Unit 3 Review Book Pt. 2

Question 1

Age-Structure Pyramids

Answer 1

Useful for graphically representing populations
Groups humans into pre -eproductive (0-14), reproductive (15-44), and post-reproductive (45 and older)
Each of these groups at the same stage of life is also called a cohort
Age pyramids group members of the population strictly by age, with each decade representing a different group
Use age structure pyramids to predict population trends
When the majority of a population is in the post-reproductive category, the population size will decrease in the future because most of its members are incapable of reproducing
If the majority of a population is in the pre-reproductivcateogry, the population will increase in the future
Countries where the population is increase rapidly have what is referred to as population momentum

Question 2

Thomas Malthus

Answer 2

populations have a propensity to increase, and that tendency would only be curbed when the “means to subsistence” - the necessary resources to maintain a human population, such as food – grew to be in shor supply
He argued taht this was inevitable, since population multiplies geometrically while food production does so arithmetically, predicted that when oewr classes of a society started to suffer hardship, famine, and disease, the icrease of a poulation might be curbed
When good condiitons returned, populations would naturally increase again

Question 3

people started worrying about human overpopulation

Answer 3

When Green Revolution took place in 1950s and 60s, rapid increase in global food supply was again followed by rapid population growth
At this point, many theorists began to worry about human overpopulation – the idea that humans might overshoot the carrying capacity of the Earth as a whole and suffer some sort of catastrophe (usually called Malthusian catastrophe)
When the began to look at the environmental imapct of humans, not just on food supply, but on thewhole spectrum of ecosystem services, it became clear that the rate of population growth was not sustainable
Though some rpedictions of certain disaster did not come to pass since the Green Revolution and egentic modifications helped the food supply surpass predicted levels, teh basic idea that continued population growth at the exponential rates that were being seen could not continue was sound; population trends NEEDED to change
However, a change began to take place as nations indsutrialized more nd more
As nationals began to become “developed” - a term to describe countries with nigh economic indicators and standards of living – these countries saw a concurrent change in their population characteristics
Since countries seemed to follow a pattern of industrialized and development, and generally their population characteristics tended to follow a specific pattern as this happened, the idea was codified into the demographic transition model

Question 4

Demographic Transition Model Parts

Answer 4

Used to predict population trends based on teh birth and death rates of a population, in this model a population can experience zero population growth via two different means: as a restul of high birth rates and high death rates or as a result of low birth rates and low death rates
When a population moves from the first state to the second state, the process is called demographic transition
1. Preindustrial State
2. Transitional state
3. Industrial state
4. Postindustrial state

Question 5

1. Preindustrial State

Answer 5

Population exhibits a slow rate of growth and has ahigh birth rate and high death rate because of harsh living condiitions
Harsh livign conditions can be considered environmental resistance, an umbrella term for conditions taht slow a popultions growth

Question 6

2. Transitional state

Answer 6

Birth rates are high, but due to better food, water, and health care, death rates are lower
This allows for rapid population growth
Birth rates remain high due to cultural or religious raditions and a lack of education for women

Question 7

3. Industrial state

Answer 7

Population growth is still fairly high, but the birth rate drops, becoming similar to the death rate
Many developing countries are currently in the industrial state – these countries tend to have higher infant mortality rates and more children in the workforce than developed countries

Question 8

4. Postindustrial state

Answer 8

The population approaches and reaches a zero growth rates
Populations may also drop below the zero growth rates (ex. Japan, Poland, and Germany)