GE ELEC 1 PRELIM REVIEWER organisms forming a closely integrated

community
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO
ECOSYSTEM * ECOSYSTEM first appeared in a
publication by the British ecologist ARTHUR
APO ISLAND TANSLEY
- Overfishing reduced fish catches and * Diff. ecosystems are often separated by
threatened the income of fishermen geographical barriers
- Destructive methods destroyed part of the * Ecosystem is an OPEN SYSTEM it receives
corals energy from an outside source
- Community create a no-take marine * Ecosystem has a physical environment
sanctuary on 10% of its coral reef fishing * The organisms in an ecosystem are usually
ENVIRONMENT well balanced with each other and with
- involves both living organisms and the their environment
non-living physical conditions * Ecosystem is a community of organism
- all life systems interact with the functioning and interacting with the
environment physical environment
- the environment is a life-supporting ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS may include cropland,
system garden, park, or an aquarium
- the circumstances and conditions that
surround an organism or group of ECOLOGY
organisms. - study of the relationships between
organisms and their environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
- the systematic study of the environment BASIC ECOLOGY PRINCIPLES AND
and man’s place in it. CONCEPTS
- integrates information from Biology, PLANET EARTH AS AN ECOSYSTEM
Chemistry, Agriculture, Geography = THE EARTH IN SPACE
ECOSYSTEM - Our world is a planet traveling through
- refers to the environment of life space
- it is a life-sustaining, structural, and - It travels around a giant ball of fury hot
functional unit of the biosphere gases called the Sun
- it may be natural or artificial, land-based - the sun is a star
or water-based - it produces light and heat which reaches
- is a naturally occurring assemblage of life the earth
and the environment ORIGIN/BIRTH OF THE EARTH
- life is referred as the biotic community = THE SOLAR SYSTEM
which include the plants, animals, and other - was formed about 4.5 billion years ago
living organisms from a huge spinning cloud of gas and dust
BIOCOENOSIS- association of different
HOW LIFE BEGAN COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
= THE SUN’S RADIATION
An ecosystem is a SELF-REGULATING
- acted on the chemicals and they formed
natural community of living organism (the
new materials called amino acids and
biotic components) interacting both with
sugars.
one another and with non-living (abiotic or
THE BIOSPHERE physical environment) that surrounds them
- is the layer around the planet where all
1. BIOTIC COMPONENTS
living things exist
- includes all living organisms and their
- designated as the SKIN OF LIFE
products
- it surrounds the earth like a cellular
- includes animals, plants, bacteria, fungi,
blanket regulating the temperature
waste products like fallen leaves or
LAYERS OF THE BIOSPHERE branches or excreta
LITHOSPHERE- includes the soil and
4 CATEGORIES OF BIOTIC COMPONENTS
sediments where the organism lives
HYDROSPHERE - includes the liquid or A. PRODUCERS OR AUTOTROPHS
frozen water on or near the surface of the - make their own food
lithosphere - Producers, such as plants, make food
ATMOSPHERE - is a region of gases, through a process called photosynthesis
particulate matter and water vapor - This food is used by the plant for its
own energy or may be eaten by consumers.
LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
B. CONSUMERS OR HETEROTROPHS
INDIVIDUAL- one
- need to eat food that autotrophs have
POPULATION- group of individuals of the
produced.
same species living in the area
HERBIVORES- eat plants
COMMUNITY- different populations living
CARNIVORES- eat animals
together in an area
OMNIVORES- eat both plants and animals
ECOSYSTEM- all the communities in an area
BIOME- group of ecosystem with the same *PRIMARY CONSUMERS- consumers are
climate and communities soley feed on plants (grasshopper, rabbit,
BIOSPHERE- part of the earth in which life goat, sheep)
exist *SECONDARY CONSUMERS- consumers
feed on some primary consumers (hawks,
FUNCTIONS OF THE ECOSYSTEM
tiger, lion)
* The transfer of energy through food chain
*TERTIARY CONSUMERS- are the predators
and food web.
of predators (larger animals)
*The distribution of nutrients among the
biotic and abiotic components of the C. TRANSFORMERS
ecosystem (Biogeochemical cycles). - types of bacteria
*Biodiversity and biomass. - they attack on materials excreted by
other living organisms even dead plants and
animals PHOTOSYNTHESIS and RESPIRATION qare
- they transform the above into organic or the two major processes involved in the
inorganic substances production and transformation of energy.
