http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/0/0/315453.

jpg

POPULATION AND THE

ENVIRONMENT

Objectives
At the end of this lecture students should be able to:
Define significant terms related to population ecology and
urbanisation.
Distinguish between the growth curve of a population growing at
its biotic potential and one subject to environmental resistance.
Explain how the two types of overpopulation impact the
environment.

Suggest appropriate measures that can be used to reduce

population growth.
Suggest measures that can be used to mitigate the negative
environmental and social impacts of urbanisation

Population Growth
Population Ecology The study of the number
of individuals of a
particular species that are
found in an area and how
and why those numbers
change over time
https://fcserver.nvnet.org

Population Growth
Population Density - The
number of individuals of a
population per unit of
habitat area
e.g., the
number
of
Grassquits per hectare
e.g., the number of snapper
per litre of sea water

http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a08/64/j9/calculateanimal-population-800x800.jpg

Population Growth
Population Size The
number
of
individuals
making up a population
Population size
due to:
Births
Deaths
Immigration
Emigration

changes

http://www.goalsforamericans.org

Population Growth
Birth Rate (b)
Also called crude birth rate
Number of births per 1,000
individuals in a population in a
given year
Death Rate (d)
Also called crude death rate
Number of deaths per 1,000
individuals in a population in a
given year

http://4.bp.blogspot.com

Population Growth
Immigration (i)
Movement of individuals
into a population

Emigration (e)
movement of individuals
out of a population
http://www.free-pictures.info/picture/d/file/animal/2011-01-22/animalsmigration-1-1295692209.jpg

Population Growth

Growth Rate (r)

Also called annual rate
of natural population
change
r= bd
r = (b + i) (d + e)
http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/images/worldgr.png

Fertility Rate
The average number
of children born per
woman in a population
Jamaicas
fertility
rate has dropped from
4.5 in 1975 to 2.28 in
2012 (World bank)

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/charts/jamaica-fertility-rate-total-births-perwoman-wb-data.png?s=%2Fjamaica%2Ffertility-rate-total-births-per-woman-wbdata.html

Population Growth
Biotic Potential
Maximum rate at which a
population can increase
when there are no limits on
its growth
Exponential Growth
Growth in population size
increases
by
a
fixed
percentage of the whole in a
given
time period
http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/lmcgee/ecology/ExponentialGrowth-Curve-sm.gif

Yields a J-shaped curve

Jamaicas Population Growth

3000000

Population

2500000
2000000
1500000
1000000
500000
0

Year

Population Growth
Environmental Resistance
- All the factors jointly acting
to limit the growth of a
population

Carrying
Capacity
Number of individuals of a
given species that can be
sustained indefinitely in a
given area
Yields
Curve

an

S-Shaped

http://earthfirstnews.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/crowdedplanet.j
pg?w=490

S-shaped Growth Curve

A population grows
exponentially until it is
acted on by limiting
factors that cause the
growth to level off at
the carrying capacity.
http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/thomas.wolosz/popbio2.jpg

Regulation of Population Size

Density Dependent Checks
on Population Growth
Where some limiting factors
become more influential as a
populations density
increases
Examples:
Competition for resources
Predation
Parasitism
Disease

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Walru
s2.jpg/800px-Walrus2.jpg

Regulation of Population Size

Density
Independent
Checks on Population
Growth
Exert their effects on
population regardless of
population density
Examples:
Floods
Hurricanes
Severe droughts
Fire
Temperature

http://foreignpolicyforumonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ForestFire.jpg

Overpopulation
Occurs when demand on
resources exceeds the carrying
capacity of an area.

Leads
to
environmental
unsustainability
Leaves the planet or region
unfit for future generations
http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/overpopulation.jpg

Overpopulation
There
are
2
overpopulation:

types

of

1. People Overpopulation
2.Consumption Overpopulation
http://media.caglecartoons.com/media/cartoons/17/2005/04/
21/15114_600.jpg

People Overpopulation
There are more people in the
world or in a geographic region
than available vital resources
can support

Causes:
absolute poverty of 1.2 billion
people annually in Less
Developed Countries (LDCs)
40 million people in LDCs to
die prematurely each year

http://ksj.mit.edu/sites/default/files/images/tracker/2007/over
population.jpg

Consumption Overpopulation
High rates of resource use
per person
High levels of pollution
and environmental
degradation per person
Exists in More Developed
Countries, where 1/5 of
the worlds people cause
significant resource
depletion

http://nepalnepal.com/community/m/photos/get_image/
original/4593df7562c712a0d769ca522de1e8b0.jpg

Factors Influencing Population

Growth
Factors Affecting Population Growth
Migration
Economic Rewards / Penalties
Empowering Women
Birth Rate

Family Planning
Religion / Culture
Average Marriage Age
Children as Part of the Labour Force
Disease e.g. HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Malaria

Death Rate

Crime
Better Nutrition
Availability of Good Health Care

Economic Development

2001 Population Data For

Selected Countries
Country

Population

Births
Per 1000
Pop.

Deaths
Per 1000
Pop.

Net
Migration
Per 1000
Pop.

Population
Change
Per 1000
Pop.

