Reference no: EM132370743

Assignment - Human Population Lab

We are going to study some demographic data and trends around the world. Some directly relate to areas of human concern in biology (health, reproduction, the environment, population), while others indirectly relate (income and education).

The main goal is to understand that the world is divided up into developed countries and developing countries, and life is quite different in different countries around the world.

You need to gather information about 9 countries. Select 1 country from each of the 9 regions below, and enter it in the TOP row of your Data Chart. The starred countries are suggested, but feel free to select any representative country you like. Keep in mind not only the countries as you look at various statistics, but also the regions and whether they are developed or developing.

A. (New World) - United States

B. (W. Europe) - France, Norway and United Kingdom

C. (E. Europe) - Russia, Poland and Bulgaria

D. (traditionally AIDS Africa) - Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana

E. (Non-AIDS Africa) - Nigeria, Congo and Chad

F. (Latin America) - Cuba

G. (Muslim) - Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia

H. (South East Asia) - India

J. (Population reform) - China (NOT Hong Kong)

You will be using 2 websites and answering the 24 questions in this lab procedure, as well as writing a summary at the end (does not need to be in the form of the scientific method). Be sure to back up your statements with specific numbers. Don't just mention that there are differences-state specifically and numerically what those differences are.

Website 1: Population Reference Bureau:

For the first 3 questions, use ALL countries of the WORLD, not just your 9:

1. Under Population, click on Population Mid-2018 to get current populations for countries. (Sort by population to get the top 10 biggest countries and make sure your numbers are "descending"). Also look at mid-2050 populations. What countries drop out of the top 10 by 2050?

2. What countries enter the top 10 by 2050?

3. Which are less developed countries-the ones leaving the top 10 or the ones entering the top 10? Does this make sense--why?

4. Enter both 2018 and 2050 Populations for your 9 countries and also Population < 15 years old and Population > 65 years old (year 2018 only) - found under "Age Structure."

5. What does Population < 15 and Population >65 tell you about Population in 2050? Give some specific examples from your 9 countries.

6. Find the statistic that measures population density (under Development) and enter it for your 9 countries. What is this statistic called? Why could it be considered more important than just Population and how does it affect the environment?

7. Which regions have the highest population density? Is the US very densely populated compared to most of the world?

Website 2: Gapminder

Move the slider under your countries all the way to the left (that will make other countries invisible). You can play around and make other countries visible too as you go along. IF NOT MANY COUNTRIES SHOW UP (LACK OF DATA) for a given statistic, slide the year date to an earlier year where there is more data.

For the next several exercises, we are going to leave the x-axis at Income per Person-GDP per capita (PPP adjusted for inflation and purchasing power), also just called "Income" on the site.

8. What is GDP and what does "per capita" mean?

9. On the y-axis, select Babies per Woman (Total Fertility). In what region is the Total Fertility highest? (Be specific-what region does that color stand for on the map in the upper right corner?)

10. Do these countries in question #9 have high or low GDP per capita?

11. Is this the same trend whether you look at your 9 countries or make all other countries visible?

12. What country is producing the most offspring in the world (Total Fertility) and how many/woman?

13. Enter Total Fertility and Income per Person-GDP values for your 9 countries.

14. Change the y-axis to Contraceptive Use in Women (Health?Maternal Health). What is the range (lowest to highest) for your 9 countries and is it strongly related to GDP per capita?

15. What else could it be related to?

16. Change the y-axis to Annual HIV Deaths (Health?HIV) and enter HIV Deaths on the chart for your 9 countries. (You might not find data for Russia-I think they are in denial). In what region is HIV the biggest problem? Is there a difference between traditional "AIDS" Africa and "Non-AIDS" Africa (give numbers)?

17. Is there one of your countries that isn't in Africa that has a big problem with HIV?

18. Change the two axes to Child Mortality (0-5 years) and Medical Doctors per 1000 People (Health?Health Economics) and write this data on your chart. (If a lot of your countries show up as "undefined," move the year slider down a year at a time. 2007 should have most of your data). Of your 9 countries, which have more doctors per 1000 people than the US? Which have lower Child Mortality than the US? Does this surprise you? What about when you make all countries visible-does this surprise you?

19. Change the two axes to Mean Years in School for Women of Reproductive Age: 15 to 44 (Education?Mean Years in School) and Age at 1st Marriage-women (under Population) and write this data on your chart.

20. Compare Sugar Per Person (Heath?Nutrition) vs. Life Expectancy. What kind of relationship is there between these 2 statistics?

21. Should we eat more sugar in order to live longer? What else explains this relationship?

22. Enter Life Expectancy for your 9 countries.

23. Find 5 more interesting and relevant statistics to record for your 9 countries (from either website). Discuss how they affect population growth or correlate with other statistics you looked at or with any other areas related to the biology of human concern.

Conclusion: After completing the activity, please summarize the overall trends, similarities, and differences that you notice between the developed countries, the developing countries, and the United States. Why does the US often fall to the bottom of the developed world (Western Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia)? Can a country bring itself out of poverty while rapidly increasing in population?

Attachment:- Assignment Fle - Human Population Lab.rar