?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Carrying+capacity%2C+cycles%2C+and+culture&rft.creator=Moore%2C+Jim&rft.subject=Ecology&rft.subject=Primatology&rft.subject=Sociobiology&rft.subject=Evolutionary+Psychology&rft.description=Two+major+objections+have+been+made+to+the+application+of+the+%22carrying+capacity%22+(K)+concept+to+nonindustrial+human+populations%3A+1)+If+K+is+set+by+periodic+famines+or+other+phenomena+(%22minima%22)%2C+the+concept+is+useless+without+an+independant+criterion+for+the+length+of+the+relevant+period.+2)+Humans+frequently+appear+to+be+adjusting+their+population+densities+according+to+what+seem+to+be+biologically+arbitrary+cultural+criteria%2C+not+to+a+biological+K.+I+propose+that+the+length+of+the+relevant+interval+between+minima+is+a+function+of+the+species'+pattern+of+investment+in+kin.+Minima+occuring+at+intervals+greater+in+length+than+the+period+of+investment+will+have+little+effect+on+reproductive+tactics%2C+and+intervals+shorter+in+length+than+the+period+of+obligate+offspring+dependancy+are+roughly+equivalent+biologically.+This+conclusion+should+apply+to+all+%22K-selected%22+species.+For+humans%2C+minima+at+intervals+of+up+to+about+50+years+may+determine+K+for+a+population.+I+suggest+that+%22arbitrary%22+preferences+that+limit+population+growth+are+in+fact+culturally+selected+traits+that+stabilize+populations+at+Ks+set+by+these+minima.+Cultural%2C+rather+than+genetical%2C+selection+allows+human+populations+to+track+relevant+minima+through+environmental+shifts+such+as+ice+ages.&rft.date=1983&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=text%2Fhtml&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F174%2F1%2FK.html&rft.identifier=++Moore%2C+Jim++(1983)+Carrying+capacity%2C+cycles%2C+and+culture.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F174%2F