1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? Two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island were the isolation of the Roggeveen people and the mass amounts of trees and animals that were there when they first arrived. The fact that the Easter islanders were so isolated contributed to their population increase because they had no other outside factors such as diseases to control their population. Also, the fact that they had so many trees and animals there when they first got there allowed them to eat and build canoes and homes for themselves. This allowed the population to grow at an exponential rate.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? Two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem were cannibalism and the building of canoes. The Easter islanders turned to cannibalism in order to live because they had used up all the natural resources on the island such as birds, fish, and trees. Therefore, they had to eat each other to survive. Also, the fact that they built canoes had an effect on the ecosystem as well. They build their canoes out of wood which came from the trees. Once they had cut down all the trees the animals died because they had no food. This caused the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Changes such as not cutting down all the trees would have prevented the collapse. If they hadn’t cut down all the trees so quickly they would have still had other animals to survive off of instead of having to turn to cannibalism to survive. They would have also made it easier for another generation to survive by not destroying theirs.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? Archaeological evidence such as radiocarbon dating dates the first human activities to around A.D. 400 to 700. Also, archaeologists estimate that around 400 settlers arrived there. This supports the theory of population increase because it shows the large number of people that were there in early years. Today Easter Island’s landscape is barren. Archaeological evidence such as the statues that the population built suggest that there were once ample amounts of trees to support life. And the fact that there are no trees left supports the theory of environmental degradation. Archaeologists speculate about the population collapse. They suspect that the islanders used up all the resources to make their trees and statues and that they eventually died off.
5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. One way the Easter Island ecosystem and society is like ours today is that we continually use up our resources faster than they can grow back. We cut down mass amounts of trees per day. This forces many animals die because we destroy their homes. The Easter Island civilization did the exact same thing with their forests. If we continue to cut down trees like we do they will not be able to grow back and we will kill all of the animals that lived in the forests which provided us with food.
--Sami P.

1. Environmental factors such as fertile soil caused by the surrounding volcanic areas and a large land mass led to an increase of population on Easter Island. Also, many plants and vegetation, as well as animals, allowed for the Easter Island population to prosper. Large amounts of fishing kept the inhabitants well fed.

2. The Easter Island inhabitants depleted their resources too quickly for them to replenish. Humans cut down trees to built canoes, transport and build statues, and to burn. Rats ate seeds of trees, and bird that carried around seeds of trees to pollinate them died out. After the number of trees on the island dwindled, tools could no longer be crafted that helped the humans hunt for food or other do other activities. Also springs and streams dried up.

3. Sustainable development occurs when people use their resources at a steady rate so that they can be replenished and reused without going extinct. In order for the Easter Islanders to have survived, they needed to slow their process of cutting down the forest and they needed to take the time to replant trees. This would have stopped the entire cycle of life failing.

4. Evidence that supports the population increase is found in the overall sustainability of the island itself. The island was large and fertile and could have suited tens of thousands of people at one time. Environmental degradation evidence was found in the fact that scientists could found that the dates of trees and other vegetation abruptly stopped as the inhabitants used their resources up. The island now is virtually barren. As the extinction of the trees led to the halt of materials that came from the trees, scientists could see that the islanders’ life became uncomfortable as they ate chicken instead of fish, which they could not catch and as people died out.

5. The situation on Easter Island is easily compared to forest degradation in South America. South Americans cut down their forest at alarming rates for profits and, even though they attempt to replant, they are not fast enough. The forest is not being replenished, and if action isn’t taken, it could be completely destroyed.

--Annie

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
Two environmental factors that lead to population increase were that Jacob Roggeveen brought many settlers to the island and that there was no way for people to really leave the island. Once on the island, humans began to produce offspring and the population grew. The island was so far from any main land that there was no way to get enough people off the island to make a difference in the growing population.


2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
One cultural practice was using timber and fiber to make ropes for lifting statues. The rope could have been made from the Hauhau tree but they would need hundreds of yards of rope to lift one statue. The people of Easter Island cut down tons and tons of trees. Today Easter Island has a desolate landscape. Another cultural practice that led to their collapse was cutting down trees to make canoes. Not only were trees becoming extinct because the inhabitants were cutting them down but trees were becoming extinct because rats were eating the palm nuts and the trees could not regenerate.


3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is the use of a resource at a measurable pace so that that recourse has time to fully replenish and not slowly become extinct. In order to prevent the collapse the inhabitants of Easter Island should have been more reasonable with the use of their trees. Trees were being used for material things rather than needs such as food. It was not necessary for the people of Easter Island to cut down all the trees solely for the purpose of making rope to lift their statues. Trees were used as habitats for animals and when they diminished their source of trees they caused species of animals to become extinct.


4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
The archeological evidence that has been found to support this theory of population increase and environmental degradation is the sediment found by Flenley and King. The sediment showed that Easter Island was filled with trees, bushes and ferns and today it is barren. The population could not survive without many resources and that caused the collapse.


5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
The one comparison that I can make between the Easter Island ecosystem and society and our ecosystem and society is that we are doing the exact same thing just on a larger scale! Today it is more difficult to see the environmental issues we are posing upon ourselves but we are depleting our resources similar to how the inhabitants on Easter Island depleted their resources. The simple difference is that we have technology and information and we can slow down the process as long as we try.
--Sabrina B

Max Solomon
Discussion 2


1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
1. Two environmental factors which led to population increased on Easter Island were the rich, volcanic soil and the isolation of the native people. Because the natives were so isolated from other people, they were allowed to exponentially grow; moreover, this growth is attributed to the originally abundant resources due to the fertile soil left over from a volcanic period.


2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
3. Cultural practices led to the collapse of the Easter Island ecosystem. One being that the natives cut down the many trees in order to produce rope, canoes, and timber. As a result, deforestation led to cannibalism, because the scarcity of trees decimated the native populations of wildlife. Cannibalism directly led to the systematic extinction of the natives themselves.


3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is a reasonable rate of resource consumption so the resource, if renewable, has time to regenerate. For the ecosystem to have sustainable development, the natives would have had to cut down fewer trees, and replant trees as they were cut down. For example, if the natives cut down 50 trees, they should have at least planted 50 to replace them. This creates a cycle to ensure that a resource is still available.


4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
4. The island had enough resources to sustain a large population. According to two scientists, Flenly and King, tests of soil sediment show that the natives used too many resources at once. Because of the sudden loss of trees, the natives were unable to maintain their population. When the trees became extinct, the natives lost their only way to maintain their society at large.


5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
5. A comparison between the Easter Island ecosystem to our society can be made in Florida. Instead of trees, we abuse our water source, Lake Okeechobee. We waste water to the point that our only source of water forces us into a drought. Similar to the trees of Easter Island, we are heavily reliant on water for our most basic resources. Our current abuse of fresh water sources can also be seen around the world, specifically the Horn of Africa. There, the lack of water causes genocide. This shows that the current rate of depletion of Lake Okeechobee could lead to chaos for our state.

--Max S

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
Two environmental factors that lead to population increases on Easter Island are the access to an abundant amount of trees in the forest and the access to the water. They would utilize the trees and the forest for building houses and canoes and the water to obtain some fish and porpoises. Also, the population increased from the appealing idea of fertile soil from the volcano on the island.
2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
The first cultural practice that eventually leads to the collapse of the ecosystem was when the Polynesians built canoes for fishing. They would use the trees of the forest, causing the Polynesians to cut a majority of them trees down, leading to deforestation. Also, they would use the trees for transporting the beautiful statues they made out of valuable rock, causing another way of deforestation.
3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is the growth of the environment to meet the basic needs of the current generations of humans and other species without preventing future generations of humans and other species from meeting their basic needs and discourages environmentally harmful and unsustainable forms of economic growth. They would have stayed away from building the canoes and statues just to make their island prettier, and could have been more environmentally conscious and cared for the island, instead of destroyed it. The canoes were not even that helpful due to the lack of fish, but they could have used less of the resource more gradually, and then the whole island would not have gone extinct.
4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
The archaeological evidence that has been found to support this theory of population increase is that the radiocarbon dates of human activity in 400 A.D. to 700 A.D. on the Easter Island. The environmental degradation and collapse was found through the fact that the people from Easter Island used up all their resources for their cultural activities, thus leading to depletion and a collapse of the society.
5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
The fact that in Easter Island they chopped down all of their trees to benefit themselves and not care for the environment is a similar situation with the Florida everglades. Developers want to ruin this landmass, to create gated communities, instead of taking advantage of this land. As a whole, our society today does not notice how they take advantage of their resources, which usually leads to a Tragedy of the Commons issue.

