Introduction to

Environmental
Science
Jaffy Bustamante
Department of Environmental Science
College of Science
 THIS LESSON WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND:

1. The meaning of the term “Environment”.

2. The interdisciplinary nature of Environmental Science and acknowledge
the contributions of the various fields it is allied to.
3. Explain the fundamental philosophical views, theories and concepts on
the contemporary environment issues faced by human population.
 ENVIRONMENT: The total of our surroundings

Environment means the surrounding external

conditions influencing development or
growth of people, animal or plants; living or
working conditions, etc. (Singh, 2006)

All things around us with which we interact:

• Living things (Animals, Plants, Fungi, etc.)

• Non- living things (Soil, Water, Rocks, etc.)
• Our built environment (Buildings, human-created
living centers)
• Social relationships and institutions
UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT
 ELEMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Physical Elements Biological Elements Cultural Elements

 “IN OUR EVERY DELIBERATION, WE MUST
CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF OUR DECISIONS ON
THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS.”

- The Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy.

 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
❑ Is define as the interdisciplinary study of humanity’s relationship with
other organisms and the nonliving physical environment.

❑ It is the academic field that takes physical, biological, and chemical

sciences to study the environment and discover solutions to
environmental problems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE

Environmental science and the issues

that it studies are complex and
interdisciplinary.

❖ Includes concepts and ideas from

multiple fields of study.
❖ Decisions have impacts in all these
fields of study.

(AP Environmental Science, n.d.)

 DRAWING A BRIDGE OF INFORMATION

• A community decides to use coal for electricity, as

it is the cheapest source available. (Economics)
• The coal must be mined from under the soil.
(Geology)
• The coal must be transported to the population
center by road or rail. (Engineering)
• When it is burned at a power plant, air pollution is
released. Some of that pollution is converted to
acid in the atmosphere. (Chemistry)
• This falls as acid rain somewhere downwind.
(Meteorology)
• The acid stresses plants by affecting their nutrient
absorption. (Ecology)
• Laws are passed requiring the plant to install
pollution scrubbers. (Politics)
 WHY WE STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE?

• We depend on our environment

• Environmental Science is our modern way of seeking answers
to the questions
• Our environment improves the quality of our lives
• Environmental science teaches us how to protect our
environment in the face of rising human population and
anthropogenic activities that degrade natural resources and
ecosystems.
 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

▪ Resource Depletion
Resource depletion refers to the exhaustion, reduction, or consumption of natural resources at a rate that
exceeds their natural replenishment or regeneration. This occurs when human activities, such as industrialization,
urbanization, and overexploitation, outpace the Earth's capacity to restore these resources within a reasonable
timeframe.
Resource depletion can encompass various types of resources, including but not limited to:
1. Non-Renewable Resources: These are resources that cannot be replaced within a human lifespan, as they take
millions of years to form. Examples include fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and minerals (like metals and
ores).
2. Renewable Resources: These are resources that can naturally replenish themselves over time, but excessive
exploitation can still lead to depletion. Examples include freshwater, forests, and fisheries.
3. Biodiversity: The loss of various species and habitats due to human activities can lead to ecosystem imbalances,
which in turn can disrupt the availability of resources and impact the planet's overall health.
4. Soil Fertility: Excessive agricultural practices, deforestation, and pollution can lead to soil degradation and
erosion, reducing the capacity of land to support agriculture and compromising food production.
5. Water Depletion: Over-extraction of groundwater and surface water for agriculture, industry, and domestic use
can lead to water scarcity and ecosystem degradation.
6. Ozone Depletion: The release of substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere has led to the
thinning of the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

▪ Pollution
Pollution is a degradation or an undesired change in air, water, or soil that affects the health of
living things.
Biodegradable pollution will break down naturally over time.
Non-biodegradable pollution does not break down.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Environmental ethics is the discipline that studies the moral

relationship of human beings to the environment.

• What is the value of the environment?

• What moral responsibility do we have in dealing with the major
environmental problems that result from our resource consumption?
• Which needs should be given the highest priority in our decision
making?
TWO MAIN CATEGORIES OF ETHICS IN HUMAN CULTURE IN MODERN HISTORY

Anthropocentrism

It is the view or belief that human beings

are superior to all other organisms

• This set of ethics protects and promotes of

human interests or well-being at the expense
of all other factors.

• Often places an emphasis on short-term

benefits while disregarding long-term
consequences.
TWO MAIN CATEGORIES OF ETHICS IN HUMAN CULTURE IN MODERN HISTORY

Ecocentrism

It is a perspective that places importance

on the ecosystem as a whole.

