ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

AND
SOCIETIES
ESS as told by the IB...

ESS is a complex course, requiring a diverse set of skills from its students. It is firmly
grounded in both a scientific exploration of environmental systems in their structure
and function and in the exploration of cultural, economic, ethical, political, and social
interactions of societies with the environment. As a result of studying this course,
students will become equipped with the ability to recognize and evaluate the impact of
our complex system of societies on the natural world.
ESS as told by me...and Leonardo DiCaprio

“The truth is the more I learn about this

issue… the more I realize I don’t know”

We will take deep dives into the hard

science behind contemporary
environmental issues and see how they
are never just environmental issues.

Each issue has its own unique social,

cultural, economic, and political contexts
that we will try to unravel.
Who am I?

Molly Spater from Los Angeles

I have a Master’s in Ecology, Evolution

and Conservation from Imperial College
London and a Bachelor’s of Arts in
Geography from UCLA

Great lover of the outdoors, adventures,

science, and art
ESS Class Expectations

● You are old enough to be responsible for yourselves (aka

don’t bother me, don’t bother anyone else)
● Be on time, turn your cameras on, and be on mute unless
you are asking or answering a question
● Give respect, expect respect (if you break this, you will be
kicked out and not allowed to make up in class activities)
● Participate! This is a discussion based class!
ESS Topics

Topic 1— Foundations of environmental systems and societies

Topic 2—Ecosystems and ecology
Topic 3—Biodiversity and conservation
Topic 4—Water and aquatic food production systems and societies
Topic 5—Soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies
Topic 6—Atmospheric systems and societies
Topic 7—Climate change and energy production
Topic 8—Human systems and resource use
 We first focus on the science (chemistry, physics, biology, ecology). This means theory,
concepts, and laboratory time (so don’t think you’re escaping a science class... girl
please)

We then move to putting the science into real world contexts through examining case
studies, extended research projects, and holding mock stakeholder and international
summits

We then move to thinking of feasible solutions backed by both scientific and

socioeconomic/political knowledge
ESS: Westhill Grade

Class Grade

1. 30% Summative Assessments

2. 30% Homework/Projects
3. 20% Classwork
4. 20% Quizzes
ESS Assessment

Paper 1 Paper 2 Internal Assessment

What Case Studies Short Answer Individual scientific

Data Analysis Data Analysis investigation
Structured Essays
% of 25 50 25
Grade
Just so you know…

ESS has the lowest global average score in the IB sciences.

Sample IB Questions

The figure shows

changes in the amount
of municipal waste
recycled as a
percentage of total
generated waste in 32
European countries in
2001 and 2010.
Sample IB Questions
Sample IB Questions
Activity
Activity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yomf5pBN8dY
ESS Class Structure

Every day you will start will a think and answer question to
review what we covered the class before. (hint hint these tend to
show up as exam questions, do yourself a favor and do them)

After the T+A… lecture and in-class activities

All assignments will be posted in Google Classroom:

● Google Classroom 11th: c7x2n22
ESS is about us

Let’s talk about you:

● Name
● Where you are from
● An outdoor experience you had that is important to
you
● Where you learned how to interact with the
environment around you
ESS: it’s about us (it’s about trust… )

From the last year, find a news article related to

an environmental issue that YOU care about.

Be prepared to
● summarize the article (what, when, where,
how)
● discuss why you care and why you think it
is important (why)
Welcome to Session 2 ESS!
ESS in Action
● ESS vibe = hard science + social contexts

Watch:
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTDvqaqPlM
○ Pay Attention:
● Environmental issue
● Impacts of Environmental Issue
● How is it being studied (techniques)
● Solutions
ESS in Action
● ESS vibe = hard science + social contexts

Watch:
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTDvqaqPlM

Social/Cultural Political Economic Ethical

T+A

Thinking back to the video we watched on plastics in the ocean…

List one:
● Social
● Political
● Economic
● Ethical
... dimension to the problem. (AKA how can
a nation’s politics impact the amount of plastics in the
ocean?)
Agenda

● Begin Unit 1: Foundations in ESS

■ EVS: Environmental Value
System
■ Activity: EVS interviews
Topic 1:
Foundations of Environmental Systems and Societies

1.1: Environmental Value Systems

1.2: Systems and models

1.3: Energy and equilibria

1.4: Sustainability

1.5: Humans and Pollution

History of the Environmental Movement
Sometimes we don’t know something is wrong until that
something goes really really wrong
How historical influences have shaped the environmental movt

● Environmental degradation
● Environmental disasters

● Individuals and Societies demanding change

● Public activism
● Formation of NGOs + international bodies
● International Summits
Let’s Talk Major Milestones
1800s 1914 1979
Industrial Passenger Gaia Hypothesis → living and nonliving
Revolution in Pigeon goes parts are viewed as a complex
Europe → more extinct → interacting system that can be thought of
urbanization → conservation as a single organism. All living things
more resource movement really have a regulatory effect on the Earth’s
usage + pollution takes off environment that promotes life overall.

Late 1800s
1930s + 1940s
First books on
Dustbowl in the
conservation
US →
written → John
recognition that
Muir, Henri
agricultural
Thoreau
practice impact
soil and climate
Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson

Book that came out in 1962

● Carson received a letter about songbirds falling
out of trees dead
○ Asked question: what is silencing the
voices of spring?
Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson

Book that came out in 1962

● Documents the misuse of pesticides and how
this impacts ecosystem and human health
○ Rampant use of DDT pose threat to birds,
marine life, and humans
○ Biomagnification
● Showed how overuse of chemicals can cause
resistance in pests leading to more toxic
chemicals
Bhopal → Worst Industrial Disaster

Bhopal, India 1984

● About 45 tons of the dangerous gas methyl
isocyanate escaped from an insecticide plant
● Total death toll was between 15,000 -20,000
○ Instantly or by the chaos cause as people fled
● Survivors suffered suffered respiratory problems,
eye irritation or blindness
● Cause: substandard operating and safety
procedures at the understaffed plant
Bhopal → Worst Industrial Disaster
Bhopal, India 1984
● In 2004 the Indian Supreme Court ordered the state
to supply clean drinking water to the residents of
Bhopal because of groundwater contamination.
● In 2010 several former executives of Union
Carbide’s India subsidiary—all Indian citizens—were
convicted by a Bhopal court of negligence in the
disaster.