--Samantha Lang

1. Environmental factors that lead the population to increase on Eastern Island was the fertile soil on the large land mass which caused people to migrate. Also, Jacob Roggeeven brought many settlers to the island and when they got there they liked the traditions and their surroundings. The people could not leave anyways because they were too far away from any other mainland and has no way to get off the island which is how the population increased.
2. Two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island were cannibalism and the destructions of the natural environment. The islanders had to eat each other because they had to other way of survival, there were no more animals to eat so they only way for them to live was to resort to that. Second, they destroyed the natural habitat. The animals no longer had their homes. The cut down trees to make canoes. The used up all their resources so quickly to where there was nothing left.
3. Sustainable development is any construction that can be maintained over time without damaging the environment with the protection of the interests of future generations. The changes in cultural practices that would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse would be for them to have not cut down all the trees because if they had not done that then there would have been more resources and animals.
If they needed the trees to cut down they should have given enough time to replant them so the resources wouldn't run out.
4. The archaeological evidence that has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse were that they used their resources up too quickly. The Island would not have collapsed so quickly if the islanders would have preserved the resources and used them accordingly. Supposedly, the island was full of trees and for all the trees to be gone there is no possible way for the island to have survived without its central resource.
5. A comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today is that we are doing the same exact thing the islanders did except not as quickly because todays world is much more advanced. They used up their trees to the point of depletion and we use up water, fuel, and electricity to where there can be depletion. I feel that the world is growing and advancing way too fast, it just needs to slow down and only use what is necessary.
--Brittany Serfaty

1.Environmental factors that increased population on Easter Island were the profusion of tree population, the resources of water, and the fertile soil. The trees were used to create ropes, canoes that were used to go fishing, and houses. The trees were also used to fire ovens. The inhabitants of Easter Island fished for porpoises as well as fish from the water, and therefore were very well fed. They were also able to use the fertile soil to create large crop yields.
2.Certain cultural practices ultimately led to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island. The resources were being used so quickly that they did not have time to regenerate. The inhabitants of the island overused trees to make statues, houses, and canoes. Once the population of trees became endangered the native birds and other animals did not have enough places to live or food to eat. As the animals started to die there was no way of pollinating the trees’ flowers or fruit. Also, the natives were continually fishing for food and eventually ran out of fish to eat.
3.Sustainability is when a resource is maintained at a certain level indefinitely. The Easter Island settlers could have changed their cultural practices in order to prevent the collapse of their population as well as the populations of other species on the island. They could have been more conscious about how many trees they were using to create canoes, statues, houses, and wood. Instead of continually making these objects they could have waited and allowed the trees to regenerate. They could have also planted their own seeds to enhance the number of trees being produced. In addition, the Easter Island settlers could have lessened the number of fish they fished for and ate each week.
4.Archaeological evidence that has been found to support the theory of population increase are radiocarbon dates that are associated with human activity, and also the densities of archeological sites show that a large population between the size of 7,000 and 20,000 were present on the island. Evidence that supports the theory of environmental degradation on the island is that the scientists have found that tons of species of animals, trees, and shrubbery were once present on the island; however, now Easter Island appears desolate and barren. The collapse of Easter Island is shown through the extinction of different species that were once on Easter Island and also the practice of cannibalism once all the other animals had died out.
5.The comparison between the ecosystem of Easter Island and our society today is that similar occurrences are happening within the United States. Resources are being used at quicker rate than they can be replenished. Oil has reached an all time high price because the demand for gas is growing more profusely, but the resources are diminishing more rapidly.
--Jerri

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
Fertile land and ample living room are two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island. The fertile land allowed natives to plant a variety of crops, including sweet potatoes. The ample living room allowed the population to spread out and utilize resources around the island, not only from one single part, thus resulting in more population growth.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
A strong political system and statue building eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem. With a strong political system on the island, natives had to appease their rulers to insure the complex bureaucracy kept working. This required a huge amount of resources. Statue building also caused a strain on natural resources, since the natives had to pull directly from the environment to build these statues.


3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable Development- the ability to appease human needs while limiting an impact on the environment. In order for the ecosystem to be spared from collapsing, the natives on Easter Island could have limited their political system which would have resulted in fewer resources being pulled from the environment. Also, a history of competition in the Easter Island culture led to more and more exploitation of natural resources.


4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
The greatest archaeological evidence comes from trash mounds, which contain bones and other pieces of evidence left behind from the island’s population.


5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
I think that a comparison can be made between modern day China and the former society on Easter Island. Like Easter Island, China is currently exploiting its large population and fair amount of natural resources to expand its economy. This expansion could have dreadful impacts on the environment. For example, China is building a new coal burning power plant every week. Coal burning is one of the most polluting fossil fuels and in China it is being burned at an incredible rate. Another example of a destruction of an ecosystem in China is the building of the Three Gorges Dam. Although this dam will be great for China’s economy, it will destroy hundreds of acres of ecosystem.

--Alex Beker (Period 6)

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? The fertile soil on the island allowed for its early inhabitants to grow stable crops to support human life. Secondly, the number of fish and seabirds allowed the population to fluctuate because it provided them with an ample supply of protein in their diets. Porpoises and possibly seals were also eaten during human inhabitation on Easter Island.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? Overfising contributed to the decline of the ecosystem on Easter Island which subsequently caused the collapse of the human population. Also, deforestation prevented the soil from remaining fertile and therefore crop yields decreased significantly.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development is the balancing of human needs with the protection of the environment to maintain the environments nonrenewable resources at current levels. To prevent the collapse of their society time would have to have been allotted for the replenishment of natural resources such as trees and other foliage. The degradation of the forest prevented boats from being built which compounded the problem of fishing.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
Archaeological evidence such as an increased presence of animal carcasses supports the theory that more food was consumed following a certain point in time. Porpoise and rat bones show the food that was eaten by the people living on Easter Island. Radiocarbon dating has allowed for archaeologists to determine the times at which such foods were eaten and make assertions about the path taken by people living on the island.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. This ecosystem can be compared to modern day American farms in the private sector. Small, private farms are competing with large scale corporate firms and to do so they are putting too much pressure on the environment to try to produce more. Soil is quickly being degraded and nutrients are being overused leading to a vacuum with regard to crop production on a small scale.

