INTRODUCTION
According to Miller and Spoolman (2010), carrying capacity is defined as “the maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely” (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Figure 5-8 p. 86 (Miller and Spoolman, 2010)
As seen in the carrying capacity graph above, “no population can continue to grow indefinitely because of limitations on resources and because of competition among species for those resources” (Miller and Spoolman, 2010). As the population increases with factors of environmental resistance—the combination of factors that sets the carrying capacity for an area to limit population growth(oxygen supply, food supply, diseases, predators, space, etc.) , the growth rate decreases. After some time, …show more content…
We will look at three scenarios which illustrate varying human diets and allocation of resources. From scenario 1 to scenario 3, there is the reduction of carrying capacity by the diversion of resources.
Scenario 1 shows that there are 1000 people, all vegetarians and producers and a 100% carrying capacity. This is the simplest lifestyle compared to the succeeding scenarios in which the people are guaranteed a maximum carrying capacity.
Scenario 2 shows that it is still at production and consumption, but not all people are vegetarians. Instead, herbivores such as cattle are consumed. Due to energy lost in between trophic levels in a food chain, 10 calories of plant food corresponds to only 1 calorie of meat; Because of this limitation, the carrying capacity is reduced to 80%, or only 180 …show more content…
The problem is that we don’t have that much land. With that in mind, carrying capacity could be estimated at around 1.8 billion people, which is one-third of the world’s current population of around 7 billion. This shows that we have drastically exceeded what is sustainable and ultimately livable for us. However, disregarding other amenities and affluent needs, the carrying capacity would be much larger than 1.8 billion. We saw in scenario 3 that this is indeed the
According to Miller and Spoolman (2010), carrying capacity is defined as “the maximum population of a given species that a particular habitat can sustain indefinitely” (Miller & Spoolman, 2010). Figure 5-8 p. 86 (Miller and Spoolman, 2010)
As seen in the carrying capacity graph above, “no population can continue to grow indefinitely because of limitations on resources and because of competition among species for those resources” (Miller and Spoolman, 2010). As the population increases with factors of environmental resistance—the combination of factors that sets the carrying capacity for an area to limit population growth(oxygen supply, food supply, diseases, predators, space, etc.) , the growth rate decreases. After some time, …show more content…
We will look at three scenarios which illustrate varying human diets and allocation of resources. From scenario 1 to scenario 3, there is the reduction of carrying capacity by the diversion of resources.
Scenario 1 shows that there are 1000 people, all vegetarians and producers and a 100% carrying capacity. This is the simplest lifestyle compared to the succeeding scenarios in which the people are guaranteed a maximum carrying capacity.
Scenario 2 shows that it is still at production and consumption, but not all people are vegetarians. Instead, herbivores such as cattle are consumed. Due to energy lost in between trophic levels in a food chain, 10 calories of plant food corresponds to only 1 calorie of meat; Because of this limitation, the carrying capacity is reduced to 80%, or only 180 …show more content…
The problem is that we don’t have that much land. With that in mind, carrying capacity could be estimated at around 1.8 billion people, which is one-third of the world’s current population of around 7 billion. This shows that we have drastically exceeded what is sustainable and ultimately livable for us. However, disregarding other amenities and affluent needs, the carrying capacity would be much larger than 1.8 billion. We saw in scenario 3 that this is indeed the