Author Unmentioned
URL: http://www.sustainablescale.org/ConceptualFramework/UnderstandingScale/MeasuringScale/CarryingCapacity.aspx
Post by: Patrick Walls
Summary:
This short article summarizes what we already know about carrying capacity, k-selection, and r-selection. Beyond that, this article goes to explain how ecologists have failed to apply these concepts to the human population for a long time. According to the article, unlike other species, we appear to have varying selection types depending on the time we are observed. The key variables, however, are not time, but rather consumption levels and technological advancements, the former following suit to the latter. Also stated by this article is the fact that humans need to be cautious with our population because we may or may not suffer a crash at any point global carrying capacity is reached, and it is impossible to know which because the selection dependent on the circumstances of consumption and technological advancement. Please note that while the above graph is is featured in the article, it is not elaborated upon.
Opinion/Reflection:
I believe that this article poses interesting points to both the human population and selection type topics. It states that humans by our ways of life have created a new population selection type which is solely dependent on our own choices and actions. I was disappointed, however, by the lack of elaboration on the Economic Carrying Capacity graph. I think it is good in concept, as many inorganic processes that apply to ecological principals are cyclical, such as economies. I think it would be a good idea to apply these population graphs to other processes which can either crash and burn or stabilize, as it would allow us to be more scientific approach to political problems of inequality or instability.
Thoughtful Questions
1. How do you think the selection curves will change as you go from country to country?
2. Do you think that we will be able to sustain our population when we reach carrying capacity?
3. Are there any other cyclical processes which you can relate k-selection and r-selection to?
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4. Do you think it would be a good idea for social scientists and ecologists/biologists/other life scientists to collaborate, considering so many patterns are similar in their fields?
