Compendium Review

Major Topic Two: Human Landscapes

Part Three

• Human Population Growth

• Use of Resources and the Consequences
• Biodiversity
• Working Towards a Sustainable Society
• Human Population Growth
• Use of Resources and the Consequences
• Biodiversity
• Working Towards a Sustainable Society

World Population

Picture from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
/Human_population
 Human Population Growth
Our current world population is approximately 7 billion people. World population has been undergoing an
exponential growth ( sharp increase) where about 78 million people are added annually. The difference
between the number of individuals born annually and the number of individuals who die annually is known
as the growth rate. “Biotic potential is the maximum reproductive capacity of a population under optimum
environmental conditions.” This exponential growth will start to taper off once the carrying capacity (the
max population the environment can provide for) is reached. There are three age groups in population:
prereproductive, reproductive, postreproductive. The population is continuing to increase because more
woman are entering the reproductive group than woman are leaving the reproductive group.
More Developed Countries (MDC’s):
North America and Europe, decline
in deaths due to modern medicine,
improvements in social and
economic activity, and improvements
in public health, overall annual
growth rate slight increase (about
.1%) mostly due to high influx of
immigrants, woman still of LDC’s
reproductive age. Stable population.
Less Developed Countries (LDC’s):
Parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin MDC’s
America, decline in deaths due to
modern medicine, high increase in
birthrate with some countries
averaging 5 children per mother.
Most growth rate in Asia, while
African growth rate slowing due to
AIDS. Increase population.
Human Population Growth

“Population evolution
in different
continents. The
vertical axis is
logarithmic and is
millions of people.”

Picture and verbiage from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hu
man_population
• Human Population Growth
• Use of Resources and the Consequences
• Biodiversity
• Working Towards a Sustainable Society

Pictures from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_resource &

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-renewable_resources
 Use of Resources and the Consequences
The five most used resources by the human population are water, food, land, energy, and minerals. A
limited resource (land, minerals, fossil fuel) is known as a nonrenewable, whereas a renewable (solar
energy) can be naturally replenished. Resource consumption can produce negative affects on the
environment known as pollution. As the population increases, the use of resources increase and so does
the pollution.
Land is needed for many purposes:
residential, commercial, power and
manufacturing, agriculture, roadways, and
more. The majority of the worlds human “Ship stranded
habitation (about 40%) lives by a coastline by the retreat of
which is leading to beach erosion. It is the Aral Sea.”
estimated that approximately 70% of
beaches are wearing away. This is also
contributing to negative affects on marine
life. Also, humans are causing devastating
effects to wildlife by filling in wetlands and
marshlands. Desert consumes about 40% of
Earth’s land, and the land closest to desert is
in danger of becoming desert due to
improper management of land by humans. “Jungle
This process is known as desertification burned for
(degradation of land). The biggest contributor agriculture in
to desertification is the overabundance of southern
animal grazing. The removal of forest trees, Mexico.”
known as deforestation, is contributing to
desertification.

Pictures from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertification & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation

 Use of Resources and the Consequences
Approximately 70% of freshwater consumption is used to irrigate crops, and the MDC’s use most of
their water consumption for landscaping and hygiene purposes (versus drinking). To increase water
supplies, we draw from aquifers and dam rivers. However, the extensive damming of rivers has
depleted their flow, we’ve lost water due to seepage and evaporation, there has been a reduction in
water storage due to sediment buildup, and we’ve increased the salinity in some if the waters. Also,
the pumping of aquifers has lead to groundwater depletion which is causing a settling of the land
soil (known as subsidence). Groundwater depletion can lead to sinkholes and saltwater intrusion.
The goal’s of water conservation are sustainability, energy conservation, and habitat conservation.

Idea’s for Water Conservation:

Low-flow shower heads
Low-flush toilets
Composting toilets and waterless urinals
Faucet aerators
Drip systems
Wastewater reuse or recycling systems (reuse
of graywater for flushing toilets or for the
garden) Recycling of wastewater through
purification at a water treatment plant.
Rainwater harvesting

Verbiage from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conservation and picture from Human Biology Pg 517

 Use of Resources and the Consequences
Food is provided through sea fishing, raising animals, and growing crops. Modern farming practices
are helping to increase our food supply but are also contributing to some negative effects such as
the practice of monoculture, heavy use of chemicals, water pollution, generous irrigation,
tremendous fuel consumption. Some ways to minimize these negative effects are intercropping
(more than one crop in same area) and contour farming (no-till conserves water). Some land
worldwide is being degraded where the topsoil is eroding due to the wind and water effects on bare
soil. In addition, land can become unsuitable for growing crops if it has undergone salinization
(evaporation of irrigation water leads to mineral salt buildup).

