Human Carrying Capacity Catalyst  What is the most specific level of taxonomy classification? What is the least specific? (Think of King Phillip!)  What is carrying capacity?  What are three limiting factors that can affect the carrying capacity of humans?  What happens if a population exceeds its carrying capacity? Explain why. Write in complete sentences! Don’t talk during the Catalyst!

Taxonomy King Phillip Came Over For Great WHATTTTTTT?  Most specific? Least specific?  What do we use to place organisms in these categories?  How do we name species?

Which two organisms are most closely related? Chestnut TreeFig TreeGrass Kingdom Plantae Phylum Magnoliophyta Angiosperm Class Magnoliopsida Monocot Order FagalesRosalesPoales

King Phillip Came Over For Great…  All organisms in the class Magnoliopsida are in the phylum Magnoliophyta.  TRUE!  All organisms in the kingdom Plantae are in the order Rosales.  FALSE!  All organisms in the order Rosales are in the kingdom Plantae.

Catalyst Review Carrying capacity = maximum number of organisms that can live somewhere, based on the food, water, and free space there If a population exceeds its carrying capacity, organisms die. There isn’t enough food, water, and free space, so more organisms die than are being born.

Objectives  By the end of today, all SWBAT…  Describe how humans have exceeded their carrying capacity  Explain how this causes human suffering, and what we can do to alleviate it

Agenda  Review Carrying Capacity basics  Human carrying capacity  Developed countries  Undeveloped countries  Notes reflection  Where do you stand?  Exit question HOMEWORK: Honors Work – Readings on class website 1 paragraph summary, 1 paragraph response

Carrying Capacity Three limiting factors: Food, Water, Space  Where there is enough, population will increases. Birth rate > death rate  When population exceeds carrying capacity, organisms will start to die off. Death rate > birth rate  Over time, population becomes stable at the carrying capacity. Birth rate = Death rate Time Population size

Different Carrying Capacities  Every species has a different carrying capacity.  This includes humans!  There are only enough resources on Earth to support a LIMITED NUMBER of humans.

Carrying Capacities If everyone lived like the “Average American,” we would need EIGHT EARTHS to provide all the resources that we consume.

Human Carrying Capacity Key Point #1: In developed (rich) countries, humans have exceeded our carrying capacity because we consume too many resources.

American Resource Consumption What does it really take to get you an iPhone? How about those new clothes?

Human Carrying Capacity Key Point #2: In undeveloped (poor) countries, humans have exceeded their carrying capacity because there are too many people.  3.6 billion live in abject poverty (less than $2 per day)  Individually consume very few resources  But because there are billions of them, still exceed carrying capacity

What Does This Mean For Us? But wait! We know that when a population exceeds its carrying capacity, it shrinks in size (organisms die). If we’re exceeding our carrying capacity, why aren’t people dying?

People ARE dying.

Someone dies of starvation every 2.43 seconds

2,200 people will die from starvation by the end of today’s class.

(Leading cause of deaths worldwide) Water pollution kills 14,000 people EVERY day

War for Food and Water

So What Do We Do? Key Point #3: To avoid starvation, dehydration, and war for resources, we need to reduce consumption, reduce population growth, or both.

So What Can We Do? We could voluntarily cut down on our consumption.

So What Can We Do? Or, force people to cut down on their consumption.

So What Can We Do? We could try to limit overpopulation by providing birth control... Education......and increasing women's rights in undeveloped countries, where birth rates are highest.

So What Do We Do? China has a planned birth policy: Since 1979, citizens have been limited to only one child per couple.

“It is illegal to discriminate against, mistreat, or abandon baby girls.”

Notes Reflection (GP)  Do humans have a carrying capacity?  Yes.  How do humans in developed (rich) countries exceed their carrying capacity?  We use too many resources.  How do humans in undeveloped (poor) countries exceed their carrying capacity?  Even though each person uses very few resources, there are too many people (overpopulation)

Guided Practice (GP)  If humans have exceeded their carrying capacity, why aren’t tons of people dying?  They are.  We just don’t notice, because the USA is rich enough to make sure these problems happen to other people.  What can we do to reduce the amount of resources we consume?  Voluntarily cut consumption  Force people to consume less  Contraception, education, women's rights in undeveloped countries  Planned birth policy

Where Do You Stand? WHERE TO GO:  Strongly agree  Front of classroom  Strongly disagree  Back of classroom  Unsure  Middle of the room EXPECTATIONS:  Walk silently.  Raise your hand to contribute.  Respect others’ opinions.

Where Do You Stand? It is wrong for Americans to use more than our share of resources.

Where Do You Stand? It is bad that people in undeveloped countries suffer because Americans use more than our share of resources.

Where Do You Stand? Americans should give up luxury items, so that we consume fewer resources.

Where Do You Stand? The government should force people to consume fewer resources.

Where Do You Stand? It is a good idea for Americans to enter undeveloped countries and spend money to create schools, teach people how to use birth control, and advocate for women’s rights.

Where Do You Stand? The government should make a law that limits how many children we can have, or that stops some people from having children at all.

Exit Questions 1. What will happen to humans if we continue to exceed our carrying capacity? 2. Explain why this will happen. 3. What do YOU think should be done to solve this problem? Write in complete sentences! Don’t talk during the Exit Question!