Impact: public demand for environmental regulations for industries and the role of government in
preventing environmental disasters.
HAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT BEEN SUCCESSFUL?
International Summits
Earth Summit Rio Summit Kyoto Protocol Paris Climate Agreements

When + 1972: Stockholm, Sweden 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2011, Japan 2015, Paris
Where

What First UN conference 154 signatories to the The Protocol included legally Keep global warming down to
focused on the UNFCCC agreed to binding emissions targets for under 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-
environment and stabilize "greenhouse gas developed country Parties for industrial levels, and aim to
formation of the UN concentrations in the the six major GHGs. It went limit the temperature increase
Environmental Program atmosphere at a level that into force in 2015. to a maximum of 1.5°C (2.7°F)
(UNEP) would prevent dangerous
interference with the Major exceptions: US, China, Each country must determine,
Earth Summits Planned climate system." India plan, and regularly report on
at ten-year intervals the contribution

Impacts International body Not legally binded, but set The EU was set to meet goals, A 2017 study showed that none
dedicated to protection the stage for later but notable exceptions make of the major industrialized
and conservation of the conference such as the the Protocol way less nations were implementing the
environment Kyoto Protocol impactful policies they had envisioned
and have not met their pledged
emission reduction targets
HOW COME?
Teach me plz: Mini Research on Environmental Disasters

Love Canal Sandoz Chemical Ok Tedi Mine Minamata Disease

Spill

Cuyahoga River Chernobyl Seveso Disaster Great Pacific

fire Garbage Patch

Fukushima Daiichi The Great Smog Deepwater Horizon Donora Smog

nuclear disaster London Oil Spill

Gold King Mine Cheakamus River Brumadinho dam SS Atlantic

2015 derailment disaster Empress
Instructions
1. Sign-up for your environmental disaster (NO REPEATS)
2. Research your disaster
a. When/Where/Why did it happen?
b. What were the impacts?
i. Ecosystem health
ii. Human health
iii. Environmental Policy
iv. Environmental Movement
3. Add your research to the Class Research Table
T+A

Justify how
● Silent Spring
● One environmental disaster
have shaped the development of the modern environmental
movement.
SUMMARY

Events that shaped environmentalism:

● Species going extinct or endangered (passenger pigeon).
● Environmental disasters (Chernobyl).
● Impact of our chemicals on the environment (DDT).
What is a worldview (value system)?
How can your worldview change the way you see...
How can your worldview change the way you see...
Environmental Value Systems

● is a worldview or paradigm that shapes

the way an individual, or group of people,
perceives and evaluates environmental
issues,

What influences a worldview?

Environmental Value Systems

● is a worldview or paradigm that shapes

the way an individual, or group of people,
perceives and evaluates environmental
issues, influenced by cultural, religious,
economic and socio-political contexts
Environmental Value Systems

● may be influenced by education,

experience, culture and media (inputs),
and involves a set of interrelated
premises, values and arguments that can
generate consistent decisions and
evaluations (outputs)
What is a system?
What is a system?
Environmental Value Systems (EVS)

INPUTS STORAGE OUTPUTS

● Education
● Perspectives
● Cultural Influences
● Worldview ● Legislative decisions
● Religious Texts or
● Courses of Action
Doctrines
● The Media
Contrasting Environmental Value Systems

Native American Communities Buddhist

> subsistence economy > Suffering exists because of

> communal property attachment
> political decisions with > Suffering ceases when attachment
consensus ceases
> Living in balance with nature
Early European Settlers:
Judeo-Christian
> exploitation of natural resources
> fixed monetary systems > Nature created for mankind by God
> laws handed down from govt > Man in charge of nature
Spectrums
Spectrums
Spectrum of Environmental Value Systems

Anthropocentric
Ecocentric Technocentric
Environmental Value Systems
● Ecocentric
○ Ecology and nature as central to humanity
○ Emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life
○ Prioritize biorights, education, and self-restraint
Environmental Value Systems
● Ecocentric
○ Ecology and nature as central to humanity
○ Emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life
○ Prioritize biorights, education, and self-restraint
● Anthropocentric
○ Humans must sustainably manage the global system
○ Legislation, taxes, environmental regulation
Environmental Value Systems
● Ecocentric
○ Ecology and nature as central to humanity
○ Emphasizes a less materialistic approach to life
○ Prioritize biorights, education, and self-restraint
● Anthropocentric
○ Humans must sustainably manage the global system
○ Legislation, taxes, environmental regulation
● Technocentric
○ Technological development can provide solutions to environmental
problems
○ How can systems be controlled, manipulated, or exchanged to solve
resource depletion
Where do these views fit on the EVS spectrum?

Native American Communities Buddhist

> subsistence economy > Suffering exists because of

> communal property attachment
> political decisions with > Suffering ceases when attachment
consensus ceases
> Living in balance with nature
Early European Settlers:
Judeo-Christian
> exploitation of natural resources
> fixed monetary systems > Nature created for mankind by God
> laws handed down from govt > Man in charge of nature
Environmental Value Systems

With a partner, come up with 7 interview questions to help

identify someone’s EVS.

Think:
● What distinguishes the three EVSs?
○ What type of questions will allow you to see
these differences?
Environmental Value Systems, an itsy bitsy lab

With a partner, come up with 7 interview questions to help

identify someone’s EVS.

