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Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships, 8/e
Eldon Enger, Delta College
Bradley F. Smith, Western Washington University

Population Principles

Chapter Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

Understand that birthrate and death rate are both important in determining the population growth rate.

Define the following characteristics of a population: natality, mortality, sex ratio, age distribution, biotic potential, and spatial distribution.

Explain the significance of biotic potential to the rate of population growth.

Describe the lag, exponential growth, and stable equilibrium phases of a population growth curve. Explain why each of these stages occurs.

Describe how the limiting factors determine the carrying capacity for a population.

List the four categories of limiting factors.

Describe a death phase that is typical of some kinds of populations.

Recognize that humans are subject to the same forces of environmental resistance as are other organisms.

Understand the implications of overreproduction.

Understand that the human population is still growing rapidly.

Explain how human population growth is influenced by social, theological, philosophical, and political thinking.