Question

Analyzing ecological footprints reveals that

(A) Earth’s carrying capacity would increase if per capita meat consumption increased.

(B) current demand by industrialized countries for resources is much smaller than the ecological footprint of those countries.

(C) it is not possible for technological improvements to increase Earth’s carrying capacity for humans.

(D) the ecological footprint of the United States is large because per capita resource use is high.

Short answer

1. The statement “Earth’s carrying capacity would increase if per capita meat consumption increased” is false.
2. The statement “current demand by industrialized countries for resources is much smaller than the ecological footprint of those countries” is false.
3. The statement “it is not possible for technological improvements to increase Earth’s carrying capacity for humans” is false.
4. The statement “the ecological footprint of the United States is large because per capita resource use is high” is true.

Step-by-step solution

Ecological footprint

In environmental science, the resource accounting tool that calculates the human demand on the natural environment to produce their resources is called ecological footprint.

Explanation of option ‘(A)’

The term per-capita meat consumption represents the consumption of meat by a person every year.

Thus, per-capita meat consumption does not increase the Earth’s carrying capacity.

Therefore, the given statement is false.

Explanation of option ‘(B)’

The different resources represented in the ecological footprint are fiber products, fish products, plant-based food, and forest product.

Thus, lots of resources are used by industrialized countries.

Therefore, the given statement is false.

Explanation of option ‘(C)’

In biology and environmental science, the Earth’s carrying capacity represents the maximum species population size sustaining in a specific environment.

Thus, the harmful impact on the nation in the world can be reduced by some technology.

Therefore, the given statement is false.

Explanation of option ‘(D)’

The ecological footprint is the easiest way to measure human activities concerning the need for land and water.

Thus, the ecological footprint becomes higher due to the use of resources at the individual level in the United States.

Therefore, the given statement is true.