Human Population Dynamics (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define carrying capacity.
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Cards in this collection (19)
Define carrying capacity.
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustain indefinitely.
Why do high infant mortality rates often lead to higher birth rates?
High infant mortality rates lead to higher birth rates because families have more children to compensate for potential child loss.
True or False?
Declining death rates due to advances in medicine and sanitation slow population growth.
False.
Declining death rates increase population growth; it is high death rates from disease or conflict that can cause decline.
Define density-dependent factor.
A density-dependent factor is influenced by the size and density of a population, so its effects become more pronounced as the population grows.
In Malthusian theory, population grows while food supply grows linearly.
In Malthusian theory, population grows exponentially while food supply grows linearly.
What happens when a human population exceeds carrying capacity?
When a human population exceeds carrying capacity, environmental degradation and resource depletion occur.
Define rule of 70.
The rule of 70 is a formula that estimates the time it takes a population to double in size, based on its annual growth rate.
True or False?
Technological advancements can permanently increase Earth's carrying capacity for humans.
False.
Innovations in agriculture and energy can only temporarily increase carrying capacity.
How does access to family planning affect population growth?
Family planning provides contraception and reproductive health education, which reduces unintended pregnancies, lowering birth rates and slowing population growth.
Define positive checks.
Positive checks are Malthusian checks that increase mortality rates, such as famine, disease, and war.
What is the formula for the rule of 70?
Doubling time (years) = 70 ÷ percentage population growth rate
True or False?
A drought is a density-dependent factor.
False.
A drought is a density-independent factor, because it affects a population regardless of its size or density.
Populations with access to nutritious food tend to have lower birth rates, because infant and child is more assured.
Populations with access to nutritious food tend to have lower birth rates, because infant and child survival is more assured.
What are preventive checks in Malthusian theory?
Preventive checks are measures that lower birth rates, such as family planning and delayed marriage.
Why is disease transmission a density-dependent factor?
Crowded conditions make it easier for infectious diseases to spread, so the risk of outbreaks rises with population density.
How does postponement of marriage reduce fertility?
Delaying marriage shortens the period during which many women are likely to have children, lowering fertility rates.
What is a limitation of the rule of 70?
The rule of 70 assumes constant growth rates and ignores factors such as migration, changes in fertility rates, and sudden environmental impacts.
What is the main critique of Malthusian theory?
Critics argue that technological advancements have allowed food production to keep pace with population growth.
How can the rule of 70 be used to compare countries?
The rule of 70 allows growth rates to be compared across countries, since a country with a higher growth rate doubles its population much faster.
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