What are some examples of humans failing to adapt to our available resources?

Question

What are some examples of humans failing to adapt to our available resources?

Answer 1

You know the mysterious disappearances of pilgrims somewhere up north? No one ever figured out what happened to them. They couldn't adapt, so they probably died.

Answer 2

You would usually find the concept of adaptation related to environmental context  (weather, lanscape, sea level, latitude) and not available resources (food and energy) but I guess you might say that we fail to adapt to available resources when we demand primary goods that belong to a different environment. Like eating tropical fruits in cold climates or fish in areas where there is no sea coast. But that should also be true if you have to bring oil from the Gulf of Oman when you live in Washington. I would leave out manufactured goods because they are not resources at all and because you're not asking about "what are known sources of contamination".

Answer 3

smog, $4 gallon gas, and SUV's

Answer 4

The need to destroy the rain forests in search of farm land.

Answer 5

Easter Island is probably the best example of maladaptive culture because it demonstrates how an isolated culture can completely destroy its environment through maladaptive culture. Jared Diamond's article "Adaptive Failure: Easter's End" and his book "Collapse" give extraordinary detail and insight of this cultural collapse.

Answer 6

It's types of food poisoning affecting our crops like tomatoes,spinach,etc. paying for gas at high prices,and trucks,buses,and other types of vehicles affecting the o-zone layer.