• The preservation of ecosystems or other living

things takes priority over human needs.
 Hetch Hetchy Debate

The debate about whether to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy valley was one of the
first big debates between these two philosophies.

When the growing city of San

Francisco, California proposed building
a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley to
provide a steady water supply,
Congress debated whether to make a
water resource available or preserve a
wilderness between 1908 and 1913.
 Hetch Hetchy Debate

• The dam was eventually constructed.

• The justification for building it was best

stated by Gifford Pinochet, the first man in
charge of the U.S. Forest Service.
"Where conflicting interests must be
reconciled, the question shall always be
answered from the standpoint of the
greatest good of the greatest number in the
long run.“
 RESOURCES CONSERVATIONIST

• The focus of the resource

conservationists was to protect
open land.

• The National Parks system, and

the National Forest system were
both created during this time.
 MODERN ENVIRONMENTALISM

• Rachel Carson published a book in 1962 entitled Silent

Spring about the effects of pesticides on large predatory
birds, particularly the bald eagle.

• Rachel Carson documented the impacts that pesticides

like DDT were having on wildlife. DDT is persistent,
meaning it is not biodegradable and will not break down
naturally.

• This began a public awakening to threats of pollution and

toxic chemicals to humans as well as other specie.

• This movement is called Modern Environmentalism.

 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTALISM

Global environmentalism explores issues and problems over the entire

world, not just within the local community.

Following the 1970s, environmentalism began to consider issues that

affected the entire planet:

• Biodiversity loss
• Food production
• Climate Change
• Human population growth
• Economic inequality between nations
 THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS

A great deal of progress has been made since the birth of modern
environmentalism, but many debates still rage on.

An ecologist named Garrett Hardin wrote an essay called “The

Tragedy of the Commons”, describing the source of
environmental problems as a conflict:

Short-term interests of individuals

versus…
Long-term interests of civilization and the Earth itself
 THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS
A small village consists mostly of farmers that raise and sell sheep
at a nearby city.

The only place for the sheep to graze is a commons in the center of
the village.
A commons is an area that belongs to no individual; it is
shared by the entire society.

Likely outcome: Villagers obtain as many sheep as possible, allow to

graze in the commons.
Maximize short-term financial gain.

The Tragedy of the Commons describes

the likeliness of a commons area being
exploited for short-term economic gain.
Modern examples include the atmosphere
and oceans.
 ECONOMICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The relationship between the environment and the economy is complex and interconnected. They are deeply
intertwined in a way that actions taken to support one can have significant consequences for the other. This
relationship is often referred to as the "environment-economy nexus."

Economics has a huge influence in environmental decision-

making.

One of the most basic principles of economics is supply and

demand.

The greater the demand for a limited resource, the higher

the price.
 RELATIONSHIP OF ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

❑ Resource Dependency

The economy relies on natural resources such as minerals,

water, forests, and fossil fuels for production and consumption.
These resources are often extracted, processed, and utilized to
create goods and services, driving economic growth.

❑ Ecosystem Services

The environment provides essential services known as

ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, pollination,
climate regulation, and waste assimilation. These services
underpin economic activities by ensuring the health and
productivity of ecosystems.
 RELATIONSHIP OF ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

❑ Impact of Economic Activities

Economic activities, including industrial production,

agriculture, and urbanization, can have significant
environmental impacts. For instance, industrial processes
may release pollutants into the air and water, leading to
pollution and environmental degradation.

❑ Environmental Degradation

Unsustainable economic activities can lead to

environmental degradation, including deforestation, soil
erosion, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Such
degradation can undermine the long-term health of
ecosystems, disrupt natural processes, and reduce the
availability of resources.
 RELATIONSHIP OF ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

❑ Feedback Loop

Environmental degradation can, in turn, impact the

economy. Climate change-related events like extreme
weather can damage infrastructure, disrupt supply chains,
and lead to economic losses. Biodiversity loss can affect
sectors like agriculture and pharmaceuticals that rely on
diverse plant and animal species.

❑ Regulation and Policy

Governments and international bodies often enact

regulations and policies to manage the relationship
between the environment and the economy. These
measures aim to promote sustainable practices, limit
pollution, and ensure resource conservation.
 RELATIONSHIP OF ECONOMY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

❑ Green Economy

The concept of a green economy emphasizes

environmentally friendly practices and sustainable
development. It focuses on reducing carbon emissions,
promoting renewable energy, improving resource efficiency,
and creating jobs in sectors such as renewable energy,
waste management, and conservation.