- suitable for the nutrition of green plants
PLANTS are fundamental to all life on earth
- helps recycling the nutrients which came
Because plants have the ability to trap solar
as waste already
energy falling over them and use this
D. DECOMPOSERS energy to build living tissues. This process is
- heterotrophs that break down the dead called photosynthesis.
tissues and waste products
The inorganic energy- poor molecules (CO2
- they play an important role in the
and water) are converted into organic – rich
ecosystem because they recycle the
food molecules (sugar)
nutrients
CO2+WATER= SUGARS
BACTERIA AND FUNGI ARE THE MAN
DECOMPOSERS SUGAR is a product of PHOTOSYNTHESIS
2. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS THIS SUGAR CONTAINS STORED CHEMICAL
- are the non-living components of the ENERGY AND CAN BE BURNT TO PRODUCE
ecosystem HEAT
3 CATEGORIES
CO2 and WATER released by-products
1. CLIMATIC AND PHYSICAL FACTORS- air,
water, soil, sunlight; rainfall, temperature, SUGAR combines with OXYGEN inside the
humidity, soil texture, and geomorphic living cells and produces some output at a
conditions. slow rate and this process is called
2. INORGANIC SUBSTANCES- nutrient RESPIRATION because it releases the
elements and compounds (carbon, energy I the form of complex molecules for
nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, carbon use in maintaining the cell functions.
dioxide, water
B. DECOMPOSITION
3. ORGANIC SUBSTANCES- proteins,
carbohydrates, lipids, and humus C. PREDATOR - prey relations (herbivore,
substances. carnivore, parasitism and
SUNLIGHT- necessary for photosynthesis D. SYMBIOSIS
WATER- is the elixir of life
TEMPERATURE- all living things have a
range of temperatures
OXYGEN- many living things require oxygen
SOIL- the organism can live in or on the soil
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONAL PROCESSES OF AN
ECOSYSTEM
A. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
MODULE 2: BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES ground surface into the ground (water
becomes soil moisture or groundwater)
6 MOST COMMON ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED
SUBSURFACE FLOW- the flow of water
WITH ORGANIC MOLECULES
underground which may return to the
- carbon
surface
- nitrogen
EVAPORATION- transformation of water
- hydrogen
from liquid to gas phases
- oxygen
SUBLIMATION- the state change directly
- phosphorus
from solid water to water vapor
- sulfur
DEPOSITION- changing of water vapor
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MATTER directly to ice.
- states that matter is neither created nor ADVECTION- movement of water through
destroyed in any transformation but it may the atmosphere.
be converted from one form into another. CONDENSATION- transformation of water
vapor to liquid water droplets in the air,
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
creating clouds and fog.
- the process of nutrient cycling
TRANSPIRATION- release of water vapor
3 BASIC TYPES from plants and soil into the air.
* Hydrologic or Water cycle PERCOLATION- water flows vertically
* Gaseous cycle (includes atmospheric through the soil and rocks
Oxygen, Carbon and Nitrogen cycles) PLATE TECTONICS- water enters the mantle
*Sedimentary cycle – It includes the cycles via subduction of oceanic crust.
of Phosphorus and Sulphur which are
Water cycle is an extremely important
present as sediments of the earth.
process because it enables the availability
1. HYDROLOGIC OR WATER CYCLE of water for all living organisms and
- Evaporation, condensation, and regulates weather patterns on our planet.
precipitation are the main processes
2. GASEOUS CYCLE
- Water from oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers,
2.1 OXYGEN CYCLE
streams, and soil surface evaporates by the
- air is a mixture of gases
sun’s heat energy.
- atmosphere is composed of different
- Plants also transpire huge amounts of
gases (nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21%, argon
water through their leaves.
and trace gases 1%)
- Water remains in the vapor state in the air
- oxygen gas was first introduced by
and forms clouds, which float with the
cyanobacteria through the process of
wind.
photosynthesis.
PROCESSES -oxygen is freely available in the air and also
PRECIPITATION- condensed water vapor dissolved in water.
that falls to the Earth's surface. - It is the second most abundant gas
RUNOFF- water moves across the land. present in the atmosphere and also the
INFILTRATION- the flow of water from the most common element of the human body
The steps involved in the oxygen cycle are: OXYGEN is required for BREATHING,
COMBUSTION, SUPPORTING AQUATIC LIFE,
Stage-1: All green plants during the process
DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC WASTE
of photosynthesis, release oxygen back into
the atmosphere as a by-product. 2.2 CARBON CYCLE
- circulation of carbon between organisms
Stage-2: All aerobic organisms use free
and environment
oxygen for respiration.
