Running head: OVERPOPULATION ON THE FIELD OF NURSING 1

Community Problem Report: Overpopulation on the Field of Nursing

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

November 10, 2017

Melissa White
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Introduction

Human overpopulation is the largest population issue in todays society and has the most

noticeable correlation on the field of nursing.

Discussion

Human overpopulation is gradually leading us down the path of decreased biological

diversity. Marcus (2016) points out that biological diversity is necessary for the growth of our

economies, food supply, recycling waste, protection from UV rays, and erosion prevention. All

of these components are crucial in maintaining the Earths carrying capacity for humans. In

addition, Marcus (2016) touches on the issue of overconsumption and destruction to other

species habitats. When we consume natural resources and manmade products they will rarely be

used to their entirety and it will ultimately lead to the production of excess waste. The

destruction of habitats comes from the fact that it is necessary to build more homes and

businesses in order to support our growing population and rate of our resource consumption.

Lastly, humans are responsible for introducing diseases, wastes, and other unnatural species to

foreign habitats. A perfect example presented by Marcus (2016) would be the importation of an

invasive species in Florida known as the Argentine Tegu lizard. Since it is an unnatural habitant

it can ultimately lead to the destruction or extinction of other species populations within the

ecosystem. Had it not been for humans introducing the lizard to this region, the lizard would

have never gravitated there on its own. As supported by a separate article, Although the

displacement of other species is accelerating at an alarming rate, they also reveal the process has

been underway for millennia, largely as a result of human overpopulation growth (Malthus,

2016, p. 854). In order to reduce the negative impact of our ever-growing population, we must

understand the implications and consequences our actions have on other species and their
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habitats. As perfectly put by Marcus (2016), if we continue down the path of destruction we will

lack the biological diversity necessary to adequately support the human race.

Though overpopulation is a prominent issue in the human race, research suggests the

opposite is true for other species.