Chapter 8 Human Population Vocabulary Flashcards

50 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on human population, demography, IPAT, demographic transition, and related topics.

IPAT model

A framework that links total environmental impact (I) to Population (P), Affluence (A), Technology (T), and environmental Sensitivity (S).

• I = P x A x T

• Total impact = population + affluence + technology

Increase population means more individuals take up space, use resources, and generate space

Population

The number of people in a given area or in the world.

Affluence

Leads to greater per capita resource consumption (footprint)

• increased resource consumption when population increases

Technology

Tools and methods that can either magnify or reduce environmental impact.

Sensitivity (S)

Vulnerability of a given environment to disturbance or pressure.

• can be added to the IPAT model

Demography

The study of population size, distribution, age structure, sex ratios, and birth/death/migration rates.

• Principles of population ecology that can be applied to the study of statistical changes in the human population

Population pyramid

A graph showing the distribution of a population by age and sex.

Demographic transition

The shift from high to low birth and death rates as a country develops.

Preindustrial

Stage with high birth and death rates and little population growth.

Transitional

Stage where death rates fall while birth rates remain high, increasing population size.

Industrial

Stage where birth rates decline due to opportunities for women and birth control, slowing growth.

Post-industrial

Stage where population growth stabilizes or declines.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children a woman would bear in her lifetime.

• Replacement fertility is the TFR that keeps the size of the population stable

Industrialization, improved women rights and health care has decreased TRF in many nations

Greater then 2.1 —> increasing population

Less then 2.1 —> decreasing population

Doubling time

Time required for a population to double; roughly 70 divided by the growth rate.

• global doubling rate = 70 / growth rate (%)

Exponential growth

Growth at a constant percentage rate, producing rapid increases. Human population growth is going into a logistic curve as resources become limited, leading to a stabilizing effect on the population size.

• It occurs when the population size increases rapidly due to abundant resources, typically characterized by a J-shaped curve on a graph.

Logistic growth

Growth that slows as carrying capacity is reached, leveling off.

Infant mortality rate

Number of infants dying per 1,000 live births.

• closely tied to nations industrialization due to improved healthcare, hygiene and maternal support

Life expectancy

Average number of years a newborn is expected to live.

• higher in industrialized nations

Age structure

Distribution of a population among age groups (age structure).

Sex ratio at birth

Natural ratio of male to female births (about 106 males per 100 females).

Global biocapacity

Earth’s capacity to renew resources and absorb wastes.

Ecological footprint

A measure of demand on Earth's ecosystems; can exceed biocapacity.

Ecological deficit

When humanity’s ecological footprint exceeds Earth’s biocapacity.

Ecological reserve

When the ecological footprint is smaller than Earth's biocapacity.

Immigration

Movement of people into a country.

Emigration

Movement of people out of a country.

Net migration rate

Difference between inward and outward migration per 1,000 people.

Birth rate

Annual births per 1,000 people.

Death rate

Annual deaths per 1,000 people.

Population growth rate

The rate at which a population increases or decreases.

Demographic fatigue

When some countries struggle to complete demographic transition due to factors like disease or poverty (e.g., HIV/AIDS impact).

• can get stuck in the transition and creates this

One-child policy problems with the one-child policy  

China’s policy restricting most couples to a single child (historical context).

• Population labour force shrank, elderly increased and too few women

Two-child policy

China’s policy allowing two children per couple, implemented in the 2010s.

• Not much changed, people didn’t want to go back to having more kids

Bangladesh family planning

Government program increasing contraception access and counseling, lowering TFR from 7.0 to 2.1

• happened more naturally then the one child policy

Family planning

Efforts to plan the number and spacing of one’s children.

• some places have higher use and acceptance

Contraception

Measures to prevent pregnancy (condoms, pills, implants, etc.).

Birth control

Actions to reduce the frequency of pregnancy.

Reproductive rights of women

Equality in decision-making, education, and employment enabling lower fertility.

Women’s education

Education of women linked to greater agency and lower fertility. Turns out empowering women is good for population control and economic development.

Economic development and fertility

As economies develop, fertility generally declines; poverty often correlates with higher fertility.

Malthus

Economist who warned that population tends to outstrip food supply.

Neo-Malthusians

Modern thinkers (e.g., Ehrlichs) warning of overpopulation and resource depletion.

Population pyramid shapes

Broad base = rapid growth; even distribution = stable; narrow base = shrinking.

India and China demographic transition

Both large countries undergoing transitions; India may overtake China due to policy differences.

Below-replacement fertility

TFR below 2.1, leading to long-term population decline.

Dust Bowl (IPAT example)

Illustrative erosion from intensive agriculture showing environmental impact (I) from IPAT.

Bottom-up population policy

Policy approach focusing on poverty reduction and social needs rather than top-down birth control.

Is population growth a problem?

Human carrying capacity, depletes resources, degrades the natural environment and stress social systems

Exponential

According to the IPATS model, which of these changes would reduce environmental impact?

a. An increase in the overall affluence of the global society

b. A decrease in the human population growth rate

c. Technological advances in resource harvesting

d. Consuming resources in a more sensitive environment

b. A decrease in the human population growth rate

Demography - Age Structure diagrams

Describe the relative number of people in each age class within a population

Demography - Age Structure diagrams

• A pyramid with a wide base denotes a potential for rapid future growth

  • lots of babies, going to have a growing population

• A pyramid with an even age distribution indicates a stable population

  • stable population

• A pyramid with a narrow base indicates a shrinking population

  • shrinking population

Age Structure example

Demographic Transition model/graph

• Pre-industrial

  • equal, high, and steady birth/death rates

• Transitional stage

  • birth rate is high, death rate drops. population increases

• Industrial stage

  • population growth slows and stabilization begins

  • birth rates are declining

• Post-industrial stage

  • population stabilizes and may decline. equal, low and stable birth/death rates

Ecological Footprint

If humanity’s ecological footprint exceeds Earth’s biocapacity, it is termed an ecological deficit.

If the footprint is less, there is an ecological reserve