I. Seidl et Ca. Tisdell, Carrying capacity reconsidered: from Malthus' population theory to cultural carrying capacity, ECOL ECON, 31(3), 1999, pp. 395-408
In this paper the concept of carrying capacity is investigated to provide a
n improved understanding about its contribution to solve environmental prob
lems. Light is shed on its form, interpretation and application in biology,
demography, applied and human ecology. The analysis begins with an examina
tion of the bedrock of carrying capacity which is Malthus' population theor
y, and its mathematical formulation - the logistic growth equation. The inv
estigation shows Malthus' thinking to be both political and normative. Furt
hermore, the rigid assumptions of the logistic equation and the uncertainty
of its terms are found not to allow an unequivocal calculation and predict
ion of the upper limits (carrying capacity) of population growth. It is ill
ustrated that in ecology, carrying capacity focuses on the quality of an ec
osystem (pressures on it) and corresponding population numbers, and less on
equilibrium of populations as in biology. It is shown that carrying capaci
ty, when applied in fields where human activity or human aims are involved,
is a complex normative concept influenced by ecological dynamics, human va
lues and aims, institutional settings and management practices. However, it
is demonstrated that the discussion about institutional settings, aims, an
d values does not take place as much as necessary for its useful applicatio
n and operationalization in such fields. Instead, authors fall back on sust
ainability, environmental standards or resilience. The main contribution of
carrying capacity in applied and human ecology is as a political concept g
enerally highlighting that exponential growth and thus environmental pressu
res have to be curbed. Carrying capacity is Ear from being a universal cons
traint. Operationalization will continue to be hampered as long as agreemen
ts are missing about which social carrying capacity is to be opted for and
when it is considered to have been transgressed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science
B.V. All rights reserved.