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Carrying Capacity The number of people (organisms) that
can be supported by a given ecosystem, based on their consumption of natural resources.
Each species has requirements for survival and reproduction water food space shelter
Difficult to Calculate for Humans
We use a much wider range of resources than other species
Technology changes the amount and type of resources required. (No other animals have value in uranium for nuclear power)
Humans can substitute one resource for another when the 1st resource becomes limited.
Lifestyle differences among humans mean different populations at different places and times have different needs. (Maasai tribe vs. New York banker.)
Humans have developed transportation for bringing resources in from other ecosystems, (artificially increases local carrying capacity…does not change
the global carrying capacity).
The 3 R’s
Reduce: Use fewer resources Use less paper, food, water…
Reuse: Use more than once Use water bottle multiple times
Recycle: Use objects material again to manufacture a new product Plastic bags plastic poles for gardens
Reducing Resources Activity
Activity: How would changes in the following impact human carrying capacity? Where would the reductions come from (i.e. how could we accomplish them)? ▪ energy use▪ material use▪ reuse of materials ▪ (can’t reuse energy - why?)
▪ recycling materials▪ What are the positives and Negatives of each?
Ecological Footprint
The area of land that would be required to provide a population with all resources and process all its wastes.
Also a quantitative estimate of carrying capacity (land area instead of population)
Calculate your Ecological Footprint
www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/
www.bestfootforward.com/footprintlife.htm
www.myfootprint.org/1.489 × 1010 hectares on the
Earth7.023 x 10 9 People live on EarthCalculate the hectares per capita
if everyone lived like you. 1 Hectare is about the size of a
soccer field
Who has bigger feet? MEDC vs. LEDC
MEDC : Large 2x energy in
their diet (animal products)
Higher CO2 Production
LEDC: Small Less animal
consumed = lower grain consumption
Policies that affect population growth
Economic Welfare: Improve economy and birth rates will come down on their own
Education: Promotes birth control/ economic independence of women
Domestic development: Improve sanitation, agriculture…) Decrease death rate, increase birth