- cycling of carbon between organisms and
Stage-3: Animals exhale Carbon dioxide atmosphere is a consequence of two
back into the atmosphere which is again mutual processes of photosynthesis and
used by the plants during photosynthesis. respiration.
Now oxygen is balanced within the - carbon present in the atmosphere is
atmosphere. absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.
- plants are then consumed by animals and
PROCESSES
carbon gets bio accumulated into their
BREATHING- physical process, which all
bodies.
living organisms inhale oxygen from the
- animals and plants eventually die, and
outside environment
upon decomposing, carbon is released back
DECOMPOSITION- natural and most
into the atmosphere.
important processes in the oxygen cycle
- Some of the carbon that is not released
and occurs when an organism dies.
back into the atmosphere eventually
COMBUSTION- occur when any of the
become fossil fuels.
organic materials are burned in the
- These fossil fuels are then used for man-
presence of oxygen and release carbon
made activities, which pumps more carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere
back into the atmosphere.
RUSTING- requires oxygen, formation of
oxides which is also called oxidation. PROCESSES
PHOTOSYNTHESIS- inorganic form of
PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN
carbon is converted into organic matter win
PLANTS- The leading creators of oxygen are
the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll
plants by the process of photosynthesis.
RESPIRATION- metabolic process reverse of
SUNLIGHT- produces oxygen
photosynthesis
DECOMPOSITION- after the death of the
Photosynthesis is a biological process by
organism the decomposers break down the
which all green plants synthesize their
remaining dead organic
food in the presence of sunlight. During
COMBUSTION (burning)- fossil fuels burned
photosynthesis, plants use sunlight, water,
and releases carbon dioxide and carbon
carbon dioxide to create energy and
monoxide into the atmosphere
oxygen gas is liberated as a by-product of
this process. 2.3 NITROGEN CYCLE
- process which transforms the inert
nitrogen
present in the atmosphere to a more usable cycle starts in the earth’s crust.
form for living organisms. ABSORPTION BY PLANTS- The phosphate
salts dissolved in water are absorbed by the
STAGES OF NITROGEN CYCLE
plants.
NITROGEN FIXATION- initial step of
ABSORPTION BY ANIMALS- The animals
nitrogen cycle.
absorb phosphorus from the plants or by
*ATMOSPHERIC FIXATION- natural
consuming plant- eating animals.
phenomenon where the energy of lightning
RETURN OF PHOSPORUS BACK TO THE
breaks the nitrogen into nitrogen oxides
ECOSYSTEM- When the plants and animals
and is then used by plants.
die they are decomposed by
* INDUSTRIAL NITROGEN FIXATION- Is a
microorganisms.
man-made alternative that aids in nitrogen
fixation by the use of ammonia. 3.2 SULPHUR CYCLE
* BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION- - one of the most abundant elements on
bacteria transform the unusable form of the earth.
nitrogen into other compounds. - present in all kinds of proteins.
- released into the atmosphere by the
NITRIFICATION- the ammonia is converted
burning of fossil fuels,
into nitrate by the presence of bacteria in
- sulphur is stored in underground rocks and
the soil.
minerals. It is released by precipitation,
ASSIMILATION- plants take in the nitrogen
weathering of rocks and geothermal vents
compounds from the soil with the help of
their roots.
AMMONIFICATION- when plants or animals
die, the nitrogen present in the organic
matter is released back into the soil.
DENITRIFICATION- process in which the
nitrogen compounds makes its way back
into the atmosphere by converting nitrate
(NO3-) into gaseous nitrogen (N).
3. SEDIMENTARY CYCLES
3.1 PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
- is an important element for all living
organisms.
- Humans contain 80% of phosphorus in
teeth and bones.
- is a very slow process.
STEPS IN PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
WEATHERING- Phosphorus is found in the
rocks in abundance. That is why the
phosphorus
MODULE 3: HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE 3. MINING- extraction of valuable minerals
LITOSPHERE or other resources from the earth
4. HARVESTING- Gathering of resources
LITHOSPHERE
from the surface of the Earth
-solid outer layer of the Earth's crust,
5. DRILLING- A cutting process that uses a
including rocks, sand, and soil.
drill bit to cut or enlarge a hole in the Earth
- it is a dynamic area
for extraction purposes.
- part of the earth that gives us geography,
* Drilling oil and natural gas are non
oceans, weather and the substrate for
renewable sources that will eventually run
organic life.
out.