--Spencer

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
Two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island are fertile soil and a large amount of food sources. The fertile soil allowed the people to plant vegetables and gardens to grow food. Once they could grow food, the inhabitants could eat and support themselves. With a healthy population, they began to reproduce and create and increase in population on the island. Also, the early Polynesian inhabitants found an abundant amount of food. These different food sources of meats and fruits made it easier for them to survive and adapt to the new island. Because of these abundant, rich resources the people were healthy and the population kept growing.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
Two cultural practices that eventually led to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island are the building of statues and a strong political system. The building of statues required a lot of supplies such as trees and other natural resources on the island. The inhabitants used so many of these resources and cut down so many trees that they destroyed the forests, soil, and eliminate the homes and food sources for many animals. The strong political system was run by the higher class inhabitants who needed an abundance of resources to comply to run the island. If they were not happy with the supply of resources they had, the system failed. Once all the resources were exploited, the government system crashed and the ecosystem as well as the population on the island collapsed.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is the development of the environment to meet the needs of the people and other living organisms without affecting the needs and resources of the future generations. In order to prevent the collapse of the ecosystem, the Polynesians would have needed to use less trees and resources to build statues and drag them across the island. If they had not exploited the forests and ruined the soil, the inhabitants would have been able to survive and provide an environment suitable for future generations.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
The many bones piled up on the sand are archaeological evidence that supports the theory of population increase. The inhabitants resulted to cannibalism once their food supply was completely used up. The environmental degradation and collapse is shown through the many different species of animals and fruits found on the island that were rapidly used up and depleted.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
Easter Island’s relationship and our relationship with the ecosystem are very similar. The people on Easter Island cut down the forests for pleasure purposes and used up all of the resources on the island for their own convenience. Our society is doing the same, except at a slower rate. Both of our resources are being used at a faster pace than they can be replenished. Our society could one day become unstable and crash because of the depletion of resources just as Easter Island’s society did.

--Lainie Berman

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
There are two important factors that lead to population increases on the island. They are a decrease in emigration and an unsustainable use and depletion of resources. Due to the island’s complete isolation from the rest of the world, the nearest continent is more than 2000 miles away, emigration was an impossibility. Therefore, every person born on the island had no choice but to remain there and the island gradually became overpopulated. The unsustainable use and depletion of resources was also a huge factor in causing the population increase. This caused an increase in the overall population because there is a higher standard of living and people have more free time to relax. The Rapanui people eventually completely destroyed the forest and every tree species on the island became extinct.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
Two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island are the creation of stone statues and the Rapanui diet. The stone statues, which sometimes weighed as much as 270 tons and were 65 feet tall, required many materials from the forest and the Rapanui made hundreds of these statues so it took a tremendous toll on the local ecosystem. Also, the Rapanui diet led to the collapse of the island’s ecosystem. The people used the trees for nuts and sap. They also ate fish, porpoises, birds, and rats. They eventually ate so many of these animals and took so much from the trees that the population of these animals and trees dwindled leading to a collapse of the entire ecosystem.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is balancing the fulfillment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The Rapanui could have changed many practices in order to prevent the collapse of the ecosystem. In regard to the statue building, the Rapanui could have built less extravagant statues and settled with smaller ones. This would have given the forest time to regrow its resources. Also, the Rapanui could have rotated their diet from animal to animal to allow each animal to reproduce and get back to its original population.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
There were many forms of archaeological evidence found to support the theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse. They include an account of Roggeveen’s journey in 1722, huge statues and platforms, DNA extracted from skeletons, bones from porpoises and fish, and pollen records.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
This ecosystem and society is remarkably similar to our society today. It is similar in that it overexploited its resources to an eventually destructive degree. We are moving down this same path. We are similarly depleting resources at an unsustainable level. This depletion will eventually lead the world to the same fate as Easter Island. Earth will become barren and almost inhabitable leading to a massive decrease in total population. If we do not take step to reverse this trend, we will destroy the planet just as the Rapanui destroyed Easter Island.

--Steven Miller

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? As a result of the fertile soil and the overwhelming presence of meat on the island, the population of Easter Island was able to grow quickly. 

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? As the large statues were moved from place to place, fiber rope and logs were needed to move these statues, leading to deforestation. 




3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development is logistical development that does not lead to the depletion of resources over time. In order to achieve sustainable development, a society must use the resources available to them at the same rate that they are being destroyed.
4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? After the examination of waste heaps and pollen, it had been proven that large trees, and other animals once inhabited the island. As a result of the exploitation of resources, the population was not able to sustain its self, leading to a decrease in population.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. Much like the inhabitant of Easter Island, our society is exploiting our available resources at a rapid rate, which will lead to a population decrease. 


--michael shawn

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? Two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island were the abundance of food supply (seafood, seabirds, etc.) and readily available building supplies from the abundant trees. This allowed the first inhabitants of Easter Island to prosper and multiply.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? 1. The building of statues that became larger and larger required rope and timber to transport the statues and resulted in depletion of the forest. 2. The over use of seafood and land animals for food eventually resulted in extinction of these species that were important to their diets.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development is the concept of balancing the human consumption of environmental resources with protection of these resources so that the resources will be maintained for future use. In order to prevent the collapse of the ecosystem the natives would have to limit their use of wood products so that the tree population would not be depleted. Also one way of limiting their consumption of food and forests would be to limit population growth.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? Pollen analysis showed that prior to human arrival on Easter Island, the Island was a subtropical forest. This analysis showed the most common plant was the palm tree which is no longer present on Easter Island. Pollen analysis showed that forests were becoming depleting just a few hundred years after the islands were first settled. Also the density of archeological sites was a technique used to estimate the islands population ranging from 7,000 to 20,000. This large number of people suggests a thriving and growing population.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
A comparable problem in today’s society is the over fishing of the oceans. Countries such as Japan relay heavily on fish to feed its people. International efforts are being made to control depletion of fish threw laws that limit over fishing. If these efforts fail a decline in food from the ocean could have a major effect on population growth and many countries economies.







--Adam Snyder

1. Two environmental factors that lead to population increase on the island were fertile soil and the excessive amount of useful tress. Fertile soil came from the volcanic ashes and provided the natives with great soil to grow an abundance of crops including sweet potato, bananas, taro, sugarcane, and pepper mulberry. These crops contributed to the population growth because with more food being produced it is able to feed more mouths. The excessive amount of trees also came in handy. With all the trees islanders were able to use them for houses and boats. The houses gave them a roof over their head and the boats granted the natives for food from the ocean including fish, seabirds, and porpoises.
2. Two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island were depletion of resources and cannibalism. Deletion of resources occurred with the growing population, with such an increase in population, natural resources were being depleted at a exponential rate especially trees which were a very important resource for the natives. The natives used the tress for houses and boats which the boats provided canoes and canoes in turn brought food. Cannibalism also lead to the collapse of the ecosystem. With the diminishing food and resources many natives resulted to cannibalism which meant people were eating other people and this was diminishing the population and the collapse of the ecosystem.
3. Sustainable development- economic development maintained to keep acceptable levels of global resource depletion and allow for growth to occur at a steady and constant pace. In order to do this the cultural practices that should have been done would be to make sure that the people weren’t taking to many trees that would cause an uneven amount of trees cut down and grown back. Also the need to plant new trees would help alleviate this concern. The method of crop rotation in order to keep the fertile soil rich and proper growing techniques such as taking the necessary amount of crops would also help to cut back on the problem.
4. The archaeological evidence that supports the population increase was found in core sampling. Scientists found evidence to show that food shortages, soil depletion, and deforestation all occurred, this often is in the case of over population do to all the resources that would have needed to have been taken from the island to support people. Some people estimate the islands population grew to about 9,000 people; this could have also been possible due to the amount of accessible land and water.
5. One comparison between Easter Island ecosystem and society and society today is just as the people of the island used up their resources we are doing the same thing. We aren’t learning from their mistakes. They used up the trees one of there most important resource, with use up water and oil at a rate the earth can replenish itself constantly.

