1.6 Human populations

Question 1

What 2 major events led to a dramatic increase in human population?

Consequently? because?

Answer 1

Development of agriculture
Development of manufacture and trade - industrial revolution

Normal sigmoid population growth curve not followed by human population, exponential phase (period of rapid growth) continues.

Question 2

Define birth rate

Answer 2

number of births per year
____________________ x 1000
Total population in same year

Question 3

Define death rate

Answer 3

number of deaths per year
____________________ x 1000
Total population in same year

Question 4

Define immigration

Answer 4

Where individuals join a population from outside.

Question 5

Define emigration

Answer 5

Where individuals leave a population.

Question 6

How would you calculate population growth?

Answer 6

(births + immigration) - (deaths + emigration)

Question 7

How would you calculate percentage population growth rate (in a given time)?

Answer 7

population change during the period ____________________________________ x100
population at start of period

Question 8

Name 3 factors that affect birth rate

Answer 8

Economy
Birth control
Culture/religion

Question 9

Name 3 factors that affect death rate

Answer 9

Age profile
Life expectancy
Medical care/sanitation/war/diet

Question 10

Demographic transition:

Define
Re-establishes?
What happens to birth and death rate?
What happens to population size?
Stages (4)

Answer 10

The change from short life expectancy and high birth rates, to long life expectancy and low birth rates.

Normal sigmoid population growth curve

Fall then level out.
Increases then levels out.

High birth rate, high death rate
High birth rate, decreasing death rate
Decreasing death rate, low death rate
Low birth rate, low death rate

Question 11

Age population pyramids:

Show? (2) because?

Why are they useful?

Describe each type:
Stable (3)
Increasing (3)
Decreasing (3)

Answer 11

Age and gender profiles
Size of population depends on number of females of childbearing age.

Give information on future population trends

Stable population
Wide bottom, narrow top
High birth rate, high death rate
MEDC

Increasing population
Very wide bottom
Very high birth rate
LEDC

Decreasing population
Narrow bottom, wide top
Low birth rate, low death rate
MEDC

Question 12

Define average life expectancy

Answer 12

The age at which 50% of the individuals in a population are still alive.

Question 13

Survival curves plot?

what can be calculated?

Answer 13

The number of people alive over time

Average life expectancy

Question 14

EXAM QUESTION

Suggest two reasons for the differences between the populations in 1700 and 2010 (2)

Answer 14

1. Medical/health care / vaccination / antibiotics /
   lower infant mortality;
2. Diet / nutrition / food availability;
3. Sanitation / water supply / sewage treatment;
4. Contraception / birth control;
5. Work related example / occupation / education;
6. Financial considerations of having children;
7. Government/state policy;
8. War;

Question 15

EXAM QUESTION

Explain what is meant by birth rate (1)

Answer 15

Accept if expressed as equation
births per year (x 1000)
total population (in that year)

Question 16

EXAM QUESTION
UK Sudan
LE males 76.5 50.5

LE females 81.6 52.4

Describe the patterns shown by these data (2)

Suggest reasons for the differences in life expectancy shown by these data (2)

Answer 16

1. Females have higher life expectancies;
2. UK has higher life expectancies;
3. Females tend to outlive males linked to reason e.g.
   male risk of CVD
   more males smoke/drink to excess
   males involved in fighting / war;
4. Medical care/vaccination programmes better in UK/infectious
   disease common in Sudan;
5. More food/better diet in UK;
6. Food preservation/sanitation/clean water supply better in UK;

Question 17

EXAM QUESTION

There are changes in the birth rate, death rate and size of the population during demographic transition.

Describe the changes that occur in the birth and death rates during demographic transition. (1)

Describe the changes that occur in the size of the population during demographic transition. (1)

Answer 17

Birth rate and death rate fall and then
level out/remain
low/fluctuates/stabilises;

Population increases then levels
out/falls/fluctuates/stabilises;

Question 18

EXAM QUESTION

Suggest one reason why the average life expectancy for females was greater than that of males in the USA in 2010

Answer 18

Named disease / named risk factor
which may cause higher death rate e.g.
heart disease/ prostate cancer / obesity /
stress / exercise / driving / war / smoking
/ alcohol / less likely to visit doctor;

Question 19

EXAM QUESTION

What information is required in order to calculate the growth rate of a population? (2)

Answer 19

Birth rate and death rate

Question 20

EXAM QUESTION

The diagram shows an age population pyramid for humans in a country.
_____
__________
_______________
_____________________
__________________________
_______________________________

This country is at an early stage of demographic transition, Describe the evidence for this. (2)

Answer 20

1. High birth rate / high
proportion/percentage/number
of young/children;
2. High death rate / low
proportion/percentage/number
of elderly/older people/low life
expectancy;