People and the Earth’s Ecosystem

Lesson 1: Environmental Science Basics

What is Environmental Science?

Our environment is everything that surrounds us, both natural and man made

Environment: The total of the surroundings

● All things around us with which we interact
○ Living Things
■ Animals, plants, forest, fungi, etc.
○ Non-living things
■ Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks
○ Our built environment
■ Building, human-created living center
○ Social relationships and institutions

Natural Resources: Vital to Human Survival

Renewable
● Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy
● Renew themselves over a given period of time: timber, water, soil
○ These can be easily destroyed

Non-Renewable
● May deplete over a period of time: oil, coal, mineral

Global Human Population Growth

● More than 6.7 billion humans
● Why so many humans?
○ Agricultural revolution
■ Stable food supplies
○ Industrial revolution
■ Urbanized society powered by fossil fuels
■ Sanitation and Medicine
■ More food
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
● Human population growth exacerbates all environmental problems
○ The growth rate has slowed… but we still add more than 200,000 people
to the planet each day. We depend completely on the environment for
survival
○ Life has become more pleasant for us so far (Increased wealth, health,
mobility, leisure time)
○ But… natural systems have been degraded and environmental changes
threaten long-term health and survival

Environmental Science: How does the natural world work?

Environment impacts humans

● It has an applied goal; developing solutions to environmental problems
● An interdisciplinary field
○ Natural sciences: information about the world
○ Social Science: values and human behavior, policies, economy, etc.

What is an “Environmental Problem”?

● The perception of what constitutes a problem varies between individuals and
societies
● Ex: DDT, a pesticide
○ In developing countries: welcome because it kills malaria-carrying
mosquitoes
○ In developed countries: not welcome, due to health risks

Environmental science is not environmentalism

● Environmental science
○ The pursuit of knowledge about the natural world
○ Scientists try to remain objective
● Environmentalism
○ A social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world

The "ecological footprint"

● The environmental impact of a person or population
○ Amount of biologically productive land water for raw materials and to
dispose/recycle waste
○ Overshoot: humans have surpassed the Earth's capacity
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
We are using 30% more of the planet's resources than are available on a sustainable
basis!

Ecological footprints are not all equal

● The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly
○ The US footprint is almost 5 times greater than the world's average
○ Developing countries have much smaller footprints than developed
countries

We face challenges in agriculture

● Expanded food production led to increased population and consumption
● It's one of humanity's greatest achievements, but at an enormous environmental
cost
● Nearly half of the planet's land surface is used for agriculture
○ Chemical fertilizers
○ Pesticides
○ Erosion
○ Changed natural systems

We face challenges in pollution

● Waste products and artificial chemicals used in farms, industries
Each year, millions of people die from pollution

We face challenges in climate

● Scientists have firmly concluded that humans are changing the composition of
the atmosphere
● The Earth's surface is warming
○ Melting glaciers
○ Rising sea levels
○ Impacted wildlife and crops
○ Increasingly destructive weather
Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric car concentrations have risen by 37%, to
the highest yours
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
We face challenges in biodiversity
● Human actions have driven many species extinct, and biodiversity is declining
dramatically
Biodiversity loss may be our biggest environmental problem; once a species is extinct, it
is gone forever

Our energy choices will affect our future

● The lives we live today are due to Fossil fuels
○ Chemicals
○ Transportation
○ Products
● Fossil fuels are a one-time bonanza; supplies will certainly decline
We have used up 1/2 world's oil supplies; how will we handle this imminent fossil fuel
shortage?

Sustainable solutions exist

● We must develop solutions that protect both our quality of life and the
environment
● Organic agriculture
● Technology
○ Reduces pollution
● Biodiversity
○ Protect species
● Waste disposal
○ Recycling
● Alternative fuels

Are things getting better or worse

● Many people think environmental conditions are better (Human ingenuity will
solve any problem)
● Some think things are much worse in the world (predict doom and disaster)
● How can you decide who is correct?
○ Are the impacts limited to humans, or are other organisms or systems
involved?
○ Are the proponents thinking in the long or short term?
○ Are they considering all costs and benefits?
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Sustainability: a goal for the future
● How can humans live within the planet's means?
● Sustainability
○ Leaves future generations with a rich and full Earth
○ Conserves the Earth's natural resources
○ Maintains fully functioning ecological systems
● Sustainable development: the use of resources to satisfy current needs without
compromising future availability of resources

Will we develop in a sustainable way?