Examples (here’s a gift of two questions):

1) Humans depend on the environment for life.
2) Animals and plants have the same rights as humans to natural
resources
T+A

Outline what an EVS is?

Describe two factors that can impact someone´s EVS.
Agenda

● Cover some more ground in Unit 1

○ Review the spectrum of EVSs
○ How EVSs have real world impacts
○ Work on Interview Mini-Lab
Environmental Value Systems

● is a worldview or paradigm that shapes

the way an individual, or group of people,
perceives and evaluates environmental
issues, influenced by cultural, religious,
economic and socio-political contexts
EVS, a systems diagram

INPUTS STORAGE OUTPUTS

● Education
● Perspectives
● Cultural Influences
● Worldview ● Legislative decisions
● Religious Texts or
● Courses of Action
Doctrines
● The Media
Environmental Value Systems

● is a worldview or paradigm
that shapes the way an
individual, or group of people,
perceives and evaluates
environmental issues,
influenced by cultural,
religious, economic and socio-
political contexts
Spectrum of Environmental Value Systems

Anthropocentric
Ecocentric Technocentric
Case Study: Environmental Value Systems

● is a worldview or paradigm Case Study: USA

that shapes the way an https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
individual, or group of people, cT9NH9I_DWE
perceives and evaluates
environmental issues, ● Identify the main issue
influenced by cultural, ● Identify three stakeholders
religious, economic and socio- and their EVSs
political contexts ● DEBATE!
Case Study: Keystone XL pipeline (DEBATE!)

TransCanada and oil shippers

PUBLIC DEBATE Farmers and ranchers

Native Americans
Environmental Value Systems (EVS)

INPUTS STORAGE OUTPUTS

● Education
● Perspectives
● Cultural Influences
● Worldview ● Legislative decisions
● Religious Texts or
● Courses of Action
Doctrines
● The Media
What Are Natural Resources?
How Do We Value Natural Resources?

Economic ● Having marketable goods and services (timber, food)

Ecological ● Providing life support services (gas exchange by forests)
Scientific ● useful applications (medicines)
Intrinsic ● valued for its cultural, esthetic, spiritual or philosophical
(moral) value and are valued regardless of their potential
use to humans
T+A

Outline the main differences between ecocentric, technocentric,

and anthropocentric viewpoints.

Describe using an example how someone´s EVS can impact real

world decisions.
T+A

Outline one environmental disaster that you know about.

Identifying your own EVS…

Results from
• Google forms
• Handout
Identifying your own EVS…
Identifying your own EVS…
Identifying your own EVS…
1. If you could use the info from the survey, how could you
conclude on:
% anthropocentric
% technocentric
% ecocentric ???

2. How could you explain (scientifically) the results obtained?

PART A: Survey
EVS, an itsy bitsy lab
PART B: Planning the investigation
● Write a step-by-step procedure to follow, make sure you:
=> define object of study (where?)
=> generate sufficient data
=> design a mathematical approach to analyse data
(relationship between age and EVS)
=> describe the sampling strategy
=> describe the risks (things that could go wrong)
=> describe ethical considerations.
How do you go about
explaining really complex
topics? How do we choose
what to include and what
to exclude from our
explanations?
 1.2 Systems and
Models
Key Ideas:
1. A systems approach can help in
the study of complex
environmental issues

1. The use of models of systems

simplifies interactions but may
provide a more holistic view than
reducing issues to single processes
The Systems Approach
WHAT IS A SYSTEM?
WHAT IS THIS?
IS IT A SYSTEM?
Describe what you see
Parts of a System ● an assemblage of parts and their relationship
forming a functioning entirety or whole.

● There are two major components to a system:

○ Elements
● measurable things that can be linked together.
● Example: trees, shrubs, herbs, birds and insects (items we can count, measure
or weight
○ Processes
● change elements from one form to another. These may also be called
activities, relations, or functions.
● Example: growth, mortality, decomposition, and disturbances (what happens
to the elements, or what the elements do)
Systems Diagrams

● Should only have two shapes:

○ Squares: Elements (storage)
○ Arrows: Processes (flow)

● Each shape NEEDs to be labelled

● Flows need to be between storages

WHAT IS A SYSTEM?
● an assemblage of parts and their relationship forming a functioning
entirety or whole.
Why are interactions so important??
Why are interactions so important??
● A system as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts
● The interactions of the parts create something they could not
produce independently
Emergent Properties

● INTERACTIONS within

systems produce the

emergent properties of

the systems
Interactions and Emergent Properties
Interactions and Emergent Properties
T+A
Explain why interactions are so important
to a system.
What counts as a system?
SYSTEMS CAN BE LIVING OR NONLIVING
SYSTEMS CAN BE AT ANY SCALE
How do we talk about systems?
● Systems have FLOWS and STORAGES

INPUTS OR OUTPUTS Energy and Matter are

of at times stored within
energy and matter the system
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT IS THIS?
VS
Soil as a System
Water Cycle as a System
Water Cycle as a System
Carbon Cycle as a System
Goldfish as a System
Systems Diagrams

● Should only have two shapes:

○ Squares: Elements (storage)
○ Arrows: Processes (flow)

● Each shape NEEDs to be labelled

● Flows need to be between storages

Why do we use a systems approach??
Why do we use a systems approach??
● A systems approach is a way of visualizing a complex set
of interactions which may be ecological or societal.
Represent EVS with a systems diagram
EVS as a System

INPUTS STORAGE OUTPUTS

● Education
● Perspectives
● Cultural Influences
● Worldview ● Legislative decisions
● Religious Texts or
● Courses of Action
Doctrines
● The Media
Task: Draw a lake as a system.

Create a systems diagram for a lake using a systems approach. Be sure to

include all relevant system characteristics:

● Flows
● Storages
Task: Can you make a pancake?