Livestock:
In LDC’s, protein intake is low causing
malnourishment because of diets primarily
comprised of carbohydrates. In MDC’s, protein
intake is high. More than 60% of U.S. cropland is
for livestock feed production. Consequently, most
of the fossil fuel consumption and use of chemicals
is for the use of raising livestock. Also, livestock
waste is being washed into our waters contributing
Genetic Engineering: to the pollution problems.
The affect of genetic engineering is transgenic
crops with different traits. These new traits
could be resistant to insects or herbicides, but
we don’t know any long term affects it could Pictures from
http://en.wikipedia.or
have on humans. g/wiki/Livestock &
http://en.wikipedia.or
g/wiki/Agriculture
Picture from http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/studentresearch/climatechange02/agriculture/images/cycle.gif
 Use of Resources and the Consequences
Nonrenewable Energy Sources:
Fossil fuels include coal, natural gas, and oil;
all of which contribute to the pollution in air.
Due to deforestation and the burning of fossil
fuels, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has
risen. Also, methane is increasing about 1%
per year. Collectively, we call these
greenhouse gases because they allow solar
radiation to pass through but do not allow
infrared heat back into space. These gases are
producing negative effects which are
contributing to global climate changes.
Pictures from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy &
Renewable Energy Sources:
Energy from falling water can be converted into
electricity by hydroelectric plants. This process is
known as hydropower. Certain elements
underground undergo radioactive decay, heating
surrounding rocks, which in turn produce steam
when they come in contact with a water source.
The result is like geyser; and piping this steam
can supply hot water to people. This is known as
geothermal energy. Wind power and solar energy
are also great sources of renewable energy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel
 “Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions broken down
into 8 different sectors for the year 2000.”
Picture & verbiage from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gases
 “Per capita anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions
by country for the year 2000 including land-use
change.”

Picture & verbiage from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gases
 Use of Resources and the Consequences
“A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device
that converts solar energy into electricity by
the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaics is the
field of technology and research related to
the application of solar cells as solar “A solar cell,
energy...Photovoltaic arrays generate a form made from a
of renewable electricity, particularly useful in monocrystalline
situations where electrical power from the silicon wafer.”
grid is unavailable such as in remote area
power systems, Earth-orbiting satellites and
space probes, remote radiotelephones and
water pumping applications.”

Picture and Verbiage from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_Cell#Simple_explanation

 Use of Resources and the Consequences
Minerals are a raw material that is found in the Earth’s crust.
Humans extract the nonrenewable through mining. Some of
these include, “fossil fuels; nonmetallic raw materials, such as
sand, gravel, and phosphate; and metals, such as aluminum,
copper, iron, lead, and gold.” Unfortunately, many countries ruin
vegetation and contribute to soil erosion in order to obtain these
minerals. Every year, billions of tons of hazardous waste is
discarded into waters and on land. Contaminants in the
environment include heavy metals and synthetic organic
compounds. Some synthetic organic compounds are responsible
for ozone depletion and biological magnification.

“Chuquicamata,
the second
largest open pit
copper mine in “Iron hydroxide precipitate
the world, Chile.”
stains a stream receiving
acid drainage from surface
coal mining.”

Pictures from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining

• Human Population Growth
• Use of Resources and the Consequences
• Biodiversity
• Working Towards a Sustainable Society

“Rainforests are among

the most biodiverse
ecosystems on Earth.”

Picture and Verbiage from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity

 Biodiversity
Biodiversity defines the variety of species found on Earth. Unfortunately, the number of species is
declining due to extinction. The loss of biodiversity is caused by many reasons including human
occupation causes habitat loss (overpopulation and deforestation), the introduction of alien species
produces a negative effect on native species (invasive), pollution (acid deposition, global warming,
ozone depletion, and synthetic organic chemicals), and overexploitation of animals/plants, and
disease.

“This native Canadian

Eastern Cottontail rabbit
among non-native plants
“Graph showing shark catch from 1950 to 2006. Overfishing
Garlic Mustard, Mugwort,
of sharks has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems.”
and Burdock.”
Pictures from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overfishing & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species
 Biodiversity
Some of the great benefits of biodiversity are what some of the species can offer us such as
medicinal value (derived from living organisms), agricultural value (animal pollinators, crops derived
from wild plants, and biological pest control), and consumptive use values. In addition, biodiversity
in our ecosystem helps with waste disposal (decomposers and water purification capabilities), the
freshwater cycle (helps irrigate crops and supplies us with food such as fish), prevent soil erosion,
and maintains the biochemical cycles. Maintaining biodiversity also helps regulate climate; trees
provide shade and forests take up carbon dioxide.

Pictures and verbiage from Human Biology pg 526

• Human Population Growth
• Use of Resources and the Consequences
• Biodiversity
• Working Towards a Sustainable Society

“Scheme of
sustainable
development: at the
confluence of three
constituent parts.”

Picture and verbiage from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development

 Working Towards a Sustainable Society
In order to achieve a sustainable society, we would need to be able to use only renewable
resources, preserve biodiversity, and be able to recycle heat and waste products. Currently, the
population increase in LDC’s is a burden on resources as well as the excessive use of resources by
MDC’s. W need to work towards rural sustainability by planting cover crops, engaging in multiuse
farming, replenish soil nutrients, use drip systems, plant more cultivars, apply precision farming
techniques, use integrated pest management, plant a variety of native species as well as
multipurpose trees, maintain wetlands and restore damaged ones, engage in the use of renewable
forms of energy, and supporting local fishermen and farmers. In working towards urban
sustainability, we need to have energy efficient transportation, use renewable forms of energy,
utilize green roofs, improve storm-water management, plant native species of grasses and plants to
attract bees and butterflies, create greenbelts, revitalize dilapidated cities, and encourage recycling.

Pictures and verbiage from Human Biology pg 532

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