Question

1. there are almost 8 billion people on this earth! in your own words, describe carrying capacity and how it applies to the planet and/or ecosystem. then, state your opinion, with reasoning, on whether we have reached our earths carrying capacity. (4 marks)
2. below is the information based on a swan population of 850 swans. births = 150 deaths = 200 immigration = 15 emigration = 25 based on the changes within a year, determine the swan population at the end of the year. (2 marks)
3. choose one of the scenarios discussed in class (the farmer or the mosquitoes). based on our conversations, youre work, and table talk, state your opinion and reasoning of that opinion. (3 marks)

Explanation:

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Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely. For the Earth, it depends on factors like available resources (food, water, energy), waste - disposal capacity, and ecological balance. Whether we've reached it is debatable. Some signs like resource depletion and climate change suggest we may be close or have exceeded it in some regions. However, technological advancements could potentially increase the carrying capacity.

Step1: Calculate net change in population

The formula for net change in population is (Births + Immigration) - (Deaths+Emigration).
$(150 + 15)-(200 + 25)$
$=165 - 225$
$=- 60$

Step2: Calculate end - of - year population

Initial population is 850. End - of - year population = Initial population+Net change.
$850+( - 60)=790$

Since no details about the farmer or mosquitoes scenarios are given in the question, assume the farmer scenario involves issues like land use, crop yields, and resource management. One could have an opinion like sustainable farming practices are necessary to ensure long - term viability. The reasoning could be that non - sustainable methods lead to soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

Answer:

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of a species an environment can support long - term. For Earth, it's affected by resource availability and ecological balance. Opinion: It's unclear if we've reached it. While resource stress and environmental issues suggest we might have, tech could boost capacity.

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