Create a systems diagram for making a pancake using a systems approach.

Be sure to include all relevant system characteristics:

● Flows
● Storages
Let’s Talk Lakes and Pancakes
Lake as a System
Terrestrial Atmosphere
Plant
Biomass

Aquatic
Organic Water Plant
Matter Biomass

Lake bottom (soil)

Pancakes as a System
Sugar Water
EGG
Biomass to
Milk Batter consumers
Cooked
pancake
Flour

Baking Soda Maple

Butter
CLASSIFICATION OF SYSTEMS?

DEPENDS ON:

● ENERGY: ???

● MATTER: ???

AND IF/HOW/WHERE THEY MOVE

CLASSIFICATION OF SYSTEMS?

DEPENDS ON:

● ENERGY: the ability to do work

● MATTER: anything that has mass and takes up space

AND IF/HOW/WHERE THEY MOVE

How does energy and matter flow through systems?
Transfers:

● Change of location
How does energy and matter flow through systems?
Transformations
● Change in the chemical nature, state of matter, state of energy
○ Matter → Matter Energy → Matter
○ Matter→ Energy Energy → Energy
Identify a transfer and a tranformation
T+A: What is matter? What is energy?
How does matter flow through systems?
Water Cycle as a System
How does matter flow through systems?
How does energy flow through systems?
How does energy flow through systems?
 OPEN
vs
CLOSED
vs
ISOLATED SYSTEMS
Brainstorm

● Tell me which image represents which type of system and why

 OPEN

● Exchange energy and

matter with surroundings

● ALL ECOSYSTEMS
 CLOSED
● Exchange energy with surroundings

● Very rare!

● The planet is almost a closed

 ISOLATED
● Exchange neither!
● DO NOT EXIST IN
NATURE
● Philosophy quip: the
universe is an isolated
system
 OPEN CLOSED ISOLATED
● Exchange energy and ● Exchange energy with ● Exchange neither!
matter with surroundings surroundings
● DO NOT EXIST IN
● ALL ECOSYSTEMS NATURE
● Rare!
● Philosophy quip: the
● The planet is almost a
universe is an isolated
closed
system
BIOSPHERE:

Biosphere refers to the part of

the Earth inhabited by
organisms that extends from
the upper parts of the
atmosphere to deep within the
Earth’s crust
Homework
● Watch Jane Poynter’s TED TALK “Life Inside
Biosphere 2”
○ https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_poynter_life_in_biosphere_2/transcript?language=en

● Finish the worksheet (on Google Classroom)

Gaia Hypothesis:
James Lovelock
T+A

Outline the difference between a transfer and a transformation.

Outline the difference between an open, closed, and isolated

system.
T+A

Outline why the Earth is “almost” a closed system.

Systems
Diagrams
WHAT IS A MODEL?
A model is a simplified version of
the real thing.
Airplane vs Model Airplane
Coral Reef vs Aquarium
A model is a simplified version of
the real thing.

Allows us to:
1. Understand how a system works
2. Understand what happens if
something in the system changes
Aquarium allows us to test the absence of a fish
MODELS CAN BE:
● Visual
○ flowcharts, mental maps, diagrams
● Mathematical
○ Derive and use predictive formulas
● Computer
○ Simulations to mirror reality
ALL MODELS ARE
FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG
Models of Systems
PROS

● Easier to work with than complex systems with multiple inputs

and outputs
● Can be used to predict the effect of changes to inputs
● Extract patterns
● Used to visualize really really tiny things or really really huge
things
Models of Systems

CONS

● Accuracy is lost as we remove inputs to simplify the system

● If our assumptions are wrong, the model is wrong
● Predictions may be inaccurate as inputs have been removed and
assumptions are made about interactions
When models are useful: Case Study

….why
When models are useful: Case Study
Climate models are based on well-documented physical processes to simulate the
transfer of energy and materials through the climate system.

AKA General circulation models or GCMs

● use mathematical equations to characterize how energy and matter interact
in different parts of the ocean, atmosphere, land.
When models are useful: Case Study
Climate models are based on well-documented physical processes to simulate the
transfer of energy and materials through the climate system.

AKA General circulation models or GCMs:

● Building and running a climate model is complex process of:
○ identifying and quantifying Earth system processes
○ representing them with mathematical equations
○ setting variables to represent initial conditions and subsequent changes
in climate forcing
○ and repeatedly solving the equations using powerful supercomputers.
When models are useful: Case Study
Climate models are based on well-documented physical processes to simulate the
transfer of energy and materials through the climate system.

AKA General circulation models or GCMs:

● How to we validate climate models:
○ Run them from the past to the present
○ Correct equations
T+A

Outline what is a model.

Describe 2 pros and 2 cons of models.

Agenda

● Start 1.3 Energy and Equilibria

○ Laws of Thermodynamics
○ Stability
1.3: Energy and
Equilibria
● The laws of thermodynamics govern the flow of energy in a system and
the ability to do work.
● Systems can exist in alternative stable states or as equilibria between
which there are tipping points
● Destabilizing positive feedback mechanisms will drive systems towards
these tipping points, whereas stabilizing negative feedback mechanisms
will resist such changes
Quick Vocab
● Trophic Level: is the position
that an organism occupies in a
food chain
 Laws of Thermodynamics

ENERGY IN ALL SYSTEMS IS SUBJECT TO THE

LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)

● While energy can be ● TOTAL ENERGY within

transferred or an isolated system (e.g.
transformed, energy is the universe) IS
NEITHER created or CONSTANT
destroyed
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)
● While energy can be transferred or transformed, ● TOTAL ENERGY within an isolated system
energy is NEITHER created or destroyed (e.g. the universe) IS CONSTANT
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)
● While energy can be transferred or transformed, ● TOTAL ENERGY within an isolated system
energy is NEITHER created or destroyed (e.g. the universe) IS CONSTANT
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)
Photosynthesis:

