Crash Course: Human Population Growth

How many people were there in 1850?

• 1 billion

• 2 billion

• 4 billion

• About 7 billion 

Populations that are considered R-strategists tend to grow _____.

• exponentially (quickly)

• logistically (reaching a carrying capacity)

The maximum number of individuals an environment can support is the 

• 
  

• • k-selection number

  
  

• • r-selection number

  
  

• • carrying capacity

  
  

K-strategist populations tend to grow _____.

• 
  

• • logistically (reaching a carrying capacity)

  
  

• • exponentially (quickly)

  
  

Based on the definitions of K and R strategists, what should the human species be consider?

• R-strategist

• K-strategist

Based on how the human population has grown in the past 200 years, what type of strategist does the population MOST resemble?

• • R-strategist

  
  

• • K-strategist

  
  

What key invention led to an increase in our carrying capacity because the limiting resource- food was "eliminated".

 

*Eliminated is in quotations because it is technically still a limited resource.

• • Industry

  
  

• Medicine

• Agriculture

Identify several ways that we have increased our carrying capacity (Select all that apply)

 

• Medicinal advancements and acceptance of the germ theory, which extended life spans and reduced death rates

• Improved infrastructure like sewage system, land and air transport, food and supply chains

• • Mechanized agriculture, which increased food supplies

• • The expansion of the human habitat in previously inhospitable places

  
  

What is the current estimate for the human carrying capacity?

• 
  

• • 1 billion

  
  

• • 5 billion

  
  

• • 10-15 billion

  
  

When did human population growth rate peak?

• 
  

• • 1850

  
  

• 1962

• 1970

• 2012