● The triple bottom line: sustainable solutions that meet
○ Environmental goals
○ Economic goals
○ Social goals
● Requires that humans apply knowledge from the sciences to
○ Limit environmental impacts
○ Maintain functioning ecological systems

Conclusion
● Environmental science helps us understand our relationship with the environment
and informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems.
● Solving environmental problems can move us towards health, longevity, peace
and prosperity.
● Environmental science can help us find balanced solutions to environmental
problems.

Lesson 2: Definition, Scope and Importance of

Environmental Science
Environmental Science is a multi-disciplinary field because it comprises various
branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical science, life science, agriculture,
public health, sanitary engineering etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in the
environment. It studies of the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of physical
and biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of from human activity
upon these.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Environment Explained
Literary environment means the surrounding external conditions influencing
development or growth of people, animals or plants; living or working conditions etc.
This
involves three questions:

What is Surrounded
The answer to this question is living objects in general and man in particular.

By what Surrounded
The physical attributes are the answer to this question, which becomes the
environment. In fact, the concern of all education is the environment of man. However,
man cannot exist or be understood in isolation from the other forms of life and from
plant life.
Hence, environment refers to the sum total of conditions, which surround points in
space and time. The scope of the term Environment has been changing and widening
by the passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only physical
aspects of the planet earth’s land, air and water as biological communities. As the time
passed on man extended his environment through his social, economic and political
functions.

Where Surrounded
The answer to this question, is in nature that physical components of the planet
earth,land, air, water etc., that support and affect life in the biosphere. Thus, the
environment is the representative of physical components of the earth where man is an
important factor affecting the environment. Some important definitions of environment
are as under:

Boring
‘A person’s environment consists of the sum total of the stimulation which
he receives from his conception until his death.’ It can be concluded from the above
definition that Environment comprises various types of forces such as physical,
intellectual, economic, political, cultural, social, moral and emotional. Environment is
the sum total of all the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the life,
nature, behavior and the growth, development and maturation of living organisms.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Douglas and Holland
‘The term environment is used to describe, in the aggregate, all the external forces,
influences and conditions, which affect life, nature, behavior and the growth,
development and maturity of living organisms.’

Scope of Environment
The environment consists of four segments as under:

Atmosphere
The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gasses, surrounding the earth:
(a) It sustains life on the earth.
(b) It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
(c) It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
(d) It transmits only ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and
radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolet waves below
about 300 nm. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Besides, argon,
carbon dioxide, and trace gasses.

Hydrosphere
The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources: oceans, seas, lakes, rivers,
streams, reservoirs, polar ice caps, glaciers, and groundwater.
(i) Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans,
(ii) About 2% of the water resources are locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers.
(iii)Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and
ground water is fit to be used for human consumption and other uses.

Lithosphere
Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the
earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.

Biosphere
Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with the
environment, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Elements of Environment
Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural
elements interrelated in various ways, individually as well as collectively. These
elements may be explained as under:

Physical elements
Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies, climate soils, rocks and
minerals. They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its opportunities
as well as limitations.

Biological elements
Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men constitute the
biosphere.

Cultural elements
Cultural elements such as economic, social and political elements are essentially
manmade features, which make cultural milieu.

IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Environmental Science enlightens us about the importance of protection and
conservation of our indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment. At present a
great number of environmental issues have grown in size and complexity day by day,
threatening the survival of mankind on earth. We study about these issues and apply
effective suggestions to our environment. Environmental Science have become
significant for the following reasons:

Environment Issues Being of International Importance

It has been well recognized that environmental issues like global warming and ozone
depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but
are global issues and hence must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation.

Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development

Development, in its wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation
Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the
developed world. The North, to cleanse their own environment has, in fact fully,
managed to move ‘dirty’ factories of the South. When the West developed, it did so
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path
is neither practicable nor desirable, even if the developing world follows that.

Explosively Increase in Pollution

World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planet for instance, lives in
India. Evidently with 16 percent of the world's population and only 2.4 percent of its land
area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural
experts have recognized soils health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and
organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure.

Need for An Alternative Solution

It is essential, especially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an
alternative goal. We need a goal as under:
(1) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally sound
and sustainable development.
(2) A goal common to all citizens of our earth.
(3) A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-consuming
wasteful societies of the “developed” world.

Need To Save Humanity From Extinction

It is incumbent upon us to save humanity from extinction. Consequent to our activities
constricting the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development.

Need For Wise Planning of Development

Our survival and sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the
product have all to by synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of
development our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the
environment and development

Misra’s Report
Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under:
(i) Holism
(ii) Ecosystem
(iii) Succession
(iv) Conversation.
Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which
interacting units of ecology are discussed, are as under:
● Individual
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
● Population
● Community
● Ecosystem
● Biome
● Biosphere.
Misra (1991) has recognized four basic requirements of environmental management as
under:
(i) Impact of human activities on the environment,
(ii) Value system,
(iii) Plan and design for sustainable development,
(iv) Environment education.
Keeping in view the of goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development
India contributed to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), also referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de Janeiro, the Capital of
Brazil, 3rd-14th June, 1992.

NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS

It is essential to make the public aware of the formidable consequences of the
Environmental Degradation, if not retorted and reformative measures undertaken, would
result in the extinction of life. We are facing various environmental challenges. It is
essential to get the country acquainted with these challenges so that their acts may be
eco-friendly. Some of these challenges are as under:

Growing Population
A population of over thousands of millions is growing at 2.11 per cent every year. Over
17 million people are added each year. It puts considerable pressure on its natural
resources and reduces the gains of development. Hence, the greatest challenge before
us is to limit population growth. Although population control does automatically lead to
development, yet the development leads to a decrease in population growth rates. For
this development of women is essential.

Poverty
India has often been described as a rich land with poor people. Poverty and
environmental degradation have a nexus between them. The vast majority of our people
are directly dependent on the natural resources of the country for their basic needs of
food, fuel, shelter and fodder. About 40% of our people are still below the poverty line.
Environment degradation has adversely affected the poor who depend upon the
resources of their immediate surroundings. Thus, the challenge of poverty and the
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
challenge of environmental degradation are two facets of the same challenge. The
population growth is essentially a function of poverty. Because, to the very poor, every
child is an earner and helper and global concerns have little relevance for him.

Agricultural Growth
The people must be acquainted with the methods to sustain and increase agricultural
growth while damaging the environment. High yielding varieties have caused soil
salinity and damage to the physical structure of soil.

Need to Ground Water

It is essential to rationalize the use of groundwater. Factors like community wastes,
industrial effluents and chemical fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface
water and affected the quality of the groundwater. It is essential to restore the water
quality of our rivers and other water bodies as lakes are an important challenge. So
finding our suitable strategies for consecration of water, provision of safe drinking water
and keeping water bodies clean which are difficult challenges is essential.

Development and Forests

Forests served catchments for the rivers. With increasing demand for water, plans to
harness the mighty river through large irrigation projects were made. Certainly, these
would submerge forests; displace local people, damage flora and fauna. As such, the
dams on the river Narmada, Bhagirathi and elsewhere have become areas of political
and scientific debate.
Forests in India have been shrinking for several centuries owing to pressures of
agriculture and other uses. Vast areas that were once green, stand today as
wastelands. These areas are to be brought back under vegetative cover. The tribal
communities inhabiting forests respect the trees and birds and animals that give them
sustenance. We must recognize the role of these people in restoring and conserving
forests. The modern knowledge and skills of the forest dept. should be integrated with
the traditional knowledge and experience of the local communities. The strategies for
the joint management of forests should be evolved in a well planned way.