● Producers (plants) converting

light energy into chemical energy

● Chemical energy = food in the

food chain
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)
● Producers converting ● THIS IS NOT 100% EFFICIENT!
light energy into NOT ALL ENERGY CONTINUES
chemical energy AS CHEMICAL ENERGY,
○ some is “used” for plant
metabolic processes
● Chemical energy = food ○ some lost as heat
in the food chain
Second Law of Thermodynamics

● Entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium will tend to

increase over time
● Entropy: measure of disorder in a system
○ Think of it as: the spreading out or dispersal of energy
Second Law of Thermodynamics
● Entropy: measure of disorder in a system
○ Think of it as: the spreading out or dispersal of energy

● ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS ARE NOT 100% EFFICIENT ● Plant: three scoops

● Every time energy is transformed some is changed into an ● Caterpillar: two scoops
“unusable” state and some is given off as heat ● Hawk: one scoop
Second Law of Thermodynamics
● ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS ARE NOT 100% EFFICIENT
● Every time energy is transformed some is changed into an
“unusable” state and some is given off as heat
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy

● More producers (plants) then consumers.

○ Think of a forest, there are more trees than squirrels
○ Energy transformations are not 100% efficient (SECOND LAW)
■ Less energy available to higher trophic levels
Quick Vocab
● Trophic Level: is the position
that an organism occupies in a
food chain
> ALL LIVING THINGS NEED ENERGY TO SURVIVE
> HOW WE DO ANYTHING...
> GROW
> REPRODUCE

> ALL ENERGY AVAILABLE TO LIFE ON EARTH

ORIGINALLY COMES FROM THE SUN!
> ALL LIVING THINGS NEED ENERGY TO SURVIVE
> HOW WE DO ANYTHING...
> GROW
> REPRODUCE

Producers Cons
Producers
Producers
 100

Producers
 100

10

Producers
 100

10

Producers 1
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
What is stability?
Stable: withstand stress
Complex ecosystems (higher diversity) are
most likely more stable (less variability)
SPECIES DIVERSITY

● Species: group of living organisms that can produce fertile offspring

SPECIES RICHNESS SPECIES COMPOSITION

● Number of species ● Type of species

SPECIES DIVERSITY + ECOSYSTEM STABILITY

Think Waze → what does Waze do for

you while driving or in an Uber
POLYCULTURE VS MONOCULTURE
That’s rough….
T+A

Outline what is stability in regards to ecosystems.

Stable: withstand stress
SPECIES DIVERSITY + ECOSYSTEM STABILITY

Think Waze → what does Waze do for

you while driving or in an Uber
SPECIES DIVERSITY

● Species: group of living organisms that can produce fertile offspring

SPECIES RICHNESS SPECIES COMPOSITION

● Number of species ● Type of species

SPECIES DIVERSITY + ECOSYSTEM STABILITY

Think JENGA
That’s rough….
Agenda

● 1.3 Energy and Equilibria

○ Review Laws of Thermodynamics
○ Stability
○ Feedback loops
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)

● While energy can be ● TOTAL ENERGY within

transferred or an isolated system (e.g.
transformed, energy is the universe) IS
NEITHER created or CONSTANT
destroyed
Energy
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)
● While energy can be transferred ● TOTAL ENERGY within an
or transformed, energy is isolated system (e.g. the universe)
NEITHER created or destroyed IS CONSTANT
First Law of Thermodynamics
(aka principle of conservation of energy)
Second Law of Thermodynamics
● Entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time
● Entropy: measure of disorder in a system
○ Think of it as: the spreading out or dispersal of energy
> ALL LIVING THINGS NEED ENERGY TO SURVIVE
> HOW WE DO ANYTHING...
> GROW
> REPRODUCE

> ALL ENERGY AVAILABLE TO LIFE ON EARTH

ORIGINALLY COMES FROM THE SUN!
> ALL LIVING THINGS NEED ENERGY TO SURVIVE
> HOW WE DO ANYTHING...
> GROW
> REPRODUCE

Producers Cons
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
Producers
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
● More producers (plants) then consumers.
○ Think of a grassland, there is more grass than bunnies
● Energy transformations are not 100% efficient (SECOND LAW)
○ Less energy available to higher trophic levels
● because lower trophic levels use energy entering
ecosystem to survive
Producers
 100

Producers
 100

10

Producers
 100

10

Producers 1
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
Feedback loops impact stability
Positive vs Negative Feedback
Positive Feedback:
● Destabilizing
● Will tend to amplify changes in ecosystems
Positive vs Negative Feedback
Negative Feedback:
● Stabilizing
● Reduces change in ecosystem
Positive vs Negative Feedback
Positive vs Negative Feedback
1. Create a diagram using the examples below.
2. State whether this example is a positive or negative feedback loop
T+A

Outline how the laws of thermodynamics impact ecosystems.

Hint: light energy into chemical energy
Hint: energy transformations are never 100% efficient
T+A
Is the following a positive or negative feedback loop? Why?
T+A
Is the following a positive or negative feedback loop? Why?
Agenda

● Continue in section 1.3

○ Equilibrium
○ Resilience
○ Tipping Points
JUST SO YOU KNOW

● Summative 1:
○ THURSDAY OCTOBER 8th
● EVS + Environmental History
● Systems Diagrams
● Laws of Thermodynamics
● Feedback Loops
● Stability + Resilience
● Tipping points
● EIA
● 1.5 Pollutants and Pollution Management
What is
equilibrium?
Equilibrium:
Equilibrium = tendency of a system to return to an original state
following disturbance

At Equilibrium = balance between components in

the system
Equilibrium:

Ecosystems can be in:

