1 human population dynamics

1

HUMAN POPULATION DYNAMICS

http://opr.princeton.edu/popclock/

http://opr.princeton.edu/popclock/

2

DemographyThe study of human populations along with their characteristics and changes.

3

Core Case Study: Are There Too Many of Us?

The debate over interactions among population growth, economic growth, politics, & moral beliefs is one of the most important & controversial issues in environmental science.

Each week about 1.6 million people are added to the global population.

Most of it in developing countries, leading to the question of whether there are enough resources to provide an adequate standard of living for this growing human population.

4


Some argue that there are enough resources to support a growing population, and that technological advances will allow for even more growth.

Others argue that environmental degradation may increase, and that rising death rates may be a consequence of an increasing population.

5


Much of the world’s population growth occurs in developing countries like China and India.

Figure 6-1

SCIENCE FOCUS: How Long Can the Human Population Keep Growing?

Human activities have directly affected about 83% of the Earth’s land surface (excluding Antarctica).

Humans have altered nature in eight major ways:

They have reduced biodiversity, increased primary productivity, increased genetic resistance in pests, eliminated natural predators, introduced harmful species, used renewable resources unsustainably, interfered with chemical cycling and energy flow, and relied on fossil fuels.

6

7

[6-1] How Many People Can the Earth Support?

A. The human population has grown rapidly due to technology, improved medical techniques, emphasis on hygiene, and expansion of agriculture and industry.World’s exponential growth rate is around 1.22% a year.Geographically, this growth is unevenly distributed:• Developed countries grow at 0.1% per year. • Developing countries grow 15 times faster at

1.5% per year.

8


B. Population growth has slowed but is troubling because we do not know how long we can continue without overshooting earth’s carrying capacity for humans.

9

Where Are We Headed?

U.N. world population projection based on women having an average of 2.5 (high), 2.0 (medium), or 1.5 (low) children.

The most likely projection is the medium one—9.3 billion by 2050.

10

C. No population, including humans, can continue to grow indefinitely; there are limits on population growth:The intrinsic rate of increase (r) or biotic potential is the maximum rate at which a population would grow if it had unlimited resources.All of the limiting factors that act together to limit the growth of a population is environmental resistance.Carrying capacity (K): the maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely without degrading the habitat.


11

Exponential and Logistic Population Growth: J-Curves and S-Curves

Populations grow rapidly with ample resources, but as resources become limited, its growth rate slows and levels off.Exponential growth (J-curve) is converted to logistic growth (S-curve), in which the growth rate decreases as the population becomes larger and faces environmental resistance.

12

Logistic Growth of a sheep population on the island of Tasmania between 1800 & 1925

As a population levels off, it often fluctuates slightly above and below the carrying capacity.

13

Exceeding Carrying Capacity: Move, Switch Habits, or Decline in Size

Over time species may increase their carrying capacity by developing adaptations.Some species maintain their carrying capacity by migrating to other areas.So far, technological, social, and other cultural changes have extended the earth’s carrying capacity for humans.

14

Population Density and Population Change: Effects of Crowding

Population density: the number of individuals in a population found in a particular area or volume.

A population’s density can directly affect how rapidly it can grow or decline = density dependent.• e.g. biotic factors like disease & food

availabilitySome population control factors are not affected by population density = density independent .• e.g. abiotic factors like weather or fire

15

Reproductive Patterns:Opportunists vs. Competitors

Positions of r-selected and K-selected species on the sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve.

Large number of smaller offspring with little parental care (r-selected species).Fewer, larger offspring with higher invested parental care (K-selected species).

16

Reproductive Patterns

r-selected species tend to be opportunists while K-selected species tend to be competitors.

17

A. Population increases through births and immigration and decreases through deaths and emigration.

1. The crude birth rate (natality) is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in a specific year.

2. The crude death rate (mortality) is the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population in a specific year.

[6-2] What Factors Influence the Size of the Human Population?

B.The populations of China and India comprise 37% of the world’s population. The next most populated country is the United States with 4.5% of the world’s population.

18


The world’s 10 most populous countries in 2008 with projections in 2025.