Degradation of Land
At present out of the total 329 mha of land, only 266 mha possess any potential for
production. Of this, 143 mha is agricultural land nearby and 85 suffers from varying
degrees of soil degradation. Of the remaining 123 mha, 40 are completely unproductive.
The remaining 83 mha is classified as forest land, of which over half is denuded to
various degrees. Nearly 406 million head of livestock have to be supported on 13 mha,
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
or less than 4 percent of the land classified as pasture land, most of which is
overgrazed. Thus, out of 226 mha, about 175 mha or 66 per cent is degraded to varying
degrees. Water and wind erosion causes further degradation of almost 150 mha This
degradation is to be avoided.

Reorientation of Institutions
The people should be roused to orient institutions, attitudes and infrastructures, to suit
conditions and needs today. The change has to be brought in keeping in view India’s
traditions for resources use managements and education etc. for resources use
managements and education etc. Change should be brought in education, in attitudes,
in administrative procedures and in institutions. Because it affects the way people view
technology resources and development.

Reduction of Genetic Diversity

Proper measures to conserve genetic diversity need to be taken. At present most wild
genetic stocks have been disappearing from nature. Wilding including the Asiatic Lion
are facing the problem of loss of genetic diversity. The protected areas network like
sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves are isolating populations. So, they are
decreasing changes of one group breeding with another. Remedial steps are to be
taken to check decreasing genetic diversity.

Evil Consequences of Urbanization

Nearly 27 per cent Indians live in urban areas. Urbanization and industrialization has
given birth to a great number of environmental problems that need urgent attention.
Over 30 percent of urban Indians live in slums. Out of India’s 3,245 towns and cities,
only 21 have partial or full sewerage and treatment facilities. Hence, coping with rapid
urbanization is a major challenge.

Air and water Population

Majority of our industrial plants are using outdated and population technologies and
makeshift facilities devoid of any provision of treating their wastes. A great number of
cities and industrial areas have been identified as the worst in terms of air and water
pollution. Acts are enforced in the country, but their implementation is not so easy. The
reason is their implementation needs great resources, technical expertise, political and
social will. Again the people are to be made aware of these rules. Their support is
indispensable to implement these rules.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
VARIOUS TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
According to Kurt Lewin, environment is of three types which influence the personality of
an individual as under:
(a) Physical Environment,
(b) Social and Cultural Environment, and
(c) Psychological Environment
These may be explained as under:

Physical Environment
Physical environment refers to geographical climate and weather or physical conditions
wherein and individual lives. The human races are greatly influenced by the climate.
Some examples are as under:
(a) In the cold countries i.e. European countries are of white color. Likewise, in Asian
and African countries, that is, in hot countries people are of dark complexion.
(b) The physique of an individual depends on climate conditions as the individual tries to
adjust in his physical environment.
(c) The human working efficiency also depends on the climatic conditions.

Social Environment
Social Environment includes an individual’s social, economic and political condition
wherein he lives. The moral, cultural and emotional forces influence the life and nature
of individual behavior. Society may be classified into two categories as under:
(i) An open society is very conducive for individual development.
(ii) A closed society is not very conducive for development.

Psychological Environment
Although physical and social environment are common to the individual in a specific
situation. Yet every individual has his own psychological environment, in which he lives.
Kurt Lewin has used the term ‘life space’ for explaining the psychological environment.
The Psychological environment enables us to understand the personality of an
individual. Both the person and his goal form a psychological environment. If a person is
unable to overcome the barriers, he can either get frustrated or be compelled to change
his goal for a new psychological environment. But adopting this mechanism, the
individual is helped in his adjustment to the environment.

STRUCTURE OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment is both physical and biological. It includes both living and nonliving
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
components.