❑ Economic Valuation of Environment

Economic tools like cost-benefit analysis and ecosystem

valuation attempt to assign economic value to
environmental resources and services. This approach helps
decision-makers understand the trade-offs between
economic development and environmental conservation.
 THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDE

Countries are classified across an economic spectrum:

Developing Countries Developed Countries

Economically poor Economically wealthy

Less educated More educated

Higher fertility rates Lower fertility rates

Lower standard of living Higher standard of living

Lower rates of consumption Higher rates of consumption

 CASE STUDY: BHOPAL PESTICIDES PLANT

In December of 1984, a pesticide factory located near the town

of Bhopal, India leaked a large amount of toxic chemicals
into the air.

The chemicals resulted in an immediate death toll of about

3,000 people, with 8,000 more dying of long-term health
ailments.

A total of 558,125 injuries were reported to the Indian

government.

A settlement of $470 million was reached by Union

Carbide and the Indian government.
 DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

One of the factors that led to the Bhopal disaster and lack of
cleanup is that at the time, India was a developing
country.

Developing countries have lower incomes, shorter life

spans, and rapid population growth. Developed
countries on average have higher incomes, longer
life spans, and slower growth rate. These
countries are more economically stable,
educated, and have more environmental
protections.

Developing countries, overpopulated and desperate

for economic gain, tend to have less regulations
on their industries and fewer environmental
protections.
FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• Systematic principle of environment

• Principle of environmental capacity

• Symbiosis principle between human and

environment

• Entropy principle
 REFERENCES

• Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates. (2016, August 15). National Archives.

• (PDF) Environmental Ethics. (n.d.). ResearchGate.
• Tong, Z. Q., Gu, L., & Ma, J. H. (2011). What are Basic Principles in Environmental
Science. Advanced Materials Research, 347-353, 2068–2072.
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 ECOLOGICAL
PRINCIPLES AND
CONCEPTS
Jaffy Bustamante
Department of Environmental Science
College of Science
 THIS LESSON WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND:

1. Discuss the importance of looking at interrelations and interactions

in the study of Environmental Science.
 WHAT IS ECOLOGY?

ECOLOGY

It is the scientific study of interactions

between different organisms and
between organisms and their
environment or surroundings
 ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
Species Population

Group of organisms so similar to another A population is a group of individuals of a

that they can breed and produce fertile single species living together within a
offspring. particular geographic area. They interbreed
and compete with each other for resources.
 ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
Community Ecosystem

Different populations that live together in A collection of all organisms that live in a
a defined area. particular place together with their nonliving
environment.
 ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
BIOME BIOSPHERE

A group of ecosystems that have the The portion of earth that supports life is called
same climate and similar dominant the biosphere. The biosphere extends several
communities. km up in the atmosphere to the deepest parts
of the oceans.
 WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM?

The simplest definition of an

ecosystem is that it is a community or
group of living organisms that live in and
interact with each other in a specific
environment (Ecosystem: Definition, Importance,
Examples, Human Causes and Effects, 2020)
 TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM

NATURAL ECOSYSTEM

Totally dependent on solar

radiation e.g. forests, grasslands,
oceans, lakes, rivers, and deserts.
They provide food, fuel, fodder, and
medicines.
 TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM

MANMADE ECOSYSTEM

Dependent on solar energy-e.g.

agricultural fields and aquaculture
ponds.
 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

❑ Ecosystem services are the multitude of

benefits that nature provides to society.

❑ Ecosystem services make human life

possible by, for example, providing
nutritious food and clean water,
regulating disease and climate,
supporting the pollination of crops and
soil formation, and providing
recreational, cultural and spiritual
benefits.
 TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

❑ Provisioning services- goods that

directly benefit people.
❑ Regulating services- processes that
moderate natural phenomena
❑ Cultural Services- a non- material
benefit that contributes to people’s
intellectual, cultural and social
development.
❑ Supporting services- indirect or very
long-term impacts on people, but
underlie other ecosystem services,
particularly provisioning services.
WHAT SHAPES AN ECOSYSTEM?
 Biotic and Abiotic

Biotic and Abiotic

factors determine the survival
and growth of an organism
and the productivity of the
ecosystem in which an
organism lives.
COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
 TROPHIC LEVELS

PRODUCERS

❑ Sunlight is the main energy source

for life on earth
❑ Also called autotrophs
❑ Use light or chemical
energy to make food
1. Plants
2. Plant-like protists (algae)
3. Bacteria
 TROPHIC LEVELS

PRODUCERS
❑ Photosynthesis—use light energy to
convert carbon dioxide and water into
oxygen and carbohydrates

(Remember: 6CO2 + 6H2O Light Energy

6O2 +
C6H12O6)

❑ Chemosynthesis—performed by
bacteria, use chemical energy to
produce carbohydrates.
 TROPHIC LEVELS

CONSUMERS

❑ Organisms that rely on other

organisms for their energy and food
supply.