C. Fertility rate is the number of births that occur to an individual woman or in a population.

1. The changing nature of fertility rates affects population growth.

a. Replacement-level fertility is the number of children needed to replace their parents.

b. Total fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children that a woman has during her reproductive years.

20


The population of the United States grew from 76 million in 1900 to 304 million in 2008.

Although a drop in TFR has slowed the country’s growth, it is still growing faster than any other developed country (someone migrating to the U.S. every 32 seconds) .

Because of high per capita resource use and waste, growth in the United States has an enormous environmental impact.

21

Case Study: U.S. Population Is Growing Rapidly

Per CapitaPer individual or per person.Formula for determining resource use per person for an area.

22

resourceper capita

number of individuals=

Gross National Product - The most commonly used measure of the economic growth of a country.

23

Environmental ImpactThe environmental impact (I) of a population on a given area depends on 3 key factors:

• number of people (P).

• average resource use per person (affluence, A).

• beneficial/harmful effects of technologies (T) used to provide/consume each unit of a resource and control/prevent resulting pollution & environmental degradation.

24

Environmental Impact Equation (Paul Ehrlich Formula)

population X affluence X technology = Environmental Impact

I = P x A x T

25

Developing Countries

Population size & the resulting degradation of renewable resources (as the poor struggle to stay alive) tend to be the key factors in total environmental impact. Resource use per person is low.

26

Developed CountriesHigh rates of resource use (affluenza).

Result in high levels of pollution and environmental degradation per person.

A U.S. citizen consumes 30 times more than the average citizen of India and 100 times more than the average person in the world’s poorest countries.

Thus, poor parents in a developing country would need 60-200 kids to have the same lifetime environmental impact as 2 typical U.S. kids!

D. Many factors influence birth and fertility rates.1) More children work in developing countries;

they are important to the labor force.

2) The economic cost of raising and educating children determines their numbers.

3) If there are available private/public pension systems, adults have fewer children because they don’t need children to take care of them in old age.

4) People in urban areas usually have better access to family planning, so have fewer children.

27


5) If women have educational and economic choices, they tend to have fewer children.

6) When the infant mortality rate is low, people have fewer children.

7) The older the age at which women marry, the fewer children they bear.

8) If abortions are available and legal, women have fewer children.

9) The availability of reliable birth control allows women to space children and determines the number of children they bear.

28


E. Factors that have caused a decline in death rates are the following:1. Better food supplies and nutrition, and

safer water supplies contribute to people living longer.

2. Advances in medicine and public health, and improved sanitation and personal hygiene also contribute to people living longer.

29


30

Fig. 6-6, p. 128

47 years

Homicides per100,000 people

Hourly manufacturing job wage (adjusted for inflation)

Living insuburbs

Homes withelectricity

Homes withflush toilets

High schoolgraduates

Married women workingoutside the home

Life expectancy

1.25.8

$15$3

52%10%

99%2%

98%10%

83%15%

81%

2000

1900

8%

77 years

Some major changes that took place in the United States between 1900 and 2000.

F. Measures of overall health are:1. Life expectancy is the average number of

years a newborn can expect to live.

2. Infant mortality rate is the number of babies out of every 1,000 born who die before their first birthday.

a) This rate reflects a country’s level of nutrition and health care.

b) It is the single best measure of a society’s quality of life.

31


3. U.S. infant mortality rate is higher than 40 other countries because:a) Inadequate health care for poor women

and for their babies.

b) Drug addiction among pregnant women.

c) High birth rate among teenagers.

32


G. Migration is also a factor in population change.

• Historically, the United States has admitted more immigrants than all other countries combined.

• Some 60% of the U.S. population supports limiting legal immigration.

• A recent study suggests that to maintain a viable workforce as baby boomers retire, the U.S. would have to absorb many more immigrants per year than it currently does.

• However, a reduction in immigration may help mediate the enormous environmental footprint the United States currently has. 33


34

Case Study: U.S. Immigration

Since 1820, the U.S. has admitted almost twice as many immigrants and refugees as all other countries combined.

Figure 6-7

35

[6-3] How Does a Population’s Age Structure Affect Its Growth or Decline?

