Assignment:
Choose a region (state, province, part of a country or country) and discuss their carrying capacity relative to Lester Brown's three factors.
Include the constraint in terms of the current populations and future population trends.
Describe the various ways that water is used as an ecosystem service. How do these uses impact ecosystem function? Provide examples.
Discuss examples of soil loss and their causes. How can these be tied to population transitions in human civilizations?
What is meant by population transition? Briefly describe the recent changes in human populations and the driving factors involved. Historically what other transitions have occurred? Is this a constant process or have there been periods with larger changes? What has the role of technology played in different population transitions?
If births (b) are influenced by population density (N) such that b = bo - b_1N, and deaths(d) by d = do + d_1N rewrite the equation for population change
dN/dt = (b=d) N
as a logistic equation
dN/dt = r N (1 - N/K).
What are the r and K terms in terms of b and d?
The current turmoil in the Middle East is causing sharp transitions in populations and a great deal of environmental damage. Summarize the recent history of these events and the social economic problems behind them. Include an explicit discussion of demographics of the situation.
The western United States is currently experiencing a prolonged drought. It is especially severe in California.Write a short essay focusing in on one aspect of the situation. For example, one might discuss the impact this is having on a particular food such as almonds or a commodity such as cotton. Another topic might be wild fires.