Antarctica, Greenland ice definitely melting into sea, and speeding up, experts warn

[NoOneMan]

32. Do you have evidence to substantiate this theory?

Last edited Fri Nov 30, 2012, 11:02 PM - Edit history (1)

1) Re: overshoot of hunter-gatherers?
2) Re: hunter-gathers causing ecological breakdown and diminished game
3) Re: conversion of them by these means

Everything I've read shows past and present hunter-gatherers maintain a stable population and ecological balance. No, there is not birth control, but high mortality rates and breast-feeding mothers who do not bear high numbers of children.

Quick example: Why hunter-gatherer populations do not show signs of Pleistocene demographic expansions

no species limits its own reproductive success. Period. The environment limits it.

Though, mankind has the ability to alter the environment and its carrying capacity, illustrated by agriculture. In natural systems, organisms evolve to be incredibly energy efficient (a hunt should produce just more than the energy it takes to engage in it), but not at the cost of ecological breakdown. Of course mankind has circumvented that general law, which is precisely the fundamental problem.

It isn't the organisms that limit their reproductive success, but the system that success hinges upon. Genetics that lead to overshoot will not be selected. Genetics that do not lead to success will not be selected. There is balance, produced by the system, which is "correct" for each organism in its place



On Edit: This whole theory seems completely bunk the more I think about it. Hunter-gatherers don't show a consistent progressive advancement across the globe of converting into agriculturalists when they limit their food supply. The main branch of agriculture didn't spread with scarcity via need, but it was brought into other European regions by migrants coming from a point of origin (probably leaving areas of overshoot). The migrant agriculturalists were entirely different populations with their own religion and genetics. Article about the genetic study: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17857641