Physical Environment
The Physical Environment is classified into three broad categories viz.
(i) Solid,
(ii) Liquid
(iii) Gas.
These represent the following spheres:
(i) The lithosphere (solid earth)
(ii) The hydrosphere (water component) and
(iii) The atmosphere
As such, the three basic of physical environment may be termed as under:
(i) Lithospheric Environment
(ii) Hydrospheric Environment
(iii) Atmospheric Environment
The scientists have classified them into smaller units based on different spatial scales,
(i) Mountain Environment
(ii) Glacier Environment
(iii) Plateau Environment
(iv) Coastal Environment

Biological Environment
The biological environment consists of:
(i) Plants (flora)
(ii) Animals (fauna).
Thus, the biotic environment further be divided into floral environment and faunal
environment. All the organisms work to form their social groups and organizations at
several levels. Thus, the social environment is formed. In this social environment the
organisms work to derive matter from the physical environment for their sustenance and
development. This process gives birth to an economic environment. Man claims to be
the most skilled and civilized of all the organisms. This is the reason why his social
organization is most systematic. The three aspects of man, e.g. physical, social and
economic, function in the biotic environment as under:
(i) The Physical Man
The ‘Physical Man’ is one of the organism's populations or biological community. He is
in need of basic elements of the physical environment like habitat (space), air, water
and food. Besides, like other biological populations, he releases wastes into the
ecosystem.
(ii) The Social Man
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
The ‘Social Man’ performs the following functions:
(a) Establishing social institutions,
(b) Forming social organizations,
(c) Formulating laws, principles and policies,
(d) Taking steps to safeguard his existence, interest and social welfare.
(iii) The Economic Man
The economic man derives and utilizes resources from the physical and biotic
Environment with his skills and technologies. The economic function makes the man an
environment/ geomorphic process as he transports matter and energy from one
component of the ecosystem to the other. There may be any following two situations:
(a) His exploitative functions may be in harmony with the natural environment. Such,
functions do not necessarily involve change in the working of the ecosystem.
(b) These functions may exceed the critical limit. Consequently, the equilibrium of the
the environment/ecosystem is disturbed and a great number of environment and
ecological problems crop up. These are detrimental to man besides to whole population
of human species in a given ecosystem.

Lesson 3:Broader Spectrum of Environmental Science

Environmental Science
● An interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical, biological and
information sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, plant
science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and
physical geography, and atmospheric science) to the study of the environment,
and the solution of environmental problems.
● The dynamic, interdisciplinary study of the interaction of living and nonliving parts
of the environment, with special focus on the impact of humans on the
environment.

MAJOR THEMES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Climate Change
● The atmosphere retains heat near the earth’s surface, which is why it is warmer
here than in space.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
● But concentrations of heat-trapping “greenhouse gasses,” especially CO2,
increased dramatically, from 280 parts per million (ppm) 200 years ago to about
410 ppm in 2019.

Clean Water
● Water may be the most critical resource in the twenty-first century.
● At least 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and twice that many
don’t have adequate sanitation.

Air Quality
● Air quality has worsened dramatically in newly industrializing areas, especially in
much of China and India. Millions of early deaths and many more illnesses are
triggered by air pollution each year.

HUMAN POPULATION AND WELL-BEING

Population Growth
● There are now over 7.7 billion people on Earth, about twice as many as there
were 40 years ago. We are adding about 80 million more each year.
○ The present trends project a population between 8 and 10 billion by 2050.

Hunger and Food

● Over the past century, global food production has increased faster than human
population growth.
● We now produce about half again as much food as we need to survive, and
consumption of protein has increased worldwide. In most countries
weight-related diseases are far more prevalent than hunger-related illnesses.
● In spite of population growth that added nearly a billion people to the world during
the 1990s, the number of people facing food insecurity and chronic hunger during
this period actually declined by about 40 million.

Information and Education

● Because so many environmental issues can be fixed by new ideas, technologies,
and strategies, expanding access to knowledge is essential to progress.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
NATURAL RESOURCES

Biodiversity Loss
● Biologists report that habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and the
introduction of exotic organisms are eliminating species as quickly as the great
extinction that marked the end of the age of dinosaurs.

Conservation of Forests and Nature Preserves

● Nature preserves and protected areas have increased sharply over the past few
decades.
● Ecoregion and habitat protection remain uneven, and some areas are protected
only on paper. Still, this is dramatic progress in biodiversity protection.

