Question

A society that derives its main source of food by gathering nuts and wild fruit from a nearby forest gathers between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds of food each year for many generations. Over time the society’s population doubles, and the people begin gathering between 12,000 and 20,000 pounds each year. Within a few years, the forest is overharvested; one year, the people can locate only 3,000 pounds of food. What is most likely the sustainable yield of nuts and wild fruit in the forest?

Answer 1

Answer: They should continue collecting the same amount of nuts and wild fruit (6,000 - 10,000 pounds) each year.

Explanation: They had been gathering the same amount of food for several generations and they always got the same quantity of nuts and wild fruit. This proves that it was the sustainable way to obtain the food. If the population increased they had to ration it instead of overexploiting the forest.