Final answer:
Hunter-gatherers had a relatively small ecological impact, as they were part of the natural balance, fitting into food chains and relying on hunting and gathering of natural resources. Their mobile lifestyle meant that they moved with resource availability and had dynamic interactions with farming and herding societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The activities of hunter-gatherers that altered the environment were modest compared to subsequent human developments. As they fitted into their ecosystems similar to other omnivorous species, their ecological impact remained relatively low. The energy flow from photosynthesis through to the human population in hunter-gatherer societies was quite small, often only about 1/10,000 to 1/100,000 of the energy fixed by photosynthesis. Hunter-gatherers relied heavily on the natural resources available, gathering fruits, nuts, berries, and roots, and hunting wild animals. Their nomadic lifestyle influenced their environment to some degree: they followed seasonal migrations of animals and were an integral part of the ecological balance. Mobility is a key characteristic of hunter-gatherer societies, and when resources were scarce, they would move to a different location or request permission to use resources in neighboring territories, a practice facilitated through kinship and friendships.
It is important to note that hunter-gatherer groups, such as the Hadza, are not static representations of our past but have evolved and adapted throughout the years. Their interactions with farming and herding groups, sometimes through trade or adoption of subsistence methods, indicate a dynamic history. The Neolithic Revolution marked a significant transition, but some groups, like the Indigenous peoples of Australia, opted to continue with a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, producing minimal environmental change compared to settled agricultural societies.