- source of all accessible mineral resources
OIL- formed from the remains of tiny plants
for human use
NATURAL GAS- contains mostly methane
- is the rigid, rocky outer layer of the Earth
- it extends to a depth of about 60 MILES
(100KM)
THREE DENSITY ZONE
1. CRUST- structure of the rocks and the
continental crust, includes the continental
and oceanic crust
2. MANTLE- Magnesium and iron silicate
may correspond to the composition of the
mantle.
3. CORE- consist of iron in liquid,
considering temperature and pressure.
HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE LITHOSPHERE
1. URBANIZATION- increasing number of
people that migrate from rural to urban
areas, physical growth of cities, or taking
the characteristics of cities.
*DEFORESTATION- cutting down all tress in
an area
2. AGRICULTURE- practice of farming
including cultivation
*OVERGAZING- removal of excessive
amount of plant growth by animals
*DESERTIFICATION- process of land
becoming a desert
*DRYLAND SALINITY- loss of farmland from
rising salt
MODULE 4- LITHOSPHERE IN CRISIS land and other soils.
* FOREST AND RELATED PROBLEMS
I. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
* LANDSLIDES- movement of a mass of
- are the benefits people obtain from
rock, debris, or earth down a slope.
ecosystems.
*PROVISIONING SERVICES- These are the TYPES OF LANDSLIDES
products obtained from ecosystems, ROCKFALL- falling free of separate bodies
including: food, fiber, fuel, genetic CREEP- slowdown slope movement of earth
resources, biochemical, ornamental covers
resources, fresh water ROCKSLIDE- sudden downslope movement
*REGULATING SERVICES- These are the DEBRIS FALL- when rock is free falling
benefits obtained from the regulation of DEBRIS FLOWS- downslope movement
ecosystem processes, including: air quality, * EARTHQUAKE- shaking of the surface of
climate, water, erosion water, disease, pest, the Earth.
pollination and natural hazard regulation
ACTIVITIES OF MAN CONTRIBUTING TO
*CULTURAL SERVICES- These are the
SOIL EROSION AND DISRUPTION OF THE
nonmaterial benefits people obtain from
EARTH’S LANDSCAPE
ecosystems, including: cultural diversity,
spiritual, knowledge systems, educational 1. AGRICULTURAL DISRUPTION
values, aesthetic values, social relations, 1.1. LOGGING- wood is valuable commodity
sense of place, cultural heritage and SELECTIVE CUTTING- harvest only those
recreation and ecotourism. mature tress
*SUPPORTING SERVICES- are those that are CLEAR CUTTING- all the tress in an area
necessary for the production of all other are cut
ecosystem services, including: soil
1.2. FARMING- large expanses of the land
formation, photosynthesis, primary
are destroyed
production, nutrient cycling and water
1.3. CATTLE RANCHING- threatening
cycling.
rainforest system
II. LITHOSPHERE IN CRISIS 1.4. GATHERING WOOD FUEL- tropical
* SOIL DEGRADATION- excessive use of rainforests are incredibly dense and consist
pesticides and herbicides have led to of a great diversity of different trees.
widespread soil degradation. 1.5. HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT- dams
* SOIL EROSION- process in which useful can be built across many of the tributaries
land is washed off through excessive rains 1.6 URBANIZATION- loss of farmland to
and soil runoff. urban development
* KAINGIN PRACTICE- main cause of forest
2. DISRUPTION OF THE LANDSCAPE
destruction and thus, the soil become
2.1. SURFACE MINING OR STRIP MINING-
vulnerable to erosion.
extraction method is favoured by mine
* SOIL POLLUTION- all the sources that
operators
pollute inland water bodies also pollute
agricultural
 STRIP MINING- results in the most plants, soil, and atmosphere
extensive disruption of the landscape. SOLID WASTES- Refer to any discarded or
SUBSURFACE MINING- digging tunnels unwanted materials that are not liquid or
IN SITU MINING- leaving the one where it gas.
is in the ground
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF
MINING
1. DIRECT IMPACT- deaths of plants and
animals caused by mining activity
2. INDIRECT IMPACT- changes in nutrient
cycling
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION- road
construction resulting in disruption or
destruction
STREAM CHANNELIZATION- involves the
straightening and ditching of stream
channels
JETTIES- to assure boatmen, rock barriers
are sometimes constructed
CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION- method or
process of supplying any chemical
compound as a source of one or more of
the essential plant food element
NITROGEN FERTILIZERS- make up for
nitrogen losses from the soil
PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS- make up for
phosphorus losses from soil
POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS- make up for
potassium losses from the soil
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL METHOD- ecological
reasonable procedure then would be to
attempt to restore the balance of nature
NATURAL CHEMICAL METHOD- use of
chemicals occurring naturally in the
biosphere.
