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Ch. 36 Population Ecology
Taylor - Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections 10th Edition
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 36, Problem 8

Skyrocketing growth of the human population appears to be mainly a result of
a. A drop in death rate due to sanitation and health care
b. Better nutrition boosting the birth rate
c. The concentration of humans in cities
d. Social changes that make it desirable to have more children

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1
Understand the problem: The question is asking about the primary reason for the rapid growth of the human population. This involves analyzing factors that influence population dynamics, such as birth rates, death rates, and societal changes.
Review the concept of population growth: Population growth is influenced by two main factors—birth rate (number of births per unit time) and death rate (number of deaths per unit time). A significant change in either can lead to population growth or decline.
Analyze the options: Option (a) refers to a drop in death rate due to improved sanitation and health care. Option (b) suggests better nutrition increasing the birth rate. Option (c) mentions urbanization (concentration of humans in cities). Option (d) points to social changes encouraging larger families.
Evaluate the most impactful factor: Historically, the skyrocketing growth of the human population has been closely linked to advancements in sanitation, medicine, and health care, which significantly reduced death rates, especially during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. This is more impactful than the other factors listed.
Conclude the reasoning: While better nutrition, urbanization, and social changes may contribute to population dynamics, the primary driver of rapid population growth is the reduction in death rates due to improved health care and sanitation, as stated in option (a).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Demographic Transition Model

The Demographic Transition Model describes the transition of a society from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as it develops economically. This model helps explain population growth patterns, particularly how improvements in sanitation and healthcare can lead to a decline in death rates, contributing to population surges.
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Impact of Nutrition on Population Growth

Better nutrition plays a crucial role in population growth by enhancing overall health and increasing fertility rates. Improved access to food can lead to lower infant mortality rates and higher birth rates, as healthier individuals are more likely to reproduce successfully and raise healthy offspring.
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Urbanization and Population Dynamics

Urbanization refers to the increasing concentration of populations in cities, which can influence birth rates and family size. In urban settings, social norms and economic factors often shift, leading to changes in reproductive behavior, such as delayed childbearing or preferences for smaller families, which can impact overall population growth.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The term (K−N)/K

a. Is the carrying capacity for a population.

b. Is greatest when K is very large.

c. Is zero when population size equals carrying capacity.

d. Increases in value as N approaches K.

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Textbook Question

With regard to its rate of growth, a population that is growing logistically

a. Grows fastest when density is lowest

b. Has a high intrinsic rate of increase

c. Grows fastest at an intermediate population density

d. Grows fastest as it approaches carrying capacity

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Textbook Question

Which of the following represents a demographic transition?

a. A population switches from exponential to logistic growth

b. A population reaches a fertility rate of zero

c. There are equal numbers of individuals in all age groups

d. A population switches from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates

1994
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Textbook Question

According to data on ecological footprints

a. The carrying capacity of the world is 10 billion

b. Earth's resources are sufficient to sustain future generations at current levels of consumption

c. The ecological footprint of individuals in the United States is more than twice the world average

d. Nations with the largest ecological footprints have the fastest population growth rates

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Textbook Question

What are some factors that might have a density-dependent limiting effect on population growth?

1993
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Textbook Question

What is survivorship?

What does a survivorship curve show?

Explain what the three survivorship curves tell us about humans, squirrels, and clams.

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