Overpopulation is not simply a function of the number or density of the individuals, but rather the number of individuals compared to the resources (ie. food production) they need to survive. In other words, it is the ratio of population divided by resources. If a given environment has a population of ten, but there is food and drinking water enough for only nine, then that environment is overpopulated, while if the population is 100 individuals but there are food and water enough for 200, then it is not overpopulated.
Overpopulation can result from increases in births, a decline in mortality rates, which is linked to increases in life expectancy, or from an unsustainable use and depletion of resources. Advances in technology theoretically can mitigate overpopulation by increasing the productivity of natural resources. Resources to be taken into account when evaluating when an ecological niche is overpopulated include clean water and air, food, shelter, warmth, or other issues related to survival. In the case of human beings, there are others such as arable land and medical care; for all but tribes with primitive lifestyles, lesser resources such as employment, money or other economic resources, education, fuel, electricity, healthcare, proper sewage treatment, waste management, and transportation. The problem of waste may yet prove the most limiting factor of overpopulation. In the context of human societies, overpopulation occurs when the population density is so great as to actually cause an impaired quality of life, serious environmental degradation, or long-term shortages of essential goods and services. Wikipedia Excessive population of an area to the point of overcrowding, depletion of natural resources, or environmental deterioration. Dictionary.com Whatever. Marnie aka Doe Sometimes people are so propagandized I want to scream. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
