Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES

Nabua,Camarines Sur
CSPC-F-COL-13B

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Introduction to Environmental Science

I. INTRODUCTION

Environmental Science is an  interdisciplinary academic field that draws

on ecology, geology, meteorology, biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics to study
environmental problems and human impacts on the environment. It seeks to quantify effects of
changes in the environmental conditions via models and evaluating means of mitigation. This
lesson will help students to have an understanding about the natural processes present in the
environment and how it affects each player in the ecosystem.

II. OBJECTIVE

At the end of the discussion the students should be able to:

a. understand and explain the overview of ecology and how ecosystem interacts with each other
b. determine the role of biotic and abiotic elements in a biome;
c. explain the importance of biotic and abiotic elements in the ecosystem

III. DISCUSSION

Environmental Science - Environmental science is the study of the effects of natural and unnatural
processes, and of interactions of the physical components of the planet on the environment. It is
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.

Levels of Ecological Organization

1. Organism - group of individuals that are genetically related and can breed to produce fertile
young. Organisms do not breed with organisms of different species. Organisms are named by
the use of binomial nomenclature (scientific name),invented by a Swedish botanist Carl von
Linné ,composing of two parts: the genus and the species i.e. oriochromis niloticus (nile tilapia)
2. Population - a group of organisms belonging to the same species that live in a specific
geographic area at a given time. Populations include individuals of the same species, but may
have different genetic makeup such as hair/eye/skin color and size between themselves and
other populations.
3. Community – composed of all he populations of different species that live in the same area
and interact with one another. A community is composed of all of the biotic factors of an area.
4. Ecosystem - ecosystems include more than a community of living organisms (biotic) interacting
with the environment (abiotic).

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Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua,Camarines Sur
CSPC-F-COL-13B

5. Biome - a set of ecosystems sharing similar characteristics with their abiotic factors adapted to
their environments
6. Biosphere - the sum of all the ecosystems established on planet Earth. It is the living (and
decaying) component of the earth system

Species Interaction, Food Chains, and Food Web

Food Webs - graphical depictions of the interconnections among species based on energy flow .
Energy enters this biological web of life at the bottom of the diagram, through the photosynthetic
fixation of carbon by green plants. any food webs also gain energy inputs through the
decomposition of organic matter, such as decomposing leaves on the forest floor, aided by
microbes.

Figure 1. An example of a food web

Food chain - a linear network of sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of food
from organism to organism starting from producer organisms and ending at apex predator
species, detritivores, or decomposer species

Figure 2 Food Chain

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua,Camarines Sur
CSPC-F-COL-13B

Predation - ecological process by which energy is transferred from living animal to living animal
based on the behavior of a predator that captures and kills a prey before eating it. Predators
occupy the upper levels of food chains

a. carnivory – takes place when a predator kills prey to consume its meat
b. herbivory - type of predation in which animals/organisms consume autotrophs such as
plants, algae, and photosynthesizing bacteria
c. parasitism – type of predation in which one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of
another (host). This type of interaction usually harms the host but, unlike carnivory, does
not always result in the death of the host, in other words the host is not consumed.

Competition – type of species interaction in which one is harmed when both are trying to use the
same resource related to growth, reproduction, or survivability. Competition stems from the fact
that resources are limited. There are simply not enough of some resources for all individuals to
have equal access and supply. Competition can occur between organisms of the same species, or
between members of different species.

Commensalism – type of species interaction where one species benefit, and the other species is
neither benefited nor harmed i.e. clown fish and sea anemone where the clown fish hides from
predators within the stinging tentacles of a sea anemone, to which the clown fish is immune

Mutualism – type of interaction where both sides benefit. Pollination is a common mutualistic
interaction. The plant gains gamete transfer, the animal gets nectar (and also pollen).

Biotic and Abiotic Components of an Ecosystem

Biotic component/factor - any living component that affects another organism or shapes the
ecosystem

a. producers - also known as autotrophs, from the Greek words “auto” for “self” and “troph”
for “food” are organisms that make their own food using inorganic materials and energy
sources i.e. plants, algae, photosynthesizing bacteria, etc.
b. consumers - also called “heterotrophs,” are organisms that eat other living organisms in
order to obtain energy
c. decomposers/detritovores - organisms that use organic compounds from producers and
consumers as their source of energy. They are important to ecosystems because they
break down materials from other living things into simpler forms, which can then be used
again by other organisms.