--Jordan Gielchinsky

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? On the island, the climate was tropical and mild with cool winters. This warm climate would have allowed for more food production and therefore, population increase. Also, the soil was very fertile which would allow for more crops to grow. Due to the volcano eruptions, the soil gained many nutrients from the ash and any vegetation that was destroyed in the lava.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? Eventually, after many years of clearing forest for transporting statues, canoes, and available land, the forests of Easter Island no longer existed. All of the animals living in the forest eventually died and there was no more food for the Easter Islanders to eat. Then, their culture did not shame cannibalism. When all food sources ran out on the island, the islanders resorted to eating each other for a stable food source.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development is the ability to change and adapt in order to sustain the environment and ecosystem. The Easter Islanders would have been forced to find another way to create their canoes and support their seafaring lifestyle. Also, they would have been forced to abandon the production of their statues in order to stop the use of wood in order to preserve their wood supply.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? In investigating the Easter Islanders’ lifestyles, scientists have been able to see different stages of the population of the Easter Island inhabitants. In looking at their garbage piles, scientists have discovered fish bones and shells near the beginning of their civilization. Also, the present condition of Easter Island shows that the trees and plants were not preserved and eventually disappeared. Finally, the collapse of Easter Island relates to the finding of human bones on the garbage piles.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. The Easter Island ecosystem is very similar to ours today in that it has some resources that need to be saved and preserved. As the Easter Islanders had trees and fish, our society is running out of oil and also suffering from deforestation. In order to prevent the same fate for our society as that which had befallen the Easter Islanders, it is necessary for everybody to begin preserving resources and using only what is necessary.

--Matt W.

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
The Island acted as a miniature paradise and provided an abundant amount of animals for food supply. Its warm climate and fertile soil allowed for the production of many trees and plants. Their many native animals gave them a variety of food choice and allowed for a healthy life on the island.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
The destruction of the forests for rope and canoes and the Islanders eating habits led to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island. Trees became extinct because they were constantly being chopped down and rats prevented any fertilization and regeneration of them. As the islanders destroyed their forests, they destroyed their native animals. Every species of native bird became extinct. Because the trees were gone, they could not make canoes to harpoon porpoises anymore. In place of their meat supplies, the production of chickens were intensified and they became cannibalistic.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is defined as balancing the fulfillment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment. In order to prevent the collapse, their practice in deforestation could have been changed. If they would have allowed for the regeneration of trees, and preserved them properly, they would have lived a greater amount of time.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
Archeologists have used radiocarbon methods to support their theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse. The densities of archeological sites suggest a large population on the Island. Environmental degradation can be explained by radocarbon mathods and by pollen analysis. Pollen records have shown that the destruction of the forests occurred only a few centuries after the start of human settlement.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
We are following Easter Islands course of using up natural resources more rapidly then they can regenerate. If this continues, we will have exhausted the worlds major resources before our children and our childrens children. We need to start now by preserving all that we can so we dont end up as a lost society like Easter Island.

-Libby F

1.Easter?s volcanic soil, coupled with its mild climate (due to its location just south of the Equator) were both environmental factors that stimulated population growth across Easter Island.

2. The inhabitants of Easter Island deforested the local vegetation by building large, seaworthy canoes which were needed to hunt porpoise, a mainstay of their diets, in the open seas. Also, they continually cleared away the forests to plant gardens, which were unable to grow back due to the introduction of rats to the island, who gnawed on the seedlings of the palm trees and other trees and shrubs which grew on the island. This deforestation led to the extinction of the land birds and mammals who lived in the forest and lack of nesting areas for the sea birds that inhabited the island as well.

3. If the villagers of Easter Island were able to ?look around, realize what they were doing, and stop before it was too late,? they would have seen a clear need to limit the cutting down of the Easter Island palm, perhaps even setting traps for the island?s rampant and destructive population of rats. The general plenty that first existed on the island led to a culture of overindulgence, much like the one existing in America today. If the villagers were able to check themselves and their cultural practices, limiting the clearing away of the forests and allowing parts to grow back, they would have perhaps been able to halt the collapse of the island.

4. The article discusses archaeological evidence in the form of general excavation, those archaeologists retrieving various arrowheads, which indicated the warfare that existed among the Easter Island villagers after the decline of their society, and garbage dumps, indicators of the diet and habits of the inhabitants. Bones found in these garbage dumps were tested with carbon dating to give a time frame of reference. Pollen analysis provided evidence for the diverse and numerous vegetation that had once existed on the island, and general time frames for their extinction and peak.

5. As I stated before, the culture of Easter Island was definitely one rooted in overindulgence. The villagers had access to abundant resources, which they, in turn, took for granted and overexploited, ultimately leading to their demise. Our society today is much like that of Easter Island in that we have also become overindulgent in many areas of living, especially when concerned with consumption and how that affects the environment. We use copious amounts of water, natural gas, and other resources every day without thinking of the long-term effects of our actions on next generations, or even in a few decades. The inhabitants of Easter Island did nothing to stop this snowball effect, and for many years, neither did we. Although there are a few laws which now limit the effect of consumption on the environment, we are still in danger of overexploiting our natural capital and degrading our sustainable yield. Jared Diamond proves a valid point when he compares the grandiosity of the statues found on Easter Island with the excessively large mansions he sees in Los Angeles.

Isabella Proia

Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? 




• Two environmental factors leaf to population increase on Easter Island. One was the nutrient rich volcanic soil that allowed for the population to establish farmland in the region. This allowed them to produce crops that provided for the entire population as a whole. The second factor that lead to the population increase was the isolation of the island. This allowed for people, such as the Reggeveen and the Polynesians, to grow exponentially without the disturbance of a third party. The island was so isolated from the rest, that when adventurers such as Jacob Roggeveen reached the island they were the first other form of human life they had seen. This meant that they couldn’t die of from or encounter hostility from distance lands, as they never made contact. This also lead to an establishment of a farming system that supported their society enough that they didn’t need to go searching for more to foreign lands.

Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? 




• Two practices that eventually lead to the collapse was the use of wood for building canoes, lugging statues, fuel and houses while the second was their food habits changing to cannibalism. The use of wood for canoes, trailers, fuel and homes led to the eventual deforestation of the island. The Easter population was cutting the forest more rapidly that the island was regenerating itself. As deforestation occurred, forest were disappearing causing islanders to run out of timber to build canoes, springs and streams dried up making life more uncomfortable and lastly, there was no more wood to fuel fires. As trees disappeared so did food sources such as land birds, sea snails and sea birds. As timber disappeared canoes were no longer being built and fishing reduced rapidly. The only way to satisfy their appetites was to resort to cannibalism.

Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? 




• Sustainable development is defined as the development encouraging forms of economic growth to meet the basic needs of present generation humans and other species without blocking future generations and other species from acquiring their basic needs and putting down environmentally harmful and unsustainable forms of economic growth. The primary change of practice would be the less production of items that need to be produced with wood. The main reason why all the animals left and the environment was destroyed, was because trees were being destroyed at a faster rate than they were be replenished. They should have figured out a system were they would use less trees, and replenish them at the same time. If this had fallowed, they wouldn’t have had to resort to cannibalism as a source of food to satisfy appetite.

What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? 




• Archaeologists have proven that the first human activities occurred around 400 to 700 A.D. They also estimated that around 400 linguist settlers arrived during this time period. The peak of statue construction occurred between 1200 to1500. This is significant because it is believed that it took large amounts of people to help create these massive statues. This supports the theory of population increase over time. Porpoise bones disappearing from garbage heaps around 1500 support evidence of environmental degradation. This can be proven through radiocarbon dating. This is evidence to deforestation as spears were no longer created to hunt and production of canoes seized as to not allow any deep-water fishing. The final evidence to collapse is the current vast and barren environment to the Easter Island. This is evidence to collapse as trees and animals no longer exist on the island and the island is no longer able to sustain a society unless there is foreign interaction.

Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. 

• One comparison between our ecosystem and society compared to that of the Easters is that we are constantly depleting our resources without replenishing or replacing them. We are constantly destroying forests that further destroy natural habitats to other species besides humans. This only speeds up the process of extinction to certain species. This is similar to that of the Polynesian society that used up all the wood resources quicker than it could be replenished. Thus the environment was destroyed, animals left and society turned chaotic and eventually collapsed.

--Joe Rego

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? Two environmental factors that lead to population increases were fertile soil cause by volcanic eruptions, and abundant eating sources.



2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? Two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem of Easter Island were building statues and over fishing. Both statue building and over fishing caused a decrease of natural resources.