● Dynamic (Steady State) OR Static

● Unstable OR Stable
DYNAMIC or STEADY STATE

Small oscillations, but no long term changes

STATIC STATE
No change over time → non living systems ONLY
STABLE

Return to the same equilibrium after a disturbance

UNSTABLE

Return to new equilibrium after a disturbance

ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE
1. measures how a system responds to a disturbance

2. ability of a system to return to its initial state after a disturbance

3. the more resilient an ecosystem the more disturbance it can handle

Factors that affect resilience
1. Size of ecosystem
2. Biodiversity
3. Genetic diversity within species
4. Ability to move geographically
5. Climate
6. Rate of reproduction
7. Human Mitigation strategies
ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE
1. measures how a system responds to a disturbance

2. ability of a system to return to its initial state after a disturbance

3. the more resilient an ecosystem the more disturbance it can handle

resilience
resilience
 “removing just one species can have huge consequences for all other species in the
ecosystem, sending the entire ecosystem into a completely different system state.”
 “removing just one species can have huge consequences for all other species in the
ecosystem, sending the entire ecosystem into a completely different system state.”
resilience
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
resilience
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
resilience
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
resilience
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
Disturbance: overfishing → less biodiversity
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
resilience
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
Disturbance: overfishing → less biodiversity
Coral Dominated Algae Dominated
TIPPING POINTS
● TIPPING POINT:
○ when an ecosystem experiences a shift to a new state with significant
changes to biodiversity and ecosystem services provided
TIPPING POINTS
KEYS:

● Involve positive feedback loops

● Even small changes can push ecosystems past tipping points

● Changes are long-lasting and hard to reverse

● It is difficult to predict tipping points

TIPPING POINTS: ClassWORK
With a partner:

Create a 1-page flyer with the following information:

○ What is a tipping point? (in general)

○ Why are tipping points important? (in general)

● Choose a tipping point in the graphic →

○ What is this tipping point?
○ How are we reaching this tipping point?
○ What are the consequences if we cross it?
Positive
T+A vs Negative Feedback
1. Create a diagram using the examples below.
2. State whether this example is a positive or negative feedback loop
Quick Review
JUST SO YOU KNOW

● Summative 1:
○ THURSDAY OCTOBER 8th
● EVS + Environmental History
● Systems Diagrams
● Laws of Thermodynamics
● Feedback Loops
● Stability + Resilience
● Tipping points
● EIA
● 1.5 Pollutants and Pollution Management
Agenda

● Continue in section 1.3

○ Review 1.3
○ Finish Tipping Point Activity
Equilibrium:
Equilibrium = tendency of a system to return to an original state
following disturbance

At Equilibrium = balance between components in

the system
Equilibrium:

Ecosystems can be in:

● Dynamic (Steady State) OR Static

● Unstable OR Stable
DYNAMIC or STEADY STATE

Small oscillations, but no long term changes

STATIC STATE
No change over time → non living systems ONLY
STABLE

Return to the same equilibrium after a disturbance

UNSTABLE

Coral Dominated Algae Dominated

Return to new equilibrium after a disturbance

TIPPING POINTS
● TIPPING POINT:
○ when an ecosystem experiences a shift to a new state with significant
changes to biodiversity and ecosystem services provided
■ Involve positive feedback loops

■ Even small changes can push ecosystems past tipping points

■ Changes are long-lasting and hard to reverse

■ It is difficult to predict tipping points

TIPPING POINTS

when an ecosystem experiences a

shift to a new state with
significant changes to biodiversity
and ecosystem services provided
TIPPING POINTS: ClassWORK
With a partner:

Create a 1-page flyer with the following information:

○ What is a tipping point? (in general)

○ Why are tipping points important? (in general)

● Choose a tipping point in the graphic →

○ What is this tipping point?
○ How are we reaching this tipping point?
○ What are the consequences if we cross it?
T+A
● Open/closed/isolated systems deal with the exchange of
______________________ and ______________________

● Label the following images: open, closed, or isolated. Describe

why:
T+A
● Open/closed/isolated systems deal with the exchange of
______________________ and ______________________

● Label the following images: open, closed, or isolated. Describe

why:
Agenda

● Review
○ Equilibrium vs Resilience
● Start 1.4
○ Sustainability
○ Finish Tipping Points
Equilibrium vs Resilience

Equilibrium = tendency of a system to return to an original state following disturbance

Resilience = measures ability of a system to return to its initial state after a disturbance
Equilibrium vs Resilience

Equilibrium = tendency of a system to return to an original state following disturbance

● Will the system be the same afterward a disturbance?

● Will the system be different afterward a disturbance?

● Is the system ALWAYS the same or does it constantly change around an average?
Equilibrium vs Resilience

Resilience = measures ability of a system to return to its initial state after a disturbance
Factors that affect resilience
1. Size of ecosystem
2. Biodiversity
3. Genetic diversity within species
4. Ability to move geographically
5. Climate
6. Rate of reproduction
7. Human Mitigation strategies
1.4: Sustainability
● All systems can be viewed through the lens of sustainability.
● Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
● Environmental indicators and ecological footprints can be used to assess
sustainability.
● Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) play an important role in
sustainable development
Tragedy of the Commons
What Are Natural Resources?
What is Environmental Sustainability?

● The use and management of resources that allows full

natural REPLACEMENT of the resources exploited

AND
● FULL RECOVERY of the ecosystems affected by their
extraction and use.
What is Environmental Sustainability?

involves making decisions and taking actions that are in the

interests of protecting the natural world, with particular
emphasis on preserving the capability of the environment to
support human life
Use of the term “sustainability” with the term
“development”

Keep in mind: can development ever be sustainable?

