Global Environmental Part 1

What is the definition of a Malthusian catastrophe?

A crisis where resources (especially food) become too scarce to sustain the population, causing societal collapse.

What does Thomas Malthus argue about population growth?

Population increases geometrically (e.g., 2, 4, 8...) while food supply increases arithmetically (e.g., 1, 2, 3...), leading to inevitable scarcity.

What are the positive checks in Malthus's theory?

Factors that increase death rates, such as famine, war, and disease.

What are the negative checks in Malthus's theory?

Factors that reduce birth rates, such as delayed marriage, abstinence, and moral restraint.

What impact did the Nile perch have when introduced to local ecosystems?

It caused the extinction of over 200 local species, harming local fishers.

How did the zebra mussel affect native mussel populations?

It outcompetes native mussels, reducing their population.

What is Garrett Hardin's mathematical reason for viewing population as an unsolvable problem?

You can't maximize two variables at once in an equation.

What solution did Hardin propose for the tragedy of the commons?

Mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon – rules everyone agrees to protect shared resources.

Who is Elinor Ostrom and what was her argument regarding the tragedy of the commons?

She argued that communities can manage shared resources without government control or private ownership.

What are the four phases of the Demographic Transition Model?

1. Preindustrial: high birth and death rates; 2) Early Industrial: high birth, rapidly falling death rates; 3) Late Industrial: declining birth and continuous falling death rates; 4) Post-Industrial: low birth and death rates.

What does Hans Rosling identify as a critical indicator for falling population growth rates?

Improved child survival rates.

Explain the relationship between education level and fertility rates.

Lower education levels are associated with higher fertility rates; as women's education increases, fertility rates tend to decline.

What fertility rate changes occurred in Africa from the mid-20th century to the present day?

Mid-20th Century: 6.6 children per woman; Present Day: 2.51 children per woman; Predicted End of 21st Century: 1.99 children per woman.

What is the pattern of global population growth since 1800?

The population has grown steadily, especially during the industrial era.

What was the state of birth and death rates during the Preindustrial phase of the Demographic Transition Model?

Both birth and death rates were high, resulting in slow or stagnant population growth.

What do the changes in population pyramids for Ghana and Kenya indicate?

A decrease in birth rates, reflecting a transition through the demographic transition model toward lower population growth rates.

What critical component is necessary for sustainable management of natural resources according to Elinor Ostrom?

Coordination and cooperation, not just government control or privatization.

What was the impact of cholera strain introduced to Peru in 1991?

It caused an outbreak that killed over 10,000 people in three years.

How do rural and urban locations affect fertility rates?

Rural areas tend to have higher fertility rates due to traditional norms and limited access to education, while urban areas typically have lower fertility rates due to better access to education and healthcare.