3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development is the ability to meet human needs while not affecting the environment. The residents of Easter island could have managed their resources better, by for example, deciding on a set amount of fishes to fish or the amount of trees they would cut in order to have enough time to grow them back.



4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? Radiocarbon dating shows that after the population peaked few statues were made after probably because of the limited sources.



5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. Today, our population has increased to the point where the Earth can not sustain us at our increasing rate. Our society as well as Easter Island’s society has accomplished building marvelous man made objects such as statues or buildings.
- Eunice R

Vivian Sangsukwirasathien
9/6/07
Weekly Discussion #2
Period 6

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
One factor that lead to population increases on the island is the overabundance of natural fruits and nuts. There was a huge supply that was an equivalent of maple syrup that the settlers loved. Another environmental factor was the excess of trees. Anyone on the island could use any part of the tree for timber, shelter, and canoes.
2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
One cultural practice that lead to the collapse was the building of huge statues. Each clan would show their ability by building bigger statues than the clan before them had. This tradition overexploited the trees on the island because for the bigger statues longer and thicker rope was needed. Another practice was the overexploitation of the porpoises. The Polynesians would harpoon the porpoises offshore.
3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is the balance between the protection of the environment with human needs. It is important that human needs’ are met while making sure that the resources don’t get overexploited. Some changes in the Polynesian cultural practices would be in building large statues. The clans should have learned to swallow their pride and stopped the competition of building huge statues. This would have saved the trees.
4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
Archaeological evidence that has been found to support the theory of population increase is the number of statues. There were so man statues that over 2,000 people were estimated to inhabit the island. Environmental degradation is proven by pollen analysis. The pollen analysis showed that Easter Island was definitely not a wasteland. “A subtropical forest of trees and woody bushes” were discovered to cover the ground layer.
5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
Our society today is similar to the Polynesian society on Easter Island in that we are unknowingly depleting our resources. Just like them, our resources are being overexploited over a period of decades so we don’t see the immediate effects. As the article said, the inhabitants of Easter Island did not have history to look back on. But, today, our society has the history of Easter Island as proof that overexploitation of resources will kill our population.

1.Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island. Two environmental factors which may have led to a population increase on the island include abundance of growth and soil health. With a usual warm and tropical climate complemented by mild winters, the island is ideally located on the globe to maximize growing possibilities. Plants find this island a perfect home, and begin to sprout up in abundance. As food production increases on the island, the organisms which feed upon the various foods increase in population. In addition to the nice climate, the island also is a host for volcanic activity; constantly supplying the soil with necessary nutrients.

2.Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island. The ecosystem of Easter Island began slowly declining after the forests of the island found themselves being cut down. The Easter Islanders needed to transport statues and goods through the island, as well as build necessities for life (houses, canoes, etc.) out of wood. As the land began being cleared of its trees, the ecosystem fell. As the plants disappeared, so did the animals which feed upon them. With the animal population depleting, the humans no longer had sufficient sources of food. Relying on their own friends as their means of food, the Easter Islanders found themselves falling victim to cannibalism until the entire island was depleted of all living organisms.

3.Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse. “Sustainable development” is having the ability to change or adapt in an attempt to sustain the environment or ecosystem. Being very involved with the sea and its many wet waves, the Easter Islanders would have been forced to find an alternate lifestyle. This alternate lifestyle would not involve the use or production of wood-made products, such as canoes or huts.

4.What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? The theory of the Easter Island population increase, environmental degradation, and collapse is just that; only a theory. However, there is hard evidence which has led scientists to accept this theory as the highest word as to what happened to the inhabitants of Easter Island. Upon investigation and analysis, scientists have found garbage-piles from the ancient inhabitants of Easter Island containing fish bones, shells, and other objects which suggest the inhabitants’ food sources or means of eating. Upon further analysis, scientists found that fish bones and shells were found at the lower levels of the piles, suggesting that they were consumed early in the island’s existence as an inhabitant-bearing place. Human bones were found on the upper levels of the piles, supporting the theory that the Easter Islanders resorted to cannibalism after realizing their food source had been depleted. The environmental degradation is proven through scientific realization that trees and plants were not preserved after death, showing that they disappeared (possible, if by volcanic activity).

5.Make one comparison between this ecosystem and our society today. The Easter Island ecosystem could roughly be compared to our ecosystem today. Although we, as Americans, do not live on a small isolated volcanic island full of cannibals, our land does have soil, trees, plants, organisms, and humans; all are also aspects of the Easter Island ecosystem. Just as the Easter Islanders slowly depleted their tree population because they needed room for transportation and wood for building, Americans use up resources with no regard as to what the world will look like if we don’t take some time to catch our breath and let the environment replenish what it has lost already.
--Billy P

1. Two environmental factors that lead to population increase on the island were fertile soil and the excessive amount of useful tress. Fertile soil came from the volcanic ashes and allowed the natives with rich soil to grow a lot of crops. These crops contributed to the population increase because with more food being produced it is able to properly nourish more living things. The extra trees were a plus too. The trees islanders were able to use them for shelter and transportation.

2. Two cultural practices that ultimately lead to the fall down of the ecosystem on Easter Island was the depletion of resources and cannibalism. Depletion of resources occurred with the increasing population, thus natural resources were being depleted at an exponential rate, for example trees. The natives used the tress for houses and boats which the boats provided canoes therefore brought food. Cannibalism also led to the collapse of the ecosystem. With the thinning food and resources many natives became cannibals, people who eat other people, and this was diminishing the population and the fall of the ecosystem.

3. Sustainable development is defined as balancing the completion of human necessities with the security of the natural environment. In order to stop the collapse, their performance in deforestation could have been altered. If they would have allowed the regeneration of the trees, and preserved the trees correctly, they would have lived a larger quantity of time.

4. After the examination of waste heaps and pollen, it had been established that large trees and other animals once populated the island. As a result, the population was not capable to sustain on its own, leading to diminish in population.

5. One comparison between Easter Island ecosystem and society and society today is just as the people of the island used up their resources we are doing the same thing too. We are not learning from their mistakes. They used up the trees one of there most important resource, with use up water and oil at a rate the earth can replenish itself constantly.

--Aaron G

1. Once the Polynesians found themselves on this new island at the beginning of their civilization, they were surrounded by abundant food, fertile soil and a plethora of natural resources that they could use to their advantage. Thus, they were drawn to settle here and once they did they multiplied.
2. The possible increasing competition that went on between the local tribes probably contributed to Easter’s Island’s environmental downfall. Several stone figures were found around the island that may suggest that each clan was in competition to make the best stone statue. Also, the Polynesians chopped down trees not only to drag their stone statues around but also deep-sea fish and to make canoes. When the trees ran out, the civilization began to decrease.
3. Sustainable development is development that is able to keep a civilization alive and prospering. The resources and the environment maintain the population needs. In this Polynesian society, the people should have realized what their art was doing to the environment. In order to transport their statues, sometimes over 6 miles, they have to make wooden planks out of the trees and rope form another smaller tree. When they continued to abuse this natural resource the resource proved to be non-renewable. Thus they ran out of trees, which created a snowball effect. Eventually their food sources were compromised and they were forced to resort to cannibalism.
4. Scientists have analyzed pollen samples and have determined that there was a wealth of trees before the Polynesians settled on the island. In the natives’ garbage heaps, scientist have seen the bones of porpoises. Later on, however, scientist concluded that chicken bones and eventually human bones were found in the garbage heaps. This indicates that the Polynesians were forced to eat chicken after they brought the trees into extinction by chopping them down. Previously, the natives would use the trees also to make study canoes to hunt for porpoises, however when the supply dwindled they were forced to look to other means to sustain themselves, such as cannibalism. Not only did some of the vegetation become extinct, but the animals were affected too. The species of birds disappeared and they were forced to use chickens.
5. A parallel between our societies to day is found in the Everglades. When people first settled on the continent of North America, more specifically, Florida, the Everglades were much larger than they are today. However, man has taken these natural resources and abused them. Our fresh water supply comes from the Everglades. Yet, if we continue to clear the land, building more and more subdivisions, then we will eventually be left with nothing. We will not only experience these detrimental effects, but the animals will also be affected negatively as well.

