4/20/2023 0 Comments Human population 0 ad![]() Humans can construct shelter to protect them from the elements and have developed agriculture and domesticated animals to increase their food supplies. Much of this ability is related to human intelligence, society, and communication. ![]() This ability is a major factor responsible for human population growth and a way of overcoming density-dependent growth regulation. Humans are unique in their ability to alter their environment with the conscious purpose of increasing carrying capacity. In spite of this fact, human population is still growing exponentially.Ĭlick through this interactive view of how human populations have changed over time. Also, resources would have to be such that the environment would support such growth. To reach its biotic potential, all females would have to become pregnant every nine months or so during their reproductive years. The human population is currently experiencing exponential growth even though human reproduction is far below its biotic potential (Figure 1). As some point out, it is likely that the negative effects of increasing carrying capacity will outweigh the positive ones-the world’s carrying capacity for human beings might actually decrease. The ultimate effect of these changes on our carrying capacity is unknown. The depletion of the ozone layer, erosion due to acid rain, and damage from global climate change are caused by human activities. Earth’s human population is growing rapidly, to the extent that some worry about the ability of the earth’s environment to sustain this population, as long-term exponential growth carries the potential risks of famine, disease, and large-scale death.Īlthough humans have increased the carrying capacity of their environment, the technologies used to achieve this transformation have caused unprecedented changes to Earth’s environment, altering ecosystems to the point where some may be in danger of collapse. Humans, however, have the ability to alter their environment to increase its carrying capacity sometimes to the detriment of other species (e.g., via artificial selection for crops that have a higher yield). For example, beaver dams alter the stream environment where they are built. Humans are not unique in their ability to alter their environment.
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