❑ Also called heterotrophs

 TROPHIC LEVELS

CONSUMERS
❑ Herbivores- obtain energy ❑ Carnivores- eat only
by eating only plants. animals.
 TROPHIC LEVELS

CONSUMERS
❑ Omnivores- eat both ❑ Decomposers- breaks
plants and animals. down dead organic
matter.
 FEEDING INTERACTIONS
Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction—
from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs
(producers) and then to heterotrophs (consumers)
 FOOD CHAIN
It is a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and
being eaten

1. Arrows go in the direction of how energy is transferred

2. Start with producer and end with top consumer

or carnivore
Grass Cricket Frog Raccoon
TWO TYPES OF FOOD CHAIN
 FOOD WEB
A food web is a detailed interconnecting diagram that shows the overall
food relationships between organisms in a particular environment. It can be
described as a "who eats whom" diagram that shows the complex feeding
relationships for a particular ecosystem.

Hawks

Weasels Raccoons

Mice

Which of the organisms above is the producer?

Grass
Which of the organisms above is the top
consumer?
 ENERGY PYRAMID

❑ An energy pyramid, also

known as a trophic or
ecological pyramid, is a
graphical representation of
the energy found within the
trophic levels of an
ecosystem.
 ENERGY PYRAMID

Energy Pyramid shows relative amount of energy available

at each trophic level.

❑ Organisms in a trophic level use the available energy

for life processes (such as growth, photosynthesis,
cellular respiration, metabolism, etc.) and release some
energy as heat.

Remember: Every chemical process that happens in your

body releases heat as a byproduct (ex: burning calories).

❑ Rule of 10—only about 10% of the available energy

within a trophic level is transferred to the next higher
trophic level.
 BIOMASS PYRAMID

❑ A biomass pyramid shows the flow of

energy between various levels. Producers
and consumers make up the biomass
pyramid, which displays all their
comparative masses at the same time. To
create the biomass pyramid, the
approximate masses are stacked up
according to a well-established hierarchy
(What Is a Biomass Pyramid? | TheEarthProject.com,
2016)
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
The movement of nutrient elements through the various components of an
ecosystem is called nutrient cycling. Another name of nutrient cycling is
biogeochemical cycles (bio: living organism, geo: rocks, air, and water)
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle describes the process in

which carbon atoms continually travel from
the atmosphere to the Earth and then back
into the atmosphere.

The global carbon cycle consists of

following steps:
❑ Photosynthesis
❑ Respiration
❑ Decomposition
❑ Combustion
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle refers to the cycle of
nitrogen atoms through the living and non-
living systems of Earth. The nitrogen cycle is
vital for life on Earth. Through the cycle,
atmospheric nitrogen is converted to a form
which plants can incorporate into new
proteins.
Five main process in Nitrogen Cycling:
❑ Nitrogen Fixation
❑ Nitrification
❑ Assimilation
❑ Ammonification
❑ Denitrification
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Water Cycle
The water cycle describes how water is
exchanged (cycled) through Earth's
land, ocean, and atmosphere.

Process in Water Cycling:

❑ Evaporation
❑ Condensation
❑ Precipitation
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus cycle is the circulation of

phosphorus in various forms through
nature. Of all the elements recycled in
the biosphere, phosphorus is the
scarcest and therefore the one most
limiting in any given ecological system.
 ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat in
an area changes over time. Gradually, these communities replace one
another until a “climax community”—like a mature forest—is reached, or until a
disturbance, like a fire, occurs.
 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS

Competition—when two organisms of the same or different

species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same
place at the same time. Ex: food, water, shelter
 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS

Niche—the ecological niche involves both the place where

an organism lives and the roles that an organism has in its
habitat.
 COMPETITIVE EXCLUSION PRINCIPLES

A given habitat may contain many

different species, but each species
must have a different niche. Two
different species cannot occupy the
same niche in the same place for
very long. This is known as the
competitive exclusion principle.
 HABITAT

Another aspect of a species‘ niche is its habitat. The habitat is the

physical environment in which a species lives and to which it is
adapted.
 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS

Predation—one organism
captures and feeds on another
organism
1. Predator—one that does
the killing
2. Prey—one that is the
food
 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS

Symbiosis—any relationship in
which two species live closely
together.

1. Mutualism—both species
benefit (WIN-WIN)
a. Ex: insects and flowers
 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS

Commensalism- one member of

the association benefits and the
other is neither helped nor harmed
(WIN- 0)

Example: Barnacles on a whale

 ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ORGANISMS

Parasitism—one organisms lives

on or inside another
organism (host) and harms
it.
The parasite obtains all or
part of its nutritional needs
from the host. (WIN-LOSE)
Example: fleas on a dog
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