THE DDT CYCLE
DDT- (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
- has the ability to evaporate directly from
MODULE 5: MANAGING AGRICULTURE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER (SOM) is a basic
AND THE LITHOSPHERE indicator of soil quality
SOIL is the world’s largest terrestrial pool of
SOIL
carbon and plays a crucial role in the global
- the thin skin of the earth
carbon balance
- the most important elements of any
BRINGING SUFFICIENT AMOUNTS OF
ecosystem and the basis of life
PLANT RESIDUES TO THE SOIL is a common
- the purity of ground and drinking water
measure for sustaining SOM
depends on soils
ORGANIC FERTILISERS applied to soil can be
- soil is also a habitat for a multitude
a significant source of soil carbon
organisms
CONSERVATION TILLAGE reduces the
SOIL ARE INCREASINGLY UNDER PRESSURE disturbance of the soil profile
- soil degradation is not always irreversible
FOSTERING A BALANCE OF SOIL
A NEW MOMENTUM FOR SUSTAINABLE
NUTRIENTS
SOIL MANAGEMENT IN THE POLICY
- Sustainability of agricultural production is
AGENDA
highly dependent on an appropriate
PREVENTING SOIL EROSION balance of nutrients in soil
- erosion is a physical process involving the - Nutrients surplus in soils nitrogen an d
removal of soil particles phosphorus might result in the
NATURAL FACTORS- landform, soil, EUTROPHICATION and DETERIORATION
precipitation, wind, vegetation
PREVENTING SOIL COMPACTION
ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS- land use,
SOIL COMPACTION occurs when soil is
tillage, management system)
exposed to densification
A VEGETATION cover reduces water
COMPACTION of cultivated topsoil can be
erosion through reducing surface runoff
relatively easily undone by applying soil
and increasing infiltration
loosening
MULCHING SOIL through the application of
plant residues in order to cover the soil PREVENTING SOIL CONTAMINATION
surface effectively protects soil against 1. PREVENTING DIFFUSE
erosion CONTAMINATION- agricultural soil can be
MULCHING also helps to retain water in the spoiled with contaminants through so called
soil diffuse contamination, processes that
TERRACING is the practice of building cannot be linked to a single and definite
mechanical structures source
WIND EROSION can be successfully 2. MANAGING POINT CONTAMINATION-
combated through vegetation practices soils in the vicinity of smelters and mining
sites accumulate metals and emit large
ENHANCING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER IN
amounts of metal rich dust
MINERAL SOILS/STIMULATING SOIL
ORGANIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION PREVENTING DECLINE IN SOIL
BIODIVERSITY
SOIL BIODIVERSITY is defined as the mix of STRIP CROPPING is done where strips of
living organisms in the soil land are ploughed at right angles
THEY INTERACT with each other and with PLANT COVER is also the most efficient
plants and small animals method for checking soil erosion due to
wind
SSM AT THE FARM AND LANDSCAPE
WIND BREAKS are tree plantations in short
LEVELS
blocks
INTEGRATED SSM PRACTICES AT FARM
SHELTER BELTS are extensive tree
LEVEL
plantations
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE (CA)- aims
at achieving sustainable and profitable SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS
agriculture based on the application of the 1. REDUCTION AT SOURCE- reducing the
3 CA principles (MINIMAL SOIL amount of garbage produced
DISTURBANCE, PERMANENT SOIL COVER, 2. RECYCLING- communities should attempt
AND CROP ROTATIONS) to recycle as much consumer trash as
AGROECOLOGY- is based on the sustainable possible
use of local renewable resources 3. COMPOSTING- community composting
AGROFORESTRY- is considered a requires locating an ample
sustainable and management practice since 4. INCINERATORS- trash is brought to a
it optimize the use of natural resources waste to energy plant where it is burned
ORGANIC FARMING- is based on the idea 5. SANITARY LANDFILLS- landfill site are
that the soil is a living system designed so that all rain that permeates the
sites is retained
HEALTHY SOIL= HEALTHY AND RESILIENT
PLANTS
CROP ROTATION= Cabbage-Beans-Roots-
Onions
SOIL MANAGEMENT
A. SOIL CONSERVATION- the constaints in
soil erosion management spring from 2
sources; the TECHNICAL PROBLEM and the
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUE
B. EROSION CONTROL MEASURES- to
remedy a situation, effective erosion
control methods
TERRACING- a soil conservation practices
applied to prevent rainfall runoff on sloping
land
CONTOUR FARMING- farming with row
patterns that run nearly level around the
hill not up and down the hill