--Alex R

1. Most people answered this question correctly, however Steven Miller and Alex Beker both made great points. Steven noted that the population increase was because of the isolation of the island; therefore, the inhabits did not have anywhere else to go. Also, Alex Beker wrote that the ample land on the island provided the inhabitants with different places in which to find resources, they did not just have to use one particular place.
2. Most people answered this question correctly and in the same way by saying the downfall of the ecosystem was because of overfishing and depleting the resources of trees. However Lainie Berman and Alex Beker found that the political system played a role in this as well. The higher classes required resources causing the supplies to run out more quickly.
3. Every student answerred this question in the same way because the solution was obvious. The natives needed to give the resources more time to replenish adn regernate and there supplies would not have run out so quickly.
4. The article supplies many examples that support the scientists theories. Each student found things that support the theories, especially through the scientists use of pollen analysis. This proved many of the theories to be true.
5. The students came up with great analysis between our society and the society of Easter Island. Some responses that truly stood out were Alex R's and Alex Beker's. Alex R stated a parallel between the Eater Island society and the Everglades in Florida. Alex Beker compared their civilization with China and how China is burning coal excessively. These two people chose examples rather than just stating that the world is using the resources too quickly and in overabundance.
--Pisces

1. Everyone ot the general idea of this question. It's important that the answer stresses the abundance of unrenewable resources that attracted the Polynesians.
2. Many people had the same answer for this, but in my answer, I forgot to put cannibalism. I think that cultural practice is one that lead to the decline of the Polynesian civilization as well as depleting the trees to build canoes. Joe Rego's answer is very complete.
3. Max Solomon's answer is really good. He relates the depletion of trees not only with humans but also how it affects the rest of the organisms on the island.
4. I think the key answers to this question is radio carbon dating or the pollen examination process. Some people did not put these in their answers.
5. In my opinion, everything got this one right.
--steve123

1.Everyone agreed that the one main environmental factor that lead to population increase on the island was isolation. All of these people were practically STUCK on Easter Island. All other land masses were too far to get to; people began to reproduce and the population elevated.
2.The one main cultural practice that everyone acknowledged was the building of rope to lift statues. I think it is great that everyone agrees that the use of such a high number of trees for a job that was not life or death was not a smart idea.
3.Sustainable development defines not overusing a specific resource until it gets to the point where it cannot replenish itself fully. Everyone’s ideas were good but it is even better that most people stated that the people of Easter Island should not have destroyed their supply of trees.
4.It is a fact that the archeological evidence found to support the theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse is the sediment found underground. Scientists could tell that at one point Easter Island was abundant with trees but as they researched it on that day it was barren.
5.I think people had great comparisons to what happened on Easter Island and what is happing today on our planet. I read about some things I did not even know about.
--Tinybopper

1. I think that everyone answered this question correctly, considering it was from the text. Some people elaborated more on their 2 environmental factors, which only makes their answer sound better.
2. The answers about chopping down trees for making the canoes and cannibalism seem to be the right answers. I did the same thing as steve123 and forgot to write about cannibalism.
3. Everyone answered the first part of the question correctly since it was a straight definition. I like how Max S. answered the second part because he gave an example to follow up his statement.
4. Many people answered the questions in different ways, but as long as they supported their answers with various information from the text, they seem all correct. A popular answer involved the theory with the pollen.
5. Most of the class had very diverse answers. Some approached an international view, while others looked at the question on a more local perspective. I thought Alex B. had a good example for this question about China.
--hibleaker

1. The factors that allowed for population growth to occur on Easter Island included fertile soil due to volcania ash, access to fishing grounds which included poppises and other open water game fish as well as the abundance of species living on the island. Max S. synthesized the individual factors well and included references to each of the factors. Also, the presence of numerous ecosystems on the island ranging from mountanious terrain to sandy beaches allowed increased biodiversity to develop on such a relatively small island.
2. The cultural factors contributing to the collapse of the ecosystem included canabalism which resulted from edforestation and overfishing becasue Easter Island's inhabitants were without a food supply and therefore turned to canabalim. By cutting down such a large amount of trees the people prevented the forests from replenihisng at a rate quick enough to remain sustainable and therefore over time the forests became unable to support the people's demands and became degraded. Also as Alec pointed out the presence of a powerful, likely monocratic, government forced the people to pay homage to their rulers which required stoen statues which also impacted the environment negatively.
3. To prevent environmental degredation the inhabitants of Easter Island could have cut down less trees and also planted trees to replace those whihc they were cutting down to use for canoes. Also overgishing caused a collapse in the environmentakl sustainability of the island. Sustainable development is a societies ability to meet present needs without causing a negative environmental impact.
4. Evidence from animal bones show the time period during which the population began to flourish and subsequently decline. Radiocarbon dating was used to establihs a time frame for the civilization on Easter Island. Aslo, rock formation and sediment samples also provided a time frame from whihc to make assertions about the life cycle of the islands inhabitants.
5. Similar to our society the people of Easter Island overused their natural resources with particular regard to the forests and fihisng grounds. Off the coast of Ireland in the North Sea overfuishing has recently plagued the commercial fisihign industry. Such problems foreshadow the collapse of industry to come in the future. Also clear-cutting forests to use the lumber has become such a widespread industry that many of the earth's forests will soon be wiped out.
--SaveTheWorld

1. I think Savetheworld had a good point with the vertile soil and fishing grounds because both of those provided food for the growning ppulation.
2. I think the biggest problem with easter island was exploitation of natural resources, the canabalism came after the society got desperate.
3. Everyone had a similar opionion to this question. IF the inhabitants didnt exploit their resources, they could have lasted much longer.
4. I think the two biggest sources of evidence came from pollen and the trashmounds. The trashmounds allowed the scientists to see exactly what the society was using.
5. Savetheworld had a very good point with over fishing in the north sea. If this overfishing continues, the north sea fish stock may collapse and many fishing villages which depend on these fish may fail like Easter island did.
--green12

1. I agree with Max that the abundance of volcanic soil allowed for the native people to grow and produce various crops inorder to support a large growing society.
2. I agree with Jerri and would like to add to reponse the effect the destrcution of trees had on the bird population. The trees served as the birds natural habitat providing them with a place to live and food. As they trees becamed endangered these birds started to die, they were unable to help with the pollination of the trees, flowers or fruit.
3. I agree with Jerri about her stance on changing their cultural practices. They needed to be more concious about the trees they were using and destroying everyday. They should have made a limit or repanted several times everytime a tree was destroyed. Doing this, they would have helped themselves by drawing in even more food.
4. I agree with Mikeys statement on the archaelogical evidence. I would add this to my response because I chose for evidence, bones. What he wrote about was the examination of waste heaps and pollen that allowed them to conclude that large trees and animals populated the island.
5. I agree with Adams comparrison on fishing. Hes right, that if we continue to fish the way we do, soon there arent going to be enough fish to provide for everyone.

--GoldenGopher

1. I agree with Max in that the volcanic soil and isolation of the natives caused the increase in population because with fertile soil they can grow food and with their isolation they can exponentially grow without outside interruption

2. I also agree with the many people that thought that the cutting down of trees contributed to lack of food and resources which caused the natives to become cannibalistic. The cannibalism was the direct cause of the major population decline.

3. I also agree with everyone who said that the natives needed to be more conscious about how many trees they were cutting down in order to keep the population alive longer. They also needed to replant trees as they went, as Max S. stated. However, I also think that at this time this population had no idea they were using up all their resources and didnt have the state of mind to stop cutting down so many trees.

