population and resources Flashcards
(19 cards)
what is optimum population
ideal number of people in an area . all resources are given to give the highest living standard
overpopulation
if a population on am area becomes too high for the available resources - standard of living falls
underpopulation
the population declines or is too low . there are not enough people to use all the resources to their full potential . standard of living falls
malthus theory
idea that population can increase quickly but food production can not.
malthus did not know that technology would increase meaning food production rapidly increased. however there have been some famines
Boserup theory
idea that if population increased the population would find a way to produce enough food and resources.
she believed farming would become more intense snd technology would find new methods.
evidence to support her theory
genetically modified food
use of fertilisers
uncertain if in the long term food production can keep up with population increase
Simon theory
population growth is positive.
ultimate resource overall is the human mind
he believed that if populations grew there would be enough human mind to figure out a way to increase resources .
Neo-malthusians
if the population kept going it would be an obstacle to development and would limit economic growth
contraception to slow down birth rate.
humans can only live on the earth if we limit population growth
human innovation
will fix future problems
carrying capacity
maximum population an area is capable of supporting in the long term
what are the 2 models to show earths carrying capacity
slow grwoing
rapid growing
ecological footprint
a way of measuring the environmental impact of human activities by measuring or calculating the amount of land needed to grow things .
what are ecological footprint measured in
global hectares - gha
who has a greater ecological footprint developed or developing
developed
how big are peoples GHA
uk - 5
Zambia - less than 1
what is the link between carrying capacity and GHA
when peoples GHA increases the carrying capacity decreases.
because more resources are required per person. this means the environment can support fewer people
how many earths are being used
at current rate of consumption we are using the resources as if we have 1.6 earths are being used.
this means it takes the earth longer to regenerate the resources. we are using the earths resources quicker than it can regenerate
population resource and pollution model shows what
the effects of resource extraction and use
shows the relationship between the people and environment
positive feedback loop for the relationship between population , resources and pollution
positive feedback is the the original change is amplified .
more food needed
more food produced
population growth
more food produced
population increases further when there is more food
improve food production to accommodate further pop growth
increased population resolves in a increase in extraction of fossil fuels
malnutrition decreases - population increased
negative feedback loop for the relationship between population , resources and pollution
change leads to a process that has a opposite effect to the original change
growing population causes expansion of agriculture - og change
instead if growing more food it leads to soil erosion.
food production decreases - soil is less fertile
food production is no longer high enough to support the population
causes population to decline