Age structure diagrams (histograms) are visual aids that show the distribution of males and females in each age group; how fast a population grows or declines depends on its age structure.

36


A. The percentages of males and females in the total population are divided into the following age categories:Pre-reproductive ages span birth to 14 years of age.Reproductive ages include age 15 through 44.Post-reproductive ages include ages 45 and up.

37


B. The major determining factor in a country’s future population growth is the number of people under the age of 15.

1. In 2008, 28% of the planet’s population was under 15.

2. Populations with a large proportion of its people in the pre-reproductive age group have a large potential for rapid population growth.

Fig. 6-8, p. 131

Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female

Expanding Rapidly

Guatemala Nigeria

Saudi Arabia

Expanding Slowly United States

Australia China

Stable Japan Italy

Greece

Declining GermanyBulgaria Russia

Prereproductive ages 0–14

Reproductive ages 15–44

Postreproductive ages 45–85+

POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE

39

3. 30% (with 41% in Africa) of the people in developing countries were under 15 years old in 2008 versus only 17% in developed countries.

4. The youthful age structure of most developing countries contributes to an unemployment crisis.

Figure 6-9

40

5. Expansive/rapid growth: birth rate exceeds the death rate, population is getting larger, and pyramid-shaped histogram.Ex’s. Kenya, Nigeria, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia

41

6. Slow growth/stable (zero growth): birth rate almost equals death rate, population is not getting any larger or is growing very slowly, and histogram shape is straighter and more box-like until around age 45-85.Examples of slow growth: U.S., Australia, China, CanadaExamples of zero (stable) growth: Spain, Portugal, Greece, Japan, Italy

42

7. Declining (negative growth): when the birth rate is smaller than the death rate, and the pyramid bulges near the top or is inverted.Examples: Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Hungary

43


C. Changes in the distribution of a country’s age groups have long-lasting economic and social impacts. An example of this is the ‘baby boom’ generation in the U.S.1. Such a group can dominate the population’s

demands for goods and services.2. They influence elections and legislation and

economic demand.3. Retirement of baby boomers in the U.S. may

create a shortage of workers.

44

POPULATION AGE STRUCTURE

Tracking the baby-boom generation in the United States.

Figure 6-10

45


D. The “baby bust” generation compared to that of the “baby boom”:

1. There will be fewer people to compete for education, jobs, and services.

2. Too few people in the labor force may increase wages.

3. It may be more difficult to get job promotions because a larger baby-boom group will occupy most upper-level positions.

4. These fluctuations in population age structure have social and economic effects for decades.

46


E. Reduced fertility and population decline can have long-term consequences, especially if the decline is rapid.

1. With a gradual population decline, its harmful effects can usually be managed.

2. When there’s a sharp rise in the proportion of older people:a) Produces a sharp rise in public service costs, for

health, etc.b) May have many fewer working taxpayers and labor

shortages.c) It may be necessary to raise retirement age, raise

taxes, cut retirement benefits, and increase legal immigration, which are generally unpopular moves.

47


3. If population declines because of deaths, consequences are serious:a. Deaths from disease such as AIDS disrupt a

country’s social and economic structure.b. Large numbers of people in a particular age

group are removed from the country’s future. 1) Life expectancy drops.2) In the case of AIDS, the deaths are mostly young

adults, those who usually help run the country and everyday life for millions.

3) Two major goals are to reduce the spread of HIV through education and health care and to provide financial help for education, health care, and volunteer teachers and social workers to compensate for the lost young adults.

Fig. 6-11, p. 133

Some Problems with Rapid Population Decline

Can threaten economic growth

Labor shortages

Less government revenues with fewer workers

Less entrepreneurship and new business formation

Less likelihood for new technology development

Increasing public deficits to fund higher pension and health-care costs

Pensions may be cut and retirement age increased

[6-4] How Can We Slow Human Population Growth?

Experience indicates that the most effective ways to slow human population growth are to encourage family planning, to reduce poverty, and to elevate the status of women.

49

50

A. The demographic transition hypothesis states that as countries become industrialized, first their death rates and then their birth rates decline; this transition takes place in 4 distinct stages:1. Preindustrial stage: little population growth due

to the high infant mortality & high death rate.2. Transitional stage: industrialization begins & pop.

grows rapidly—death rate drops and birth rates remain high.