Abiotic components/factors - abiotic components are non-living factors that impact an

ecosystem. Abiotic factors are part of the ecosystem and can impact the associated living things,
but they are not living. Examples of abiotic components include wind, rain, humidity, latitude,
temperature elevation, soil composition, salinity, radiation, pollution, etc.

IV. EVALUATION
Multiple choice: choose the letter of the best answer
__b__ 1. A collection of organisms which inhabit a certain geographic location at a given time

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Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua,Camarines Sur
CSPC-F-COL-13B

a. Biome b. Population c. Community d. Ecosystem

__a__ 2. The totality of all ecosystems in a planet
a. Biosphere b. Population c. Community d. Ecosystem
__b__ 3. A group of individuals that are genetically related and can reproduce healthy offspring.
a. Biome b. Population c. Organism d. Biosphere
__c__ 4. Graphical depiction of interrelation among organisms based on energy flow.
a. Food chain b. Predation c. Food web d. Commensalism
__b__ 5. A type of interaction where one species benefits and the other neither benefit nor is
harmed.
a. Predation b. Commensalism c. Parasitism d. Mutualism
__d__ 6. A type of interaction where in one organism benefit from another and bringing them
harm.
a. Predation b. Commensalism c. Parasitism d. Mutualism
__b__ 7. Invented the scientific nomenclature codes, also known as the father of modern
taxonomy.
a. Karl Marx b. Carolus Linnaeus c. Gregor Mendel d. Albert Einstein
__d__ 8. Organisms also known as autotrophs for their photosynthetic ability.
a. Consumers b. Decomposers c. Detritovores d. Producers
__a__ 9. Non-living components which affect and shape the ecosystem
a. Abiotic b. Biotic c. Non-living things d. Living things
__b__ 10. Deals with the interrelationship of the physical components of the environment which
incorporates different fields of Science.
a. Ecology b. Environmental Science c. Environmental Studies d. Biology

Identification: Supply what is being asked

1. 5 Different types of biomes. (5pts)
-Five Types of Biomes
1. Dessert
2. Aquatic
3. Forest
4. Grasslands
5. Tundra
2. Explain the role of biotic and abiotic components how they shape the ecosystem (5 pts)
- Biotic components comprise the living organisms present in an ecosystem. These include
plants, animals and micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi). The interactions between
various biotic factors are necessary for the reproduction of each species and to fulfil essential
requirements like food, etc. Abiotic components consist of the non-living components like
light, temperature, water, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and minerals. They can help determine
things like how tall trees grow, where animals and plants are found, and why birds migrate.
Biomes play a crucial role in sustaining life on earth. For example, the Aquatic biome is home
to millions of fish species and the source of the water cycle. It also plays a very important role
in climate formation.

The Earth we call home, is also called a biosphere from where life sprouts in different
biomes (desert, aquatic biome, forest, grasslands, tundra). The ecosystem under the different
biomes is affected by two main key players, abiotic and biotic components or factors. Biotic
components (living organisms) interaction can be categorized into four: predation,

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 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua,Camarines Sur
CSPC-F-COL-13B

competition, commensalism, and mutualism. Biomes play a crucial role in sustaining life on
earth. For example, the Aquatic biome is home to millions of fish species and the source of the
water cycle. It also plays a very important role in climate formation. The terrestrial biomes
provide foods, enrich the air with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and other bad gases from
the air. They also help regulate climate and so on.

V. RECOMMENDATION
 List down what kind of ecosystem you live in describe how you, as an organism interact
with your environment.
 Read on biogeochemical cycles occurring in the ecosystem

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Allaby, Michael. Basics of Environmental Science 2nd Edition. Routledge. 1996 – PDF
 Manoylov, Kalina et. Al. Introduction to Environmental Science 2nd Edition. GALILEO Open
Learning Materials. 2018 – PDF
 https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-middle-school-life-science-
2.0/section/12.2/primary/lesson/levels-of-ecological-organization-ms-ls
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/predation
 https://eschooltoday.com/our-ecosystems/levels-of-organisation-in-an-ecosystem.html
 https://globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/ecol_com/ecol_com.html
#:~:text=Species%20interactions%20within%20ecological%20webs,which%20includes
%20herbivory%20and%20parasitism)

Prepared by:

DAVID JOHN B. CANDELARIA

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