Botswana

1,586,119

28.85

24.18

Haiti

6,964,549

31.68

15

-2.64

Jamaica

2,665,636

18.12

5.48

-7.52

5.1

0.24
(1.2%)

275,330

13.47

8.53

-0.32

4.6

0.47
(1.17%)

United States

278,058,881

14.2

8.7

3.5

0.07
(0.61%)

Germany

83,029,536

10.42

2.7

0.007
(0.1%)

Barbados

9.16

4.7

Aids Deaths
in 1999
Per 1000 Pop.
(Adult prevalence)

14

15.13
(35.8%)
3.3
(5.17%)

2006 Population Data For

Selected Countries
Country

Population

Births
Per 1000
Pop.

Deaths
Per 1000
Pop.

Net
Migration
Per 1000
Pop.

Population
Change
Per 1000
Pop.

Aids Deaths
in 2003
Per 1000 Pop.
(Adult prevalence)

Botswana

1,639,833

23.08

29.5

6.07

-0.35

21.13
(37.3%)

Haiti

8,308,504

36.44

12.17

-1.31

22.96

3.14
(5.6%)

Jamaica

2,758,124

20.82

6.52

-6.27

8.03

0.33
(1.2%)

279,912

12.71

8.67

-0.31

3.73

0.72
(1.5%)

United States

298,444,215

14.14

8.26

3.18

9.06

0.048
(0.6%)

Germany

82,422,299

8.25

10.62

2.18

-0.19

0.008
(0.1%)

Barbados

2012 Population Data For

Selected Countries
Country

Population

Births
Per 1000
Pop.

Deaths
Per 1000
Pop.

Net
Migration
Per 1000
Pop.

Population
Change
Per 1000
Pop. (Fert)

Aids Deaths
in 2009
(People living with
AIDS)

Botswana

2,098,018

22.02

12.00

4.75

14.77
(2.46)

5,800
(320000)

Haiti

9,801,664

23.87

8.10

-6.90

8.87
(2.98)

7100
(120000)

Jamaica

2,889,187

18.89

6.59

-5.17

7.13
(2.12)

1200
(32000)

287,733

12.23

8.39

-0.3

3.54
(1.68)

<100
(2100)

United States

313,847,465

13.68

8.39

3.62

8.91
(2.06)

17000
(1.2 million)

Germany

81,305,856

8.33

11.04

0.71

-2.00
(1.41)

<1000
(67000)

Barbados

Source:CIA World Factbook

Population Distribution: Urban

Living
Urbanisation
Process in which people
increasingly move from rural
areas to densely populated
cities
Increased
density
of
settlement and/or businesses
and other activities over time

http://africanarguments.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/02/Lagos.jpg

Population Distribution: Urban

Living
Urbanisation
Approximately 54% of
the world's population
live in urban areas
(WHO, 2014)
Global urban population
increasing by 1.84%
Should increase to 70%
by 2050

http://fotojenic.cwjamaica.com/images/2007101411032112_IMG_5195
.JPG

Urbanisation
Factors affecting urbanisation

Pull Factors
Cities are the main centres for
new
jobs,
education,
innovation, culture & trade
Push Factors
Unemployment
Mechanised agriculture
Government policies / lack of
investments

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wpcontent/uploads/2012/08/418970-Books1344406804-303-640x480.JPG

Effects of Urbanisation Include:

Vegetation Loss
Urban Microclimate
Increased Water Demands
Increased
Runoff
&
Flooding
Solid Waste and Pollution
Noise Pollution
Land Conversion & Social
Disruption

http://www.weatherquestions.com/urban_heat_island.jpg

Improving Urban Life

(Some Solutions)
Reduce population growth
Increase investments &
social services in rural

areas
Repair and revitalise
existing cities

http://www.sustainableplant.com/assets/Uploads/Detriot-GMgreen-garden.jpg

Improving Urban Life

(Sustainable Cities)
Grow food within the city in

Green Roof in Tokyo, Japan

community gardens
Green roofs

Use renewable resources

Have improved public
transport

Conserve energy
Conserve water

http://www.urbangardeninghelp.com/green-roofs/

Legislations
1.Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act
Established the NRCA with mandate to ensure
effective management of the physical environment of
Jamaica

Developments over a certain size require a permit but

does not necessarily require an EIA or the need to
consult with potentially affected communities
In 2001 NRCA merged with the Town and Country
Planning Department and the Land Development and
Utilization Commission to form the National
Environment and Planning Agency

Legislations
2. Town and Country Planning Act
Primary law governing land use in Jamaica

Development orders indicate what type of development

may take place in an area.
Developments that originate from Government do not
require planning permission.
There is no third party right of appeal.

Highlights
1. Population density is the number of individuals per
unit area or volume of water.
2. Human population ecologists use per 1000 to
standardise population figures for comparison:

3. Population growth is affected by birth rate,

death rate and Migration. Migration may be
movement (i)nto a population (i)mmigration or
(e)xiting a population (e)migration.
4. Replacement fertility rate is the number of children
each woman in the area has to have to replace the
area's population.

Highlights
5. The carrying capacity of an area is the number
of individuals that the area can support without
there being environmental degradation.
6. Urbanisation results in negative environmental
effects such as vegetation loss and pollution.

Originally Compiled Raymond Martin

By:
First Revision Done Nikki Bramwell, Raymond Martin and
By:
Damian Nesbeth

Second Revision
Done By:

Adonna Jardine-Comrie & Christine

OSullivan, May 2012