3. Industrial stage: pop. growth slows—birth rate drops and approaches death rate—improved food production, health, & education.

4. Postindustrial stage: pop. growth levels off & then declines as birth rates fall below death rates.


Fig. 6-12, p. 134

Four Stages of Demographic Transition

52

Some developing countries may have difficulty making the demographic transition.

37 countries have reached this stage (mainly in Western Europe).

The challenge is how to help the remaining 88% of the world get to this stage.



B.Family planning helps reduce the number of births and abortions throughout the world.

1. Information is given on birth spacing, birth control, and health care.

2. Family planning has been responsible for at least 55% of the drop in TFRs in developing countries.

3. Family planning has also reduced both legal and illegal abortions per year. 53


4. Services come through educational and clinical services.

Almost one-half of pregnancies in developing countries are unplanned and 26% end in abortion.Women want to limit their pregnancies but have no access to contraceptives.

5. Empowering women by providing education, paying jobs, and support for their human rights can slow population growth.

Women work two-thirds of all the hours worked, but receive 10% of the world’s income.

54

CASE STUDY: Slowing Population Growth in China—The One-Child Policy

Population growth in China has been controlled by a strongly enforced government program.Between 1972 and 2004, China’s birthrate was cut in half.Couples with one child are rewarded with extra food, larger pensions, better housing, bonuses, free school tuition, and preferential employment treatment for the child.

55

CASE STUDY: Slowing Population Growth in China—The One-Child Policy

China currently faces challenges relating to a large elderly population and a larger male population of more males than females.As the economy continues to grow, China’s ecological footprint is bound to expand.

56

India has tried to control its population growth for years.

Poverty, malnutrition, and environmental problems abound in India.

Efforts to limit population have not been especially successful:

Poor couples believe they need several children for work and care.

There is a strong preference for male children, so many do not use birth control.

CASE STUDY: Slowing Population Growth in India

India is currently undergoing tremendous economic growth that will likely continue.

This may increase the ecological footprint of the nation, but may also serve to speed up their demographic transition.

CASE STUDY: Slowing Population Growth in India

Includes birth rate, death rate, immigration, & emigration.If a population of 10,000 experiences 100 births, 40 deaths, 10 immigrants and 30 emigrants in a year, what is the net annual percentage growth rate?

59

Growth Rate (%)b - d + i - e

% growth rate = x 100pop. size

(100 - 40) + (10 - 30)% growth rate = x 100

10,000

= 0.4%

The time it takes for the population to double the number of people.

If a population of a country grows at a rate of 5% a year, the number of years required for the pop. to double is what?

60

Doubling Time (Rule of 70)

70doubling time (yrs) =

% growth rate

70doubling time =

5 = 14 years

61

Reasons for World Hunger Issues

Unequal distribution of available food.Loss of arable land.Increasing population growth rate.Increasing poverty in developing countries.

62

Strategies for Ensuring Adequate Nutrition for a Growing Population:

Increase the number of new food crops from a diversity of plant species.

Distribute food more equitably.

Increase land that is dedicated to grain production rather than meat production.

Assist developing countries in efficient crop irrigation systems.

63

1994 Global Summit on Population & Development

Cairo, Egypt

Encouraged action to stabilize the world’s population at 7.8 billion by 2050, instead of the projected 11-12.5 billion.

Provide universal access to family-planning services.

64

Improve the health care of infants, children & pregnant women.

Encourage development of national population policies.

Improving the status of women by expanding education & job opportunities.

1994 Global Summit on Population & Development cont.

65

Increase access to education for girls.

Increase men’s involvement in child-rearing responsibility & family planning.

Take steps to eradicate poverty.

Reduce & eliminate unsustainable patterns of production & consumption.

1994 Global Summit on Population & Development cont.

66

HUMAN ASPECTS ON

NATURAL SYSTEMS

We have used technology to alter much of the rest of nature in ways that threaten the survival of many other species and could reduce the quality of life for our own species.

1 human population dynamics

Documents