4. The archaelogical evidence shows that the island had enough space to support a population. It also shows that the resources were being depleted faster than they could grow back. This lead the scientists to conclude that the society colapsed after they had no more resources left.

5. I think almost everyone agreed that today we are using up too many resources and we are not giving them a chance to grow back. We are cutting down too many trees and they cannot grow back. Eventually this will pose a huge threat to our population today. This is a direct comparison to what happened on Easter Island and caused it to collapse.

--Bluedog16

1. Both Vivian S. and Eunice brough out good points. The soil from the volcanic eruptions made the soil very fertile. This hleped the natives because of the abundant food soucres. The trees did not only provide wood for the boats but they provided shelter, as Vivian S said.
2. I think Billy Parks had a good answer to this question. He stated some of the apparent problems, like the cutting down of the foreset and explained how those factors slowly led to the decline of the civilization. The natives, unable to find food anywhere else resulted to cannibalism, untill eventually the entire island was rid of living organisms.
3. Annie made a really good point that even if the Polynesians needed to cut down the trees, they should have done so at a slower rate. This accompanied with replanting trees would have given time for the resource to replenish itself.
4. I agree with everyone on this question. The evidence shows that the island once had an abundance of trees and other resources. Yet as Sam Lang states, thier cultural practices caused the resources to deplete at an uncontrollable rate.
5. Libby F says that if we don't watch how we use our resourses, then our society will be lost. This is true today, especially since so many are careless about how they treat the earth.
--Starfruit117

1. Aaron G. made a good assertion to the fact that the trees and fertile soil were perfect for maintaining a population. He also included the fact that the soil became fertile from the repeated volcanic eruptions.
2. Isabella had a good response to this question. She pointed out that a major staple to the Easter Islanders' culture was seafaring. This required trees and they persisted in cutting down trees until there were no more.
3. Libby suggests that the deforestation of Easter Island could have been prevented. I agree because all they had to do was allow for more time between cutting down trees to let the resource replenish itself.
4. Billy's response, I feel, covers all of the data found during archaeological digs in the area. He includes the fact that contents of garbage piles changed as resources began to run out. Once the fish ran out, the piles became filled with human bones.
5. Alex R's comparison of Easter Island to the Everglades seems accurate. Due to the exploitation of the Everglades, it seems like South Florida's water supply will suffer the same fate as the fish and trees on Easter Island
--Doc

1. I agree with Max that the isolation of the island added to the increase of the population. Since the islanders could not leave the island, as they reproduced the population kept growing.
2. I believe Annie makes a valid point in saying that the people's overuse of the trees to build canoes and transport the large statues. By using all the trees, the people depleted their supply. This assisted in the downfall of the ecosystem.
3. I agree with Jerri that the islanders should have cut down less trees and also planted more trees. By doing this, the amount of trees being cut at one time would be lower and in time more trees would grow and there would be a larger supply. The new trees would keep the resource abundant and thriving.
4. I like how Samantha stated the evidence of radiocarbon dating showed the existence of life as early as 400 A.D. Also, I agree that researches have been able to see that the inhabitants used up their resources and the abundance of trees and fruits were depleted.
5. I agree with Vivian that our society and that of the Easter Islander's are similar in that we are unknowingly diminishing our resources. We are slowly exploiting our resources of many years. However, one day these many years of overusing our resources will catch up with us and lead to the crash of our ecosystem as well.
--beluga

1. I agree with Annie and Sabrina as to why the population had increased. First of all, many people were initially brought over, and throughout the years the population began to grow. Also, because of the large land mass and widespread vegetation, it was not difficult for the population to continue growing.

2. I agree with Aaron that the population downfall came from the loss of natural resources, such as trees. Also, the food ran out quickly as well which resulted the people to cannibalism.

3. I agree with Isabella because if the islanders had stopped to look around and see how quickly their resources were diminishing, their population could have lived for much longer.

4. Steven states all of the evidence that had been found such as DNA from skeletons, evidence from pollen, and statues that were made at the time.

5. I agree with Vivian's statement that many resources in our world today are decreasing as they did on Easter Island.
--ben folds

I agree with and am impressed by Alex B's answers that:
1. Easter Island's population flourished as a result of fertile soil and an abundance of vegetation and meat sources.
2. Resources were depleted too quickly to be replenished and the sustainability factor was ignored on the island. He, however, did not mention how the birds and rats ceased to pollinate the land so the replenishment of trees slowed.
3. The Islanders needed to limit their resources used and strategize through their government in order to keep the island from extinction.
4. Evidence of the population on Easter Island is found in the trash mounds. I think he also should have mentioned the scientific experimentation that dated the vegetation and remains of humans and animals.

Also, Alex used a good example to compare to Easter Island. China seems to be a modernized recreation of the situation on the Island, only China will not be deserted because of its location and also because of modern technology.
--Cake.

1. I feel everyone made very good points. The main answer that everyone seemed to agree with, was the the fertile, volcanic soil; the isolation of the natives; and the abundant natural resources caused the exponential population growth.
2. Again, I feel everyone touched on a similar answer to this question. The practice of cutting down the forests to build canoes, at such a fast rate, eventually lead to the end of a huge factor, fishing boats, in their society.
3. Steven Miller made a very good point about animal rotation. He stated, that if the natives rotated their main diet, then each animal would have has an opportunity to reproduce as they were not being hunted.
4. Everyone touched on a similar note with this question. Most people included the garbage dumps as a main sign of degradation. As their diets seemed to grow more desperate, then scientists can assume this reflects onto their society.
5. I agree with Isabella on how the overindulgence of the Easter Island society is dangerously similar to ours. I especially like how she pointed out the comparison made between the construction of the giant stone statues and modern day mansions.

^
--Pie

1. The is no real way to answer the first question wrong due to the face that there were many different points. But for the most part everyone had strong support and made strong points.

2. This answer was also diverse, although some students did not give enough examples when writing their answer. I like how Adam answered the question, because he answered the question and gave examples without writing to much.

3. I like Aaron's point on the deforestation. He suggested that if the Islanders slowed down the amount of trees used, the trees would of had time for regeneration. This is true and would have given the islanders a stable tree population.

4. Although everyone answered the question i feel that many students only listed one of the answer choices. But they do make good points.

5. I like Adam's point, he relates to the problem of overfishing. This is a perfect example of how the islanders over used their resources.
--$

1. About everyone agreed to this question. The main reason was isolationism, the people were stuck on the island so they reproduced which brought more people to the island. Also the fertile soil is which geared other islanders to the island.
2. Everyone had the main idea based on this question as well. The cutting down of trees and natural resources to use it to the human benefit and not giving it the time to be replenished is what resulted in depletion.
3. I like Spencers answer because it puts two together, if they never cut down all the trees to make boats the trees would not have been depleted and it would also solve the issue of fishing and depleting the fish.
4. I think everyone made good points on this question where if they islanders would have replenished their resources they would not have become depleted and they would have been successful.
5. I like Samantha's comment when she compares the problem on eastern island to the one we have with the florida everglades. There is no reason to not leave the land the way it is, not all land needs to be cultivated and destroyed. In florida they are building homes and gated communities to take over all the land.

--pink

1. Everyone basically had the same idea about this question.
2. I like how Isabella talked about the planting of gardens as a factor in this one and I think Joe had a great answer.
3. I like Vivians answer in stating that they should simply have stopped building such huge statues. I also think Max's idea of planting as many trees as they cut down would have worked very well.
4. Everyone just gave the information listed in the article.
5. Spencer's inclusion of small farms vs. corporate entities is a very good point and Jerri's oil example is great.
--viv123

1. I think everyone touched on the same points that the isolation of the Roggeveen people and the fertile land was what lead to population increases on the island.

2. I think Steven had a good answer because he states the correct cultural practices such as the creation of stone statues and the Rapanui diet.

