Abstract
This article examines the concept of carrying capacity as a basic principle of sustainability with applications to ecological and social systems. In the more general sense, carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals of a specific population which can be sustained without degrading the ability of that space to generate and regenerate supporting resources. However, carrying capacity is a dynamic condition that changes over time in response to feedback, growing in times of technological adaptation or innovation and shrinking when degradation harms the ecosystem services. Carrying capacity is an indicator of overshoot when compared to regional or planetary biocapacity. To balance this, one must monitor both the biocapacity generated by ecosystem services and the level of resource use by the population.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
A small amount of chemosynthesis supports ecosystems near deep ocean sulfur vents.
References
Cohen, J. E. (1995). How many people can the earth support? (532 pp). WW Norton & Co Inc.
Cottrell, F. (1955). Energy and society: The relation between energy, social change, and economic development (p. xix, 330). Mc-Graw-Hill Book Company.
Fath, B. D. (2020). Limits to growth. In B. D. Fath & S. E. Jørgensen (Eds.), Handbook of environmental management: Managing human and social systems (Vol. 6). CRC Press.
Jørgensen, S. E., Fath, B. D., Nielsen, S. N., Pulselli, F., Fiscus, D., & Bastianoni, S. (2015). Flourishing within limits to growth: Following nature’s way (220 pp). Earthscan Publisher.
Marten, G. G. (2001). Human ecology: Basic concepts for sustainable development. Earthscan Publications.
Meadows, D. H., Meadows, D. L., Randers, J., & Behrens, W. W., III. (1972). The limits to growth; a report for the Club of Rome’s project on the predicament of mankind. Universe Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fath, B.D. (2023). Carrying Capacity. In: Wallenhorst, N., Wulf, C. (eds) Handbook of the Anthropocene. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25910-4_34
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25910-4_34
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-25909-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-25910-4
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)