Activity # 8

Activity #9 Impact of a Growing Population

Additional Explorations

We cannot study human population growth without considering the impact that a growing population has on our world resources.

1. A scientist places one bacteria in a Petri dish at 9:00 am. The bacteria can reproduce at a rate that doubles its population every minute. The scientist observes that the Petri dish is completely full at 10:00 am. 
   
   
   
   

   • When was the dish half full? Quarter full?
   • What volume will the bacteria population occupy at 10:02 am?
   • At what time do you think the scientist realized there would be a problem?
   • In what ways is this example similar to human population growth?
   • In what ways is this example different from human population growth?

   
   2. What are the limiting factors in an environment that will control the growth of most populations of organisms?
   
   3. What areas of the world are most populated? Why do you think these areas have so many people?  The links below may help.
   
   

   • Visible Earth Images - Population  
   • World Population Density Map

    

   4.How does population size affect the resources used by a country?  How does population size affect other environmental conditions? Are there other factors besides population size that can have an impact on resource consumption and environmental conditions in a country? Explore the links below (or other sources) to answer these questions.
   

   • Earth Trends - World Resources Institute
   • Visible Earth Images

    

   5. What is meant by carrying capacity? Do you think the earth has reached its carrying capacity yet? Why are there so many differing opinions about this?
   
   6. Research an issue related to population growth in a country of your choosing and explain how that country's population growth impacts the country as well as the world.