Marine Resources
● The ocean provides irreplaceable and imperiled food resources.
● More than a billion people in developing countries depend on seafood for their
main source of animal protein, but most commercial fisheries around the world
are in steep decline.

Energy Resources
● Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) presently provide around 80 percent of the
energy used in industrialized countries.
● The costs of extracting and burning these fuels are among our most serious
environmental challenges.
● Costs include air and water pollution, mining damage, and violent conflicts, in
addition to climate change.

HOW SCIENCE HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE WORLD?

● Science (from scire, Latin, to know) is a process for producing knowledge based
on observations.
● We develop or test theories (proposed explanations of how a process works)
using these observations.
● Science also refers to the cumulative body of knowledge produced by many
scientists.
● Science is valuable because it helps us understand the world and meet practical
needs, such as finding new medicines, new energy sources, or new foods.
● Because environmental questions are complex, we need orderly methods of
examining and understanding them.
● Environmental science provides such an approach.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Lesson 4: Ecological Concept and Principles

What is Ecology?
● Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and with their
nonliving environment.
○ Connections in nature
○ Ecologists focus on understanding interactions among organisms, a
population, a community, an ecosystem and the biosphere!

ECOLOGY

ACCORDING TO TAYLOR
Ecology is the science of study of all the relations of all organisms to all their
environment.

ACCORDING TO ODUM
Ecology is the study of structure and functions of nature.

ACCORDING TO PATRIDES
Ecology is the study of the environment. interaction which controls the welfare of living
things regulated their distribution, abundance and evolution.
● The component of nature, which includes different forms of life, and their physical
and chemical environment.
● The process of interaction among different forms of life and non living things.
(physical and chemical environment).
● How different forms of life can live in harmonious relation to their surroundings.
● How different forms of life and their surroundings can be controlled and resta to
maintain their health and welfare

What are Organisms??

● Organisms are any form of life.
○ One cell to multicellular species.
○ If you look in the mirror you will see 10 trillion cells and about 200 different
types of cells... all having different functions!
● How many different species on Earth? Estimated = 3,6 million to 100 million So
far we know 1.4 million (mostly insects!)
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Organisms make up a Population
● A population is a group of interacting individuals of the same species that occupy
a specific area.
● The place or environment where they live is its habitat.
○ It may be as large as an ocean or as small as the intestine in a termite!!
● The area over which we can find a species is called its distribution or its range.

What is a community?
● A community, or biological community, consists of all the populations of the
different species living and interacting within an area.
● It is very complex and contains plants, animals, and many microorganisms.

What are Ecosystems?

● An Ecosystem is a community of different species that are interacting with one
another but also with their physical environment of matter and energy
● They can be natural or man made.
○ Man made would be crop fields, farm ponds, and reservoirs.
○ All the Earth's ecosystems together make up the biosphere.

Systems within the Biosphere

● All of the earth's ecosystems combined make up the biosphere. This includes
ecosystems in the air, land and sea - the Earth's life support systems.

But what if we change a component within an Ecosystem:

● Each component of an ecosystem is important to the preservation and the health
of the ecosystem.
● When you change one factor you may create a domino effect-massive changes
elsewhere.
○ If the temperature of earth changes it impacts the development of species.
Since they are all linked this will in turn affect all other species in the
ecosystem.

Humans interactions with an ecosystem

● Natural balance (characterized by the carrying capacity of a species) shifts when
humans interact.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
● Sustainable practices are humans ways of minimizing their impact on the
ecosystem and maintaining that natural balance.

Eutrophication
● Eutrophication is a syndrome of ecosystem responses to human activities that
fertilize water bodies with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), often leading to
changes in animal and plant populations and degradation of water and habitat
quality.
● Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential components of structural proteins,
enzymes, cell membranes, nucleic acids, and molecules that play a role in
photosynthesis and other cellular functions.
● Pristine aquatic ecosystems function in an approximate steady state in which
primary production of new plant biomass is sustained by N and P released as
byproducts of microbial and animal metabolism.
○ Humans disrupt this balance by adding N and P to the water systems.
○ Nutrient enrichment of marine waters promotes the growth of algae.
○ The algae fuels bacterial growth in bottom waters and sediments.

