Final answer:
The relationship between human-caused changes to the environment and population of organisms largely involves habitat alternations leading to extinction or adaptation, with human population growth intensifying these impacts. Deforestation, climate change, and pollution are examples of how human activities affect biodiversity and ecosystems. The balance of these ecosystems can be dramatically altered, resulting in long-term sustainability issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between human-caused changes to the environment and population of organisms in those environments is significant. It involves alterations to natural habitats which can lead to extinctions, rapid adaptations through natural selection, or disrupt the balance of ecosystems. For example, deforestation, climate change, and pollution are direct byproducts of human activities and technology, such as the use of fossil fuels, which affect biodiversity and ecosystems on a global scale.
Human-induced changes like the introduction of invasive species, habitat destruction, and overexploitation of resources lead to a decrease in biodiversity. One outcome of such environmental changes is the extinction of species that cannot adapt quickly enough or when their habitats are completely destroyed. On the other hand, some species may exhibit rapid adaptation due to selective pressures imposed by changes in the environment, which can result in a change in the population if the advantageous characteristics are genetically determined.
Moreover, human population growth intensifies these impacts by increasing the demand for resources, leading to more significant changes in the environment. This exacerbates issues such as global warming and habitat loss, affecting the ability of the environment to sustain both human and non-human populations. These changes are a concern for long-term sustainability, potentially leading to social and environmental consequences like famine, disease, and further loss of biodiversity.