Human Population's Fluctuations

    • Population change is impacted by births, deaths, and migration.
    • Population change = (births + immigration) - (deaths + emigration).
    • Crude birth rates and crude death rates are important factors in population trends.

    Global Connections: The World's 10 Most Populous Countries in 2008

    • This presents comparisons of populations by 2008 and projected for 2025, showing different countries' populations.

    TFR Rates for the U.S. Between 1917 and 2008

    • This data shows historical changes in birth rates per woman during this period. A significant baby boom period happened between 1946 and 1964. The current birth rate per woman is at replacement level.

    Birth Rates in the U.S. from 1910 to 2008

    • Shows yearly changes over time. Demographic transition, depression, war, etc are noted.

    Some Major Changes in the U.S. between 1900 and 2000

    • Provides statistics on changes in various areas, like life expectancy, education levels, living standards, home ownership, and job wages.

    Factors Affecting Birth Rates and Fertility Rates: Part 1

    • Children as a part of the labor force: In societies where children contribute to the labor force, they may be viewed as economic assets rather than simply dependents.
    • Cost of raising and educating children.
    • Availability of private and public pension.
    • Urbanization.
    • Educational and employment opportunities for women.

    Factors Affecting Birth Rates/Fertility Rates: Part 2

    • Infant mortality rate.
    • Average age of a woman at birth of first child.
    • Availability of legal abortions.
    • Availability of reliable birth control methods.
    • Religious beliefs, traditions, and cultural norms.

    Factors Affecting Death Rates: Part 1

    • Life expectancy.
    • Infant mortality rate.
    • Factors contributing to longer life expectancy and lower infant mortality include increased food supply, better nutrition, medical advancements, and improved sanitation.

    Factors Affecting Death Rates: Part 2

    • Inadequate health care for poor women during pregnancy.
    • Drug addiction during pregnancy.
    • High birth rates amongst teenagers: contribute to high infant mortality rates in US.

    Migration's Impact on Population

    • Economic improvement.
    • Religious freedom.
    • Political freedom.
    • Wars.
    • Environmental refugees.

    Case Study: The United States: A Nation of Immigrants

    • Historical role of immigration in the U.S.
    • Legal immigration.
    • Illegal immigration.
    • This provides historical data on the number of legal immigrants to. Some significant changes in the data are noted at specific points in time.

    Populations Made Up Mostly of Young People Can Grow Rapidly

    • Pre-reproductive, reproductive, and post-reproductive age categories.

    Generalized Population Age Structure Diagrams

    • Age structures of different countries (expanding rapidly, expanding slowly, stable, declining). Specific countries examples are included.

    Population Structure by Age and Sex in Developed and Developing Countries

    • Demographic data graphs comparing age structures between developed and developing countries.

    We Can Use Age-Structure Predictions

    • Baby boomers and job impacts when they retire.

    Tracking the Baby Boom Generation in the United States

    • Historical data of the baby boom generation.

    Some Problems with Rapid Population Decline

    • Economic impacts: labor shortages, reduced government revenues, fewer entrepreneurs, decreased technology development, increased public deficits to fund pensions/healthcare (potentially reduced pensions/increased retirement age).

    Populations Can Decline from a Rising Death Rate: The AIDS Tragedy

    • Millions of deaths due to AIDS.
    • Loss of productive workers.
    • Sharp decrease in life expectancy.
    • International efforts to reduce the spread of HIV through education, health care, and financial assistance.

    As Countries Develop, Their Populations Tend to Grow More Slowly

    • Demographic transition stages (Preindustrial, Transitional, Industrial, Postindustrial).

    Four Stages of the Demographic Transition

    • Graphic representation of birth rates, death rates, and total population across four stages (Preindustrial, Transitional, Industrial, Postindustrial).

    Planning for Babies Works

    • Family planning programs reducing TFRs.
    • Expansion of programs in developing countries.
    • Inclusion of all demographics: teenagers, unmarried women, men.
    • Slowing and stabilizing population growth.
    • Investing in family planning.
    • Reducing poverty.
    • Elevating the social and economic status of women.

    Empowering Women Can Slow Population Growth

    • Education.
    • Paying jobs.
    • Human rights without suppression.

    Case Study: Slowing Population Growth in China: The One-Child Policy

    • Encouraging fewer children.
    • Gender imbalance.
    • Fast-growing economy.
    • Serious resource and environmental problems.

    Case Study: Slowing Population Growth in India

    • Population control.
    • Poverty.
    • Malnutrition.
    • Environmental problems.

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    Chapter 6: Population and Its Impact PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the implications of global population growth on the environment, including potential stresses such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. It also discusses the historical reasons behind population increase and highlights the debates surrounding population control. Join us to test your knowledge on these critical issues.

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