3.7.1 Explain the difficulties in applying the concept of carrying capacity to local
human populations
When resources become limited, humans
begin to substitute one resource for another
Developments in technology increase the changes
of the resource consumption
Imports and migration: growth beyond local
borders and boundaries set by local
resources
Optimum population: The number of people which
when working with all the available resources, will
make the highest per capita economic return.
(Populations highest standard and quality of living)
Standard of living: (natural resources x
technology) / population
Over-population: Too many people compared to the resources and
technology for the standard of living. Problems: suffer the most by natural
disasters (famine and drought), low incomes, poverty, poor living conditions
and emigration
Under-population: Too many resources compared to the resources and technology for the
standard of living. (Export surplus food, energy and mineral resources)
Human approaches to carrying capacity
3.7.2 Explain how absolute reductions in energy and material use,
reuse and recycling can affect human carrying capacity
Recycling: When household or industrial waste
is reused and made into another product eg.
plastic, metal and paper (Increase carrying
capacity)
Reuse:When a product is used more than
once by returning it to the manufacturer or
processor each time. (Increase carrying
capacity)
Reduce: When energy usage is
decreased for example by turning off lights
etc. (Increase carrying capacity)
Substitution: When using one resource over
another, ie. Renewable over non-renewable
which benefits the environment and increases
carrying capacity