3. I believe almost everyone said that the natives needed to conserve the palm trees that they were cutting down to help prevent the collapse.

4. Jordan has good evidence when he states that scientists found evidence to show that food shortage, soil depletion, and deforestation all occurred, which eventually lead to the collapse of Easter Island.

5. Max makes an interesting comparison between Easter Island’s ecosystem and Florida’s. He states instead of trees, we abuse our water source, Lake Okeechobee.

--snoopy

1. Everyone answered the question correctly. There were many environmental factors that led to population increase. I think Alex had a good answer. The ample land allowed for growth and more resources.
2. Everyone had the same idea about over using the resources by either using up the lumber in building statues, or by running out of food due to animals dying out.
3. Everyone agreed that being more conscious about how the islanders used their resources could have kept them alive.
4. Most people put radiocarbon dating and pollen analysis.
5. I think Alex R's example of Florida using up the everglades was very true, and if we do not change that we could end up facing many challenges on where to get our water.
- hershey

1. I think this effect is very pertinent to the island of Japan in Asia as to showing why the population increase in the region is so masive. I think Billy P has a great answer by saying that a combination of great nutrition and other factors led to such a boom.
2. Most people had the same basic idea of thow the resources were being used in cunstruction or the lack of food because of extinction or relocation due to lack of food in previosly fertile zones.
3. If the natives had ration out the resorces and implemented a more comunist form of "government,"i think most people wouyld agree, they would have survived longer.
4. the most commonly put answer is also the most comon technique in the field to finding the age of materials that is Carbon-14 rating.
5. Max S's responce was very good and the comparison of our misuse of fresh water in my opinion is very pertinent to the subject

1 hour to post before late

1 hour to post before late

1. I strongly agree with Aaron G.'s response to this question. He talked about two environmental issues which made the island well-suited for supporting life; soil and abundance of plant life. This is exactly what I answered, and also correct.

2. Spencer's response to this question was brilliant. He talked about two major environmental reasons why the island's ecosystem detieriorated were over-fishing and deforestation. Both would slowly force the island's ecosystem and food-chains to decline.

3. I think everyone agrees with Annie on her response to this question. She correctly defined the term "sustainable development" and went on to explain the effects of using a resource in excess.

4. I agree with Sabrina on this one. She stated that two scientists found evidence that the inhabitants of Easter Island destroyed thier own plant population.

5. Wow. Jerri's response to this question was correct. She compared the detierioration of the EasterIsland ecosystem with the society of the U.S. today. She talked about how Americans use oil today, and if they continue at the rate they are, the resource will soon be unusable.
--Captain Planet

1.i liked steven millers point that emigration was impossible.
2. everyone was right from the staue building to depleting the fish and building canoes.
3. in my opinion, everyone was right.
4. everyone touched on the topic of the garbage dumps and the pollen analysis.
5.i liked Vivians point on how we have no idea how we are depleting our resources. i also liked adams point of people overfishing.
--cupcake31

1. I think everyone had correct answers to this question. Steve Miller makes a good point that because the island was so far away from civilization, everyone had to stay on the island, and this led to an increase in population.
2. I like Lainies idea that the political system led to the islands collapse. That was an important factor.
3. This question was just basic definition. The second part was basically answered with allowing time for the animals and plants to regenerate. agreed.
5.everyone touched on exploitation.

--Libby F.

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island? One environmental factor that lead to the population increases on the island would be the vast amount of resources, originally available to the natives. Starvation, for example, was a common cause of death in the lower to mid classes of early societies. The population of other societies would normally have been limited due to this. However, because of the fertile volcanic soil for vegetation, the wide variety of animals, and the large amounts of natural resources; the population was allowed to flourish. Another environmental factor would be their level of isolation which in turn prevented the spread of foreign disease, another population limiting factor.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island? With a growing population, more food was needed. As more birds were hunted, the level of plant fertilization decreased. As one species of animal became extinct, another was devoured in its place, eventually leading down to the smallest of sea snails. In addition, the competitive mentality of the natives contributed to the decline of construction necessary vegetation. The construction of the Easter Island heads was a form of competition among the islanders; when a group built a head, their neighbors needed to build a larger one. With the constant construction of these heads, there was a growing use of the plants needed to make the lumber and rope.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse? Sustainable development defines the equilibrium between satisfying human needs and the well being of the environment. From what I read in the articles, the natives of the Easter Island were glutinous. To prevent the collapse, the islanders could have shifted some of their reliance for food from native animals to the domesticated ones, such as chicken. Only until the nearing end of their collapse, did the natives begin to focus on the production of chicken.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse? Scientists used pollen analysis to view the timeline of environmental degradation. By extracting columns of sediment, the scientists were able to view the gradual decay of plant life on the island. Also, the sheer size of the island heads, as well as their dispersal, was a sign for a quickly growing population. Finally, the trash piles of bone allowed scientists to view the dietary timeline of the natives, eventually leading down to a visible desperation of cannibalism.

5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today. Like the Easter Island society, today’s society has a constantly growing need for natural resources and the luxuries they provide. However, as the article states, we have history available to us to learn from.

--Alex Kliger

1. Discuss two environmental factors that lead to population increases on the island?
In order for the island to hold over 2,000 people, they had to have been very organized. The article states that “Easter’s resources were scattered across the island.” Therefore, the people were civilized enough to create a large population. The island held, stone, stone-carving tools, farmland, and fishing grounds.

2. Discuss two cultural practices that eventually lead to the collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island?
Pollen records show that Easter’s forests were already torn down (by using many of the trees to make ropes) only a couple of centuries after the population on the island came to be. The second cultural activity, making fires, caused the charcoal to fill the sediment cores, and as the pollen from trees and shrubs decreased, the pollen from the new land that eventually replaced the forest increased.

3. Define sustainable development and discuss what changes in cultural practices would have been necessary in order to prevent the collapse?
Sustainable development is preserving natural resources for human needs not only in the present time, but also in the future. The article states that the decrease of trees had most likely started when people began to make gardens where the forest should be, build canoes out of the trees, and burn the wood for fires. If these cultural practices would have had changes such as not burning as many fires or not transporting statues on canoes, the forest and civilizations would have been thriving for a much longer period of time.

4. What archaeological evidence has been found to support this theory of population increase, environmental degradation and collapse?
The article states that, “The first Polynesian colonists found themselves on an island with fertile soil, abundant food, bountiful building materials, ample lebensraum, and all the prerequisites for comfortable living. They prospered and multiplied.” This statement proves the population increase. The evidence of environmental degradation is clear, because archaeologists discovered the loss of trees and plants all together. The collapse is also evident in the fact that the people in the island eventually resulted to cannibalism.


5. Make one comparison between this ecosystem and society, and our society today.
Our society today is similar to the society on Easter Island because both civilizations are resulting to the natural resources in an unsafe and extremely fast manner. For example, both societies are cutting down trees, plants, and entire forests to build homes, malls, or on Easter Island, canoes. Therefore, if the world we live in stays on this path of destructing the trees, air, water, and other natural resources, people can only wonder if our society will end up like those on Easter Island.

--Morgan

Grades for Initial (10 points possible) and follow-up (5 points possible) posts:

Beluga – 10, 5
Pisces - 10, 5
TinyBopper – 10, 5
Green12 – 10, 5
Rilokiley – 10, 4
Cake - 10, 5
$ - 10, 5
hibleaker - 9, 5
benfolds – 8, 5
Viv321 - 10, 5
Pie – 10, 5
Hershey - 6, 5
CaptainPlanet – 9, 5
Steve123 - 10, 5
Bluedog16 – 10, 5
Pink - 8, 5
GoldenGopher – 10, 5
Starfruit117 – 10, 5
Tim - 7, 0 (never posted)
Red – 10, 0 (never posted)
Snoopy - 10, 5
Doc – 10, 5
Savetheplanet - 10, 5