Population Growth and Resource Use

These flashcards cover key concepts related to population growth and resource use.

What is a population?

A population is a group of individuals, of the same species, that inhabit a particular area.

What is population growth rate?

The rate at which the population changes in size, calculated by subtracting the number of people who leave a population from those who enter.

What factors can contribute to decreased birth rates?

Factors that can contribute to decreased birth rates include improved education, access to contraception, and economic development.

Define carrying capacity.

The maximum population of a species that a given area can support.

What are renewable resources?

Resources that are inexhaustible over a human timescale and unaffected by human activities, such as solar and wind energy.

What are potentially renewable resources?

Resources that can be rapidly replenished through natural processes, like clean water and forests.

What are non-renewable resources?

Resources that have a finite supply or take a long time to replenish, such as oil and coal.

How do we measure the ecological footprint?

The ecological footprint measures resources used and waste produced by an individual, city, or country.

What is biocapacity?

The ability of a biologically productive area to produce resources and manage waste.

What significant population milestone was reached in the 1800s?

The human population reached 1 billion.

What does the J-Curve in population growth illustrate?

It illustrates exponential growth where the rate of increase becomes more rapid over time.

By what year is the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion?

By 2050.

What significant change has happened to Earth Overshoot Day from 2000 to 2023?

It has moved from late September in 2000 to August 2 in 2023.