Then....
● Bacterial metabolism consumes oxygen.
● Bottom waters become hypoxic (low in oxygen) or anoxic (devoid of oxygen),
creating conditions stressful or even lethal for marine invertebrates and fish.

Possible Results
● Seagrass populations decrease due to unavailability of light. Ecosystem balance
is affected.
● Some phytoplankton species excrete large quantities of mucilage during blooms
that is whipped into foam by wind mixing and washes ashore, making beaches
undesirable for holiday visitors.
● Other phytoplankton (cyanobacteria) species produce toxic chemicals that can
impair respiratory, nervous, digestive and reproductive system function, and even
cause death of fish, shellfish, seabirds, mammals, and humans.
● The economic impacts of harmful algal blooms can be severe as tourism is lost
and shellfish harvest and fishing are closed across increasingly widespread
marine regions.
● Rivers and streams damage result in loss of fish stocks!
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
The Earth is made up of Four Major Layers:
The Earth is made up of interconnected spherical layers that contain air, water, soil,
minerals and life.

Atmosphere (air)
● The thin membrane of air around the planet.
● The atmosphere is made up of two parts (for our purpose):
○ Troposphere: The bottom layer just above sea level. It contains most of
the earth's nitrogen and oxygen - and is where the weather occurs.
○ Stratosphere This is the upper layer. It contains mostly ozone (O₂), which
helps to filter out the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

Hydrosphere (water)
● The hydrosphere consists of the Earth's water - it is found as liquid water
(surface and underground), as ice (polar ice, icebergs and ice in frozen soil), and
as water vapor.

Lithosphere (crust)
● The lithosphere is made up of the Earth's crust and upper mantle.
○ It contains non-renewable fossil fuels, minerals and nutrients for plant
growth.

Biosphere (living and dead organisms)

● The biosphere is where all living organisms exist and interact with one another
and with non-living things.
● The biosphere includes most of the hydrosphere (water), parts of the atmosphere
(air), and lithosphere (soil).

All life exists in the biosphere...

● In order for life to exist organisms need to obtain nutrients and minerals for
growth and maintenance.
● The Earth is a closed system; therefore, everything needs to be recycled once an
organism dies... it has to be broken down and released back into the 'web of life.

What are the Major Biological Components of Ecosystems?

● Organisms on our planet either produce or consume food.
○ Producers, also known as autotrophs, make food from the environment
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
○ Plants, algae, and phytoplankton are the key producers in the biosphere.
○ Producers make glucose (a carbohydrate) through a process known as
photosynthesis.

More Producers...
● Chemosynthesis occurs in some bacteria that can convert simple compounds
from the environment into more complex nutrient compounds WITHOUT sunlight.

All other organisms... Consumers

● Consumers = heterotrophs
● They obtain energy and nts from feeding on other organisms or remains.
● Decomposers are consumers that recycle organic matter (which we seen in
cycles).
○ Breakdown dead organic material = detritus!
● In natural ecosystems there is little to no waste as one organism's waste serves
as a resource for another.

Energy passed on...

● All producers, consumers, and decomposers use the chemical energy in glucose
to fuel all their life processes.
○ The survival of all individuals depends on the flow matter and energy
through its body.
● As an ecosystem, the whole survives primarily through the recycling of matter
and the one-way energy flow.
○ Food chains

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

● All organisms, essentially, are food for other organisms within an ecosystem.

FACTORS AFFECTING ECOSYSTEM AND ENVIRONMENTAL

HEALTH
● Population explosion
● Industrialization
○ Urbanization
○ Modern Agricultural Practices
○ Automobiles
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
○ Deforestation
○ Radioactive substances
○ Natural calamities

Direct health impacts

● Vulnerability has increased as a result of the growth of population Increased
● Exposure to ultraviolet radiation
● Exposure to pollutants of air, water, land, noise pollution and radiation has
created many health problems.

