human population history
DESCRIPTION
Human Population History. LOSSES: Mortality and Emigration. Mortality - Death Rate. Survivorship - Percentage of cohort surviving to a certain age. Life expectancy - Probable number of years of survival for an individual of a given age. Increases as humans age. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Human Population History
LOSSES: Mortality and Emigration Mortality - Death Rate.
Survivorship - Percentage of cohort surviving to a certain age.
Life expectancy - Probable number of years of survival for an individual of a given age.
Increases as humans age. Life Span - Longest period of life reached by
a given type of organism. Emigration - Movement of individuals
out of a population.
Given a long list of possible factors promoting growth, for a specific case,
what leads to overpopulation or extinction?
Identify most likely influences (create a simplified “model”)
Test the predictions of the model
Changing birth rates: opposing factors Factors that increase the desire for
children Personal
Source of pleasure, pride, comfort. Source of support for elderly parents. Current source of family income. Social Status
Government policy Labor availability Tax and social welfare balances
Birth Reduction Pressures Good times
Education and socioeconomic status are usually inversely related to fertility in wealthier countries.
Higher education and personal freedom for women often result in decisions to limit childbearing
When women have more opportunities to earn a salary, they are less likely to have children
Bad times Food & violence uncertainty
Infant Mortality and Women’s Rights
Fig. 9.10
Birth Rates in the United States
Fig. 9.11
Fig. 9.12
Fig. 9.13
Population “momentum”
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION Model of falling death rates and birth
rates due to improved living conditions accompanying economic development. Pre-Modern Society - Poor conditions
keep death rates high, thus birth rates are correspondingly high.
Economic Development brings better conditions and standard of living thus death rates fall. Birth rates stay constant or even rise.
Demographic Transition Eventually, birth rates begin to fall.
Populations grow rapidly in time between death rates and birth rates fall.
Developed Countries - Transition is complete and both death and birth rates are low and population is in equilibrium.
But is this hypothesis accurate?
Demographic Transition
Fig. 9.15
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html
What are the consequences of large numbers of people?
Pessimistic View
Optimistic View
Questions for discussion What defines human “carrying
capacity”? How do these factors change birth or
death rates to stabilize population size?
For national policy makers around the globe, what should be considered in setting policy about birth rates?
…the U.S. can be called the most over-populated nation.
Erhlich & Ehrlich, Environmental Law (vol. 27, no. 4) 1997
If every one of the 6 billion of us lived in Texas…room enough for
each family of four to have a house and 1/8 acre…
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
…the answer often focuses on crowding…these views miss the
point…
Erhlich & Ehrlich, Environmental Law (vol. 27, no. 4) 1997
…energy use seems to be a priori a reasonable measure…
Erhlich & Ehrlich, Environmental Law (vol. 27, no. 4) 1997
Life expectancy is the best overall numerical measure of human
well-being
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
Population growth is a sign of mankind’s greatest triumph - our
gains against death
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
It’s hard to argue with somebody who despairs because mankind is alone at the top of the food chain.
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
…the key is regulation of birth rates…
Erhlich & Ehrlich, Environmental Law (vol. 27, no. 4) 1997
capitalism is by far the best contraceptive
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
Assuming human progress and scientific advancement continue as they have…
…12 billion people will be richer, healthier and better fed than the 6 billion of us today…
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
In a rational world, Malthusianism would be [in]…thorough disrepute…every
objective trend is running in precisely the opposite direction…
Moore, National Review (Oct. 25, 1999)
By assaulting the earth’s ecosystems, humanity is…sawing off the limb on which it perches.
Erhlich & Ehrlich, Environmental Law (vol. 27, no. 4) 1997
"We now have in our hands—really, in our libraries—the technology to feed, clothe,
and supply energy to an ever-growing population for the next seven billion years."
Simon, The Ultimate Resource, 1981
"There is no reason to believe that at any given moment in the future the
available quantity of any natural resource or service at present prices will be much smaller than it is now,
or non-existent."
Simon, The Ultimate Resource, 1981
Paul Ehrlich and Human Populations
Why is zero population growth counter to Natural Selection?