Unit 3: Human Populations & Worldviews Vocabulary

population growth rate

a measure of how fast a given population grows,

The birth rate of a population minus the death rate

population density

Number of individuals per unit area

overpopulation

the presence of too many individuals in an area for the available resources

carrying capacity

the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that a particular environment can support indefinitely

infant mortality

the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births

developed country "1st world country"

a country with a strong economy and a high standard of living

developing country "third world country"

- country with a less-productive economy and a lower quality of life

demographic transition

a dramatic change from high birthrates and death rates to low birthrates and death rates

zero population growth

occurs when the birth rate equals the death rate

exponential growth

Population increase under ideal conditions, when r > 0. Forms a J-shaped curve.

population overshoot

population growth above carrying capacity

industrialization

transition from an agricultural society to one based on industry

limiting factor

anything that restricts the number of individuals in a population

density-dependent limiting factor

limiting factor that depends on population density

density-independent limiting factor

limiting factor that affects all populations in similar ways, regardless of population size