How are humans doing in terms of Sustainability?
Natural Income
Yield obtained from natural resources
Natural Capital
● Natural Capital:
○ Natural resources that can produce a sustainable natural
income of goods and services
Types of Natural Capital
Renewable natural capital
○ Self-producing and self-maintaining.
○ Living species and ecosystems
● Food crops, wood
○ Non-living things
● Groundwater, Ozone Layer
Types of Natural Capital
Non-renewable capital
○ Irreplaceable or only replaced over geological timescales
● fossil fuel and minerals
Ways to Increase Environmental Sustainability?
● Sustainability can be encouraged by:
○ Manage land to maintain habitat quality and connectivity
for all species.
Ways to Increase Environmental Sustainability?
● Sustainability can be encouraged by:
○ sustainable biogeochemical cycles, (ex. carbon, nitrogen,
and water cycles).
Ways to Increase Environmental Sustainability?
● Sustainability can be encouraged by:
○ social systems that contribute to a culture of sufficiency
that eases the consumption pressures on natural capital.
○ Down with capitalism (jk...but)
How do we monitor Environmental Sustainability?
● Indicators
How do we monitor Environmental Sustainability?
● Indicators (ecological + socioeconomic):
○ Biodiversity
○ Pollution
○ Climate
Key to remember:
○ Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Local to global scale
○ Housing density
○ Planned extraction of materials
○ Life expectancy
○ Gender parity
Finish Tipping Point Activity
Case Study: Sustainability
● https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/great-green-wall-stop-desertification-
not-so-much-180960171/
● One Paragraph:
● “Green Wall”
○ What was the Green Wall Initiative?
● When did it start? What was the goal? Where was it?
● What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Initiative?
● Was it successful or not? Why?
● Was something else more successful? Why?
T+A ● Open/closed/isolated systems deal with the exchange of
______________________ and ______________________
● Label the following images: open, closed, or isolated. Describe why:
T+A
● Is the following loop a positive or negative feedback loop?
T+A
● Is the following loop a positive or negative feedback loop?
T+A

● State what is resilience.

● Outline two factors that impact ecosystem resilience.
Resilience
Factors that affect resilience
1. Genetic diversity within species
2. Climate
3. Rate of reproduction
Agenda

● Finish 1.4
○ Sustainability
○ EIA Activity
What Are Natural Resources?
What is Environmental Sustainability?

● The use and management of resources that allows full

natural REPLACEMENT of the resources exploited

AND
● FULL RECOVERY of the ecosystems affected by their
extraction and use.
What Are Natural Resources?
What is Environmental Sustainability?

● “Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our

survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural
environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions
under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support
present and future generations.”
What is Environmental Sustainability?

● “the integration of environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality

in order to create thriving, healthy, diverse and resilient communities for this
generation and generations to come. The practice of sustainability recognizes
how these issues are interconnected and requires a systems approach and an
acknowledgement of complexity.”
Case Study: Sustainability
● https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/great-green-wall-stop-desertification-
not-so-much-180960171/
● One Paragraph:
● “Green Wall”
○ What was the Green Wall Initiative?
● When did it start? What was the goal? Where was it?
● What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Initiative?
● Was it successful or not? Why?
● Was something else more successful? Why?
How do we monitor Environmental Sustainability?
● Indicators
How do we monitor Environmental Sustainability?
● Indicators (ecological + socioeconomic):
○ Biodiversity
○ Pollution
○ Climate
Key to remember:
○ Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Local to global scale
○ Housing density
○ Planned extraction of materials
○ Life expectancy
○ Gender parity
How do we monitor Sustainability?
● UN Millennium Summit in 2000: “to assess the consequences of ecosystem change for human
well-being and the scientific basis for action needed to enhance the conservation and sustainable
use of those systems and their contribution to human well-being”
How do we monitor Sustainability?
● UN Millennium Summit in 2000: “to assess the consequences of ecosystem change for human
well-being and the scientific basis for action needed to enhance the conservation and sustainable
use of those systems and their contribution to human well-being”
● Findings:
○ Humans are using natural resources unsustainably
○ 60% of the world’s ecosystems have been degraded
○ This has resulted in a decrease of biodiversity on earth.
○ Short term economic gains at expense of some social groups and the
environment
○ The degradation of ecosystem services could grow significantly worse
during the first half of this century and is a barrier to achieving the
Millennium Development Goals.
Ecological Footprints (EF)
EF is a model used to estimate the
demands that human populations place on
the environment

Takes into account the area required:

● to provide all the resources needed by
the population

AND
● to assimilation of all wastes
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
● Report produced BEFORE a development project to change use of land
○ Assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of the project,
predicting and evaluating possible impacts and suggesting mitigation
strategies for the project.
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
● When are EIA’s used
○ Gov’ts are planning large scale developments:
● Major new road networks
● Airport and port developments
● Power stations
● Dams and reservoirs
● Quarrying
● Housing
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
● Purpose:
○ Weigh advantages vs disadvantages of projects
○ Helps the decision making process
○ Promotes sustainable development by identifying environmentally
sound practice and migration measures for development
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
● How EIA’s work:
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
Baseline study:
● Survey the physical and biological environment BEFORE project, so that you can
monitor the impacts AFTER
○ allows for comparison
● think: weight-loss program
● Variables (indicators):
○ Habitat type and abundance
○ Species list → diversity and abundance
○ Land Use
○ Hydrology
○ Human Population
○ Soil quality
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
Criticism of EIAs:
● poor public consultation practices
● poorly written reports
● costly, inefficient and time consuming practices
● limited scope → information understated or omitted from reports
● EIA treated as a separate process and not integrated into the
project cycle
● lack of monitoring and review of terms set out in reports
● inconsistent application
EIA: Three Gorges Dam, China
Largest hydroelectric dam in world

Argument for project:

