Abstract
A simple theoretical model describing the interaction between humans and their environment in terms of energy flows is proposed to check the compatibility between the density of energy throughput in human society and the density of energy throughput in the ecosystem. This model is then applied to analyze three different scenarios of energy interaction between human society and the ecosystem: (i) societal activity is supported exclusively by biophysical processes for energy input and conversion; (ii) society is fueled by ‘biofuels’ (biogas and alcohol) but power is generated by exosomatic technological devices (engines, etc.); (iii) society has ample access to a high-density energy input and exosomatic technological devices. For each scenario limits to human development are discussed, and estimates of a sustainable population size provided on the basis of compatibility between energy throughput in society and the environment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Avery, D., Schramm, G. & Shapiro, K. (1978). Production systems in fragile environments. In University of Michigan (Ed.).Science and technology for managing fragile environments in developing nations (pp. 148–225). Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.
Boserup, E. (1981).Population and technological change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Brown, L.R. et al. (1992).State of the world 1992. New York/London: W.W. Norton & Company.
Cipolla, C.M. (1978).The economic history of world population. New York: Barnes and Noble Books.
Currie, D.J. (1991). Energy and large-scale patterns of animal- and plant-species richness.The American Naturalist, 137 27–49.
Debeir, J.P., Deléage, J.P. & Hémery, F. (1986).Les servitudes de la puissance. Paris: Flammarion.
Devaney, R. L. (1989).An Introduction to Chaotic Dynamical Systems. Redwood City: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Durnin, J.V.G.A. & Passmore, R. (1967).Energy, work and leisure. London: Heinemann.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (1991).1990 fertilizer yearbook (Vol. 40). Rome: FAO.
Georgescu-Roegen, N. (1975). Energy and economic myths.Southern Economic Journal, 41 347–381
Giampietro, M. (1992). Genetic engineering and risk to the biosphere.International Journal of the Unity of Science, in press.
Giampietro, M. & Bukkens, S.G.F. (1992). Sustainable development: Scientific and ethical assessments.Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 5 27–57.
Giampietro, M. & Pimentel, D. (1990a). Assessment of the energetics of human labor.Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 32 257–272.
Giampietro, M. & Pimentel, D. (1990b). Alcohol and biogas production from biomass.Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 9 213–233.
Giampietro, M. & Pimentel, D. (1991a). Energy efficiency: Assessing the interaction between humans and their environment.Ecological Economics, 4 117–144.
Giampietro, M. & Pimentel, D. (1991b). Energy analysis models to study the biophysical limits for human exploitation of natural processes. In C. Rossi & E. Tiezzi (Eds.).Ecological physical chemistry (pp. 139–184). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.
Giampietro, M. & Pimentel, D. (1992). Energy efficiency and nutrition in societies based on human labor.Ecology of Food and Nutrition, in press.
Giampietro, M., Cerretelli, G. & Pimentel, D. (1992a). Energy analysis of agricultural ecosystem management: Human return and sustainability.Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 38 219–244.
Giampietro, M., Cerretelli, G. & Pimentel, D. (1992b). Assessing technological changes in agricultural production.Ambio, in press.
Hall, C.W. (1989). Mechanization and food availability. In D. Pimentel & C.W. Hall (Eds.).Food and natural resources (pp. 261–273). San Diego: Academic Press, Inc.
Hardin, G. (1991). From shortage to longage: Forty years in the population vineyards.Population and Environment, 12 339–349.
Holden, A.V. (Ed.) (1986).Chaos. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Klass, D.L. (1985). In symposium papers: Energy from biomass and wastes IX.Energy from biomass and wastes: 1984 update. Chicago: Institute of Gas Technology.
Lal, R. & Pierce, F.J. (1991). The vanishing resource. In R. Lal and F.J. Pierce (Eds.).Soil management for sustainability (pp. 1–5). Ankeny: Soil and Water Conservation Society.
May, R.M. (1976). Simple mathematical models with very complicated dynamics.Nature, 261 459–467.
May, R.M. (Ed.). (1981).Theoretical ecology: Principles and applications. Sunderland: Sinauer.
Murota, T. (1987). Environmental economics of the water planet Earth. In G. Pillet and T. Murota (Eds.).Environmental economics: The analysis of a major interface. Geneva: Poland Leingruber.
Odum, E.P. (1971).Fundamentals of ecology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
Odum, E.P. (1989).Ecology and our endangered life-support systems. Stamford (CT): Sinauer.
Odum, H.T. (1971).Environment, power, and society. New York: Wiley-Interscience.
Odum, H.T. (1983).Systems ecology. New York: John Wiley.
Perlin, J. (1989).A forest journey: the role of wood in the development of civilization. New York/London: W.W. Norton & Company.
Pimentel, D. (1989). Ecological systems, natural resources, and food supplies. In D. Pimentel and C.W. Hall (Eds.).Food and natural resources. New York: Academic Press.
Pimentel, D. (1991). Ethanol fuels: Energy security, economics, and the environment.J. Agr. Environ. Ethics, 4 1–13.
Pimentel, D. & Pimentel, M. (1979).Food, energy and society. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Pimentel, D. & Pimentel, M. (1989). The demographic and environmental consequences of the green revolution. Paper presented at the conference:Human Demography and Natural Resources, Stanford (CA), February 1–3.
Pimentel, D., Allen, J., Beers, A., Guinand, L., Linder, R., McLaughlin, P., Meer, B., Musonda, D., Perdue, D., Poisson, S., Siebert, S., Stoner, K., Salazar, R. & Hawkins, A. (1987). World agriculture and soil erosion.BioScience, 37 277–283.
Pimentel, D., Warneke, A.F., Teel, W.S., Schwab, K.A., Simcox, N.J., Ebert, D.M., Baenisch, K.D. & Aaron, M.R. (1988). Food versus biomass fuel: Socioeconomic and environmental impacts in the United States, Brazil, India, and Kenya.Advances in Food Research, 32 185–238.
Pimentel, D., Wen Dazhong & Giampietro, M. (1990). Technological changes in energy use in U.S. agricultural production. In S.R. Gliessman (Ed.).Agroecology (pp. 305–321). New York: Springer Verlag.
PRB (Population Reference Bureau) (1991).1991 world population data sheet. Washington, D.C: Population Reference Bureau Inc.
Risser, J. (1981). A renewed thread of soil erosion: It's worse than the dust bowl.Smithsonian, 11 120–130.
Taube, M. (1985).Evolution of matter and energy on a cosmic and planetary scale. New York: Springer Verlag.
Tolba, M.K. (1989). Our biological heritage under siege.BioScience, 39 725–728.
Vitousek, P.M., Ehrlich, P.R., Ehrlich, A.H. & Matson, P.A. (1986). Human appropriation of the products of photosynthesis.BioScience, 36 368–373.
Wen Dazhong & Pimentel, D. (1984). Energy flow through an organic agroecosystem in China.Agriculture, ecosystems and environment, 11 145–160.
Wright, D.H. (1990). Human impacts on energy flow through natural ecosystems, and implications for species endangerment.Ambio, 19 189–194.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Giampietro, M., Bukkens, S.G.F. & Pimentel, D. Limits to population size: Three scenarios of energy interaction between human society and ecosystem. Popul Environ 14, 109–131 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01358041
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01358041