Chapter 25

Question 1

Exponential growth

Answer 1

A rate becomes more rapid over time

Question 2

Carrying capacity

Answer 2

The maximum population the environment can support for an extended period

Question 3

Growth rate

Answer 3

Calculated by birth rate minus death rate

Question 4

Growth difference between MDCs, and LDCs

Answer 4

LDCs have a higher growth rate than MDCs

This is because LDCs don’t have access to most birth controls, so they end up sometimes having 8 or 9 children, and in MDCs, parents have jobs, so they can’t have 8 or 9 children.

Question 5

Population growth

Answer 5

Population growth is expected to continue to rise due to:

1. Moderate growth in MDCs
2. Dramatic growth in LDCs
3. Longer lifespan due to better healthcare

Question 6

Why should you care about population growth

Answer 6

More people means:
Greater use of and competition for resources:
1. Food
2. Water
3. Land
4. Energy
And more pollution

Question 7

Land

Answer 7

Land is essential because people need a place to live. Land is used for agriculture, electrical power plants, manufacturing plants, highways, hospitals, etc. Human usage of land has affected the quality of the earth. This causes deforestation, desertification, urbanization, etc. To help reduce their impact on land, humans could build upwards, rather than it all being directly on the ground.

Question 8

Water

Answer 8

Water is used by industries, homes, and agriculturers.mWater comes from lakes, oceans, aquifers, etc. Human usage has affected water supplies by using too much water and polluting the water. To help reduce their impact on water supplies, humans can conserve water, and help clean the ocean, or stop pollution of the ocean.

Question 9

Food

Answer 9

Food is the source of nutrients and energy for the body in order to survive. Food mainly comes from growing crops, raising animals, and fishing the seas. Humans have affected food by planting not enough genetic varieties, using heavy fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, generous irrigation, and excessive fuel consumption. Humans can reduce their impact on food supplies by planting more variety, stopping the usage of pesticides and generous irrigation, and excessive fuel consumption.

Question 10

Energy

Answer 10

Energy is basically the backbone of the modern world. Almost everything nowadays is possible because of energy. Energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels, hydropower, wind power, geothermal, etc. Humans are quickly running out of fossil fuels to burn, which I’d argue is a good thing because burning fossil fuels is bad for the environment. To help reduce their impact on energy sources, humans can switch to renewable sources.

Question 11

Minerals

Answer 11

Minerals come from the earth’s crust and are typically extracted by humans. Minerals can be used to produce batteries, pesticides, medicines, paints, inks, and dyes. Humans have affected the earth greatly, because some of the minerals are toxic, and ruin the planet. Humans can reduce the impact on minerals by no longer digging for minerals.

Question 12

Deforestation

Answer 12

The removal of trees

Question 13

Desertification

Answer 13

The conversion of semiarid land to desertlike conditions

Question 14

Salinity

Answer 14

Saltiness

Question 15

Subsidence

Answer 15

A settling of soil as it dries out, as a result of groundwater depletion

Question 16

Point sources

Answer 16

The source of contamination, when it’s from one place

Question 17

Nonpoint sources

Answer 17

When contamination comes from many places

Question 18

Renewable sources

Answer 18

Renewable sources are capable of being naturally replenished

Question 19

Nonenewable sources

Answer 19

Nonrenewable sources are limited in supply

Question 20

Hazardous wastes

Answer 20

Things that present a tremendous threat to our environment

These include:
Minerals
Synthesized chemicals
Raw sewage

Hazardous wastes come from:
Refineries
Factories
Hospitals

To help prevent these hazardous wastes from harming our planet, we can dispose of them properly.

Question 21

Biodiversity

Answer 21

The variety of life on earth, and can be measured by looking at the number of species.

Causes of loss of biodiversity:
Habitat loss: Accounts for the majority of loss of biodiversity
Alien species
Pollution
Overexploitation
Disease

Question 22

Direct values of biodiversity

Answer 22

Medicinal, Agricultural, and Consumption use

Question 23

Indirect values of biodiversity

Answer 23

Waste disposal, provision of freshwater, prevention of soil erosion, biogeochemical cycles, regulation of climate, and ecotourism

Question 24

Sustainability

Answer 24

The ability to provide the same amount of goods and services for future generations, as is provided for the current generation, while preserving biodiversity

Question 25

Today’s unsustainable society

Answer 25

Caused by the overpopulation of LDCs and over-consumption of MDCs.