Final answer:
Option A, which discusses the relationship between the availability of freshwater and changes in birth rates, exemplifies how societies are influenced by natural resource availability. Scarcity of resources leads to unsustainable practices and impacts on biodiversity, while increased demands from growing populations lead to environmental stress and depletion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The claim that human populations and societies are affected by the availability of natural resources is supported by the evidence that demonstrates the consequences of resource scarcity on human population dynamics. Specifically, option A) A decrease in birth rates coinciding with a decrease in the availability of freshwater directly connects human societal changes with resource availability. It reflects how crucial the availability of natural resources, such as water, is for sustaining population growth and societal health. As freshwater becomes scarce, it may lead to a decrease in birth rates due to the increased difficulty in supporting a growing population, thus impacting society at large.
The importance of natural resources is further underlined through the concerns of unsustainable resource use, habitat destruction, and the pressure on wild animal populations due to overfishing and hunting. As mentioned, human population growth can lead to unsustainable demands on these resources, consequently affecting biodiversity and the overall stability of ecosystems.
Moreover, exponential population growth spurred by increased carrying capacity due to technological advances relates to a more significant strain on resources. The demand for land, water, food, and energy increases with population growth, leading to environmental destruction and resource depletion across the globe.