● could provide ⅛ of all energy
supply without release of GHG
● Reduce seasonal flooding
● Increase economic
development in region
EIA: Three Gorges Dam, China
EIA:
● Disruption to ecosystem
● Relocation of people in areas to
be flooded by dam
● Social consequences of
relocation
● Effects of sedimentation behind
dam
● Effects of landslides
● Earthquake potential
EIA: Three Gorges Dam, China
EIA:
● 47 endangered species
● Disruption to fish spawning
● Pollution would interrupt fishing in
area
● Flood 13 cities, 140 towns, 1352
villages
● 6 million people relocated
● Increased chance of earthquakes
● Reduce fertility of land downstream
Quick Activity: EIA
Brainstorm an EIA with a partner:
● Identification of need:
○ Think of something that Santa Fe is missing and would be appreciated by the
community
● Proposed Action:
○ How will you meet this need?
● Potential Impacts
○ 1 positive + 1 negative Social
○ 1 positive + 1 negative Economic
○ 1 positive + 1 negative Environmental
● What you would you include in your baseline study to monitor the impacts you’ve
listed.
T+A
● State where all energy available to
ecosystems ORIGINALLY comes
from.

● Outline why we see less biomass

(living tissue, think organisms) at
the top of food chains than the
bottom?
○ hint: laws of thermodynamics
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
● More producers (plants) then consumers.
○ Think of a grassland, there is more grass than bunnies
● Energy transformations are not 100% efficient (SECOND LAW)
○ Less energy available to higher trophic levels
● because lower trophic levels use energy entering
ecosystem to survive
Why are the Laws of Thermodynamics Important to
Ecosystems?
● All organisms require energy to survive
○ Energy is not consumed but transformed from one form to another (FIRST LAW)
■ ALL ECOSYSTEMS EXIST BECAUSE:
● Photosynthesis: light energy → chemical energy
● More producers (plants) then consumers.
○ Think of a grassland, there is more grass than bunnies
● Energy transformations are not 100% efficient (SECOND LAW)
○ Less energy available to higher trophic levels
● because lower trophic levels use energy entering
ecosystem to survive
T+A
● Outline what is a tipping point.
T+A

● State what is an EIA and why they are used

WHAT IS A SYSTEM?
● an assemblage of parts and their relationship forming a functioning
entirety or whole.
Why are interactions so important??
● A system as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts
● The interactions of the parts create something they could not
produce independently
Systems Diagrams

● Should only have two shapes:

○ Squares: Elements (storage)
○ Arrows: Processes (flow)

● Each shape NEEDs to be labelled

● Flows need to be between storages

 ● Should only have two shapes:
Systems Diagrams ○ Squares: Elements
(storage)
Release of O2
photosynthesis ○ Arrows: Processes (flow)

Plants
Atmosphere Bench ● Each shape NEEDs to be labelled

Precipitation ● Flows need to be between storages

Release of CO2
Sitting
Trash can

Precipitation Bikes
Playground
Littering
Riding

Playing
Table People

Sit + eat
1.5: Humans and Pollution
● Pollution is a highly diverse phenomenon of human disturbance in
ecosystems

● Management strategies can be applied at different levels

What is pollution?
Pollution is the addition of a
substance or an agent to an
environment by human activity
at a RATE GREATER than that
which it can be rendered
harmless by the environment
 Chronic Pollution:
Categories of Pollution ● Long-term release of pollutant in
small amounts
Acute Pollution: ● Dangerous:
○ Often undetected for long
● Large amounts of pollutant is
time
released causing LOTs of harm
○ More difficult to clean up
● Ex. Bhopal
○ Spreads widely
What is a pollutant?

● Matter:
○ Gases, liquids, solids
● Energy
○ Sound, light, heat
● Living Organisms
○ invasive species
What is a pollutant?
Primary Pollutant: Secondary Pollutant:
● Active on emission ● Formed by primary
pollutants undergoing
physical or chemical
changes
What is a pollutant?
Point Source Pollutant: Non-point Source Pollutant:
● Released from single, ● Released from numerous, widely
identifiable site dispersed origins
● Nearly impossible to detect origin
● Ex. runoff, air pollution
What is a pollutant?
Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP): Biodegradable Pollutant:
● Resistant to breaking down ● Do NOT persist in env.
● Stay active in env for long time ● Breakdown quickly by
● Bioaccumulation +Biomagnification decomposers or physical processes
● Ex. Pesticides
Detection and Monitoring of Pollution
Direct Measurements:
● Record the amount of a pollutant in air, Indirect Measurements:
soil, or water ● Record changes in an abiotic or biotic
● Ex: factor which are the results of
○ Acidity of rainwater pollution
○ Amount of CO2 or carbon ● Ex:
monoxide in the atmosphere ○ oxygen concentration in water
○ Heavy metal concentrations ○ Recording presence/absence of
indicator species
Pollution Management Strategies

Pollution can be managed in three main ways

1. Changing the human activity which produces it
2. Regulating or preventing the release of the pollutant
3. Working to clean up or restore damaged ecosystems
Pollution Management Strategies
Pollution can be managed in three main ways
1. Changing the human activity which produces it
> stopping the production of the pollutant
> promoting alternative technologies and lifestyles:
> campaigns > community groups
> education > governmental legislation
> economic incentives/disincentives
Pollution Management Strategies
Pollution can be managed in three main ways
2. Regulating or preventing the release of the pollutant
> the activity/production is not completely stopped
> legislation and regulating standards of
emission
> developing/applying technologies for extracting
dd pollutant from
emissions
Pollution Management Strategies
Pollution can be managed in three main ways
3. Working to clean up or restore damaged ecosystems
> Other two strategies have FAILED
> extracting and removing pollutant from
ecosystem
> replanting/restocking lost or depleted
populations
Pros/Cons: Pollution Management Strategies
Case Study: Pollution Management Strategies

With a partner or on your own,

● Define the process of eutrophication and its impacts
● Propose one action in each of the 3 pollution management categories
○ Provide 2 strengths of each action
○ Provide 2 limitations of each action
DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane): A Case Study