Earth Science: Carrying Capacity and Culture

Carrying Capacity

After completing the activity, read the handout "Carrying Capacity." Choose one of the cultures given in the reading, then use book or Internet research to answer the following questions:

What are the culture's main sources of energy and food?

Describe the nature of land use; does this culture practice agriculture? Nomadic herding? Are there cities, or temporary / moveable shelters?

To what extend do these land use practices change the ecosystem?

What evidence is there that the culture is "out of balance" or "in harmony" with nature?

What lessons can we apply to current environmental problems?

Document your references (write down names of websites / books) and include maps or diagrams of the region where this culture exists (Use Geography book).

Suggested Resources: You may find some of the information you need at these sites.

Historic Cultures:

Native American Mound Builders
http://www.argenweb.net/woodruff/gary_telford/county_articles/mound_builders.html
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/moundbuilders.html

Easter Island
http://www.eco-action.org/dt/eisland.html
http://www.livescience.com/616-view-easter-island-disaster-wrong-researchers.html

Anasazi of the Southwest U.S.
http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-mesa-verde-national-park-archaeology-colorado-sidwcmdev_067311.html
http://cpluhna.nau.edu/People/anasazi_collapse.htm

Mayan culture
http://www.chaacreek.com/belize-travel-blog/2011/10/natural-resources-ancient-mayan-civilization/

Mali empire of Africa
http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_resources.htm

Ancient Hebrews
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/33_nomadic.html

Ancient Egyptians
http://www.egyptianagriculture.com/horticulture.html

Contemporary Cultures:

African forest people
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0702.htm

Bushmen of the Kalahari
http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.san.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/droid/abz/food.html

Inuit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit

Native Americans of the Amazon
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/amazon_people.html