ECOSYSTEM MEDIATED HEALTH IMPACTS

● Increased risk of communicable and infectious
● diseases
● Reduced food yields
● Depletion of natural
● Mental health problems medicines
○ Poor environmental conditions and low standard of living

Lesson 5: The Seven Environmental Principles

Nature knows best

This is the most basic principle. We humans have to understand nature and follow its
rules because if we want to ensure a continuous and steady supply of resources, one
must not go against natural processes. If we, humans, caused any disruption in the
cycle of nature, this can bring imbalance to our ecosystem.

All forms of life are important

Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. It is easy to appreciate the beautiful
organisms like butterflies, especially if one knows their important role in pollination. The
giant ones like elephants, the whales, the alligators-are the ones we respect mixed with
fear or wonder and the products they produce. But when it comes to unlovely, squirmy,
and troublesome creatures, this principle is unusually overlooked.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Everything is connected to everything else
In an ecosystem, all biotic and abiotic components interact with each other to ensure
that the system is sustained. Any intrusion from outside may cause an imbalance and
collapsing of the system.

Everything changes
The environment is constantly changing. Organisms also develop through time.
However, with our current technology, we have affected these natural changes that
these changes now cause problematic events to us. Humans should rethink their
relationship with the environment. Because what we believe is beneficial to the
environment often turns out to be catastrophic.

Everything must go somewhere

Everything ends up elsewhere. It doesn't just disappear. For example, if you throw a
piece of candy wrapper away, it disappears from sight but does not cease to exist. It
ends up elsewhere. Gasses released in the atmosphere may spread but it will end up a
component of the atmosphere and can be brought down by rains. Any particular type of
waste should always be a concern to us, I may be a palpitant or a restore depending on
certain factors. Be a responsible per in and time your trash in a proper places

Ours is a finite earth

Earth's resources can be classified as either renewable or nonrenewable. Renewable
resources are those that can be easily replenished by natural cycles (e.g. water, air,
plants, animals) while non-re newable resources are those that cannot be replenished
through natural cycles. Although renewable resources can be replenished, it is
important to understand that these are renewable only if they are not overused and not
destroyed from factors such as pollution.

Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God's creations!

Among all creatures, humans are the only ones made in God's image and have been
given the right to have dominion over all His creations. Being the most intelligent and
gifted with reason, humans are capable of manipulating creation to their own
advantage. Yet, creation exists not to be ravaged or abused but to be taken care of.
Humans cannot exist without nature. They are co-natural with the environment they live
in. If the environment they live in is destroyed, with it will go Homo Sapiens.
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
Lesson 6: Ecology and Evolution Details

Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study
● of the interactions between organisms and their environment
● Interactions between organisms and their environment

Components of ecology
● Abiotic factors - nonliving parts of an organism's environment
○ Air currents, temperature, moisture, light, soil
● Biotic factors- all the living things that inhabit the environment

Principles of Ecology
● Ecology - study of relationships between living and nonliving parts of the world
● Ernst Haeckel (1866) - first to use the word to name the study of how organisms
fit into their environment

Levels of Organization
1. Population
2. Community
3. Ecosystem
4. Biome
5. Biosphere

Niche vs. Habitat vs. Ecosystem

● Ecosystem- all the organisms in a given area and the abiotic factors that affect
them Habitat - place an organism lives out its life
● Niche - role and position a species has in its environment
○ Includes all biotic and abiotic interactions as an organism meets its needs
for survival
○ If two species are competing for the same niche, one will most likely drive
the other out and take control of the niche.
● What is your niche?
A great blue heron that lives around the Wye Marsh is part of the Wye river ecosystem.
The heron and its mate catfish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, crayfish, mice, aquatic
 People and the Earth’s Ecosystem
insects, crickets, grasshoppers, and a variety of other insects in Georgian Bay and the
Wye Marsh and build a nest in a tree alongside the marsh.
● What is the heron's habitat?
● What is the heron's niche?
● What is the heron's ecosystem?