L4 - Human Populations

Flashcards on Human Populations

Density-dependent factors

Factors that limit population growth, avoided by humans through learning, communication, tool-making, and fire control.

Hunter-Gatherers

Nomadic people with no permanent residence; lifestyles placed biological and social restrictions on average family sizes.

Agricultural Revolution

The event when humans discovered certain plants and animals were ideally suited for cultivation and domestication, enabling larger population densities.

Intellectual Revolution

Period when some humans specialized as artisans, scholars, and merchants, leading to political organizations, technology advances, and rapid population growth.

Industrial Revolution

Period marked by increased urbanization, increase in food production, vaccines, medicine, sanitation, and safe drinking water which decreased mortality rates.

Mortality Rate

The death rate per individual, which has been continuously dropping in the developing world due to personal hygiene, improved sanitation, modern medicine, and antibiotics.

Demography

The study of human populations relying on data collection, statistical analyses, and theoretical models to interpret and predict human growth and distribution.

Fertility Rate

The birth rate of a country, which is lower in more developed countries suggesting a link between fertility and literacy.

Demographic Transition Model

The process that has occurred over the last century leading to a more stabilized population growth in developed nations, characterized by four phases: Preindustrial, Transitional, Industrial, and Post-Industrial.

Pre-Industrial Stage

Characterized by high birth rates and high death rates.

Transitional Stage

Characterized by standards of hygiene and more modern medical techniques improved which began to drive the death rate down, and lead to an upward trend in population size. The birth rate remained high, as much of the economy was still based on agriculture.

Industrial Stage

Urbanization has occurred, parents were more actively discouraged from having large families. This caused a drop in birth rates, which ultimately came close to the death rate.

Post-Industrial Stage

Characterized by a higher, but stable, population size. Birth and death rates are both relatively low and the standard of living is much higher.

Human impacts on nature

Humans have altered nature in eight major ways which include reduced biodiversity, increased primary productivity, increased genetic resistance in pests, eliminated natural predators, introduced harmful species, used renewable resources unsustainably, interfered with chemical cycling and energy flow, and relied on fossil fuels.

Strategies for Ensuring Adequate Nutrition

Increase the number of new food crops from a diversity of plant species, distribute food more equitably, increase land that is dedicated to grain production rather than meat production, and assist developing countries in efficient crop irrigation systems.

1994 Global Summit on Population & Development

Encouraged action to stabilize the world’s population at 7.8 billion by 2050, instead of the projected 11-12.5 billion.