ESE 150-2: ENVIRONMENTALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

LESSON 3:Ecology
Concepts and Principles
MAPUA UNIVERSITY - SCHOOL OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL
AND GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ECOLOGY

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ECOLOGY

Branch of science which is concerned with the

interactions between organisms and their surroundings.
It is the study of the interrelationships and
interdependence of organisms with their environment.
Modern definition: study of the structure and function
of nature
Greek word: "Oikos" meaning household and "Logos"
meaning study of; Study of the "house/environment" in
which we live in. Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez
ECOLOGY
BIOSPHERE/ECOSPHERE - layer around the earth where all living things
exist; Known as the Skin of Life
Lithosphere - includes soil and sediments where organisms live
Hydrosphere - includes liquid or frozen water on or near lithosphere
Atmosphere - region of gases, particulate matter and water vapor
Troposphere - lowest portionof Earth's atmosphere. Contains 80% of
the atmosphere's mass and 99% of water vapor and aerosols.
Stratosphere - Secod major layer of Earth's atmosphere. The border
line of troposphere and stratosphere is the tropopause.
Mesosphere - the temperature decreases as height increases. The
upper boundary is the mesopause (coldest naturally occurring place
on Earth)
Thermosphere - within this layer, UV causes ionization.
Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez
Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez
 LIVING AND NON-LIVING FACTORS
LIVING: Plants, animals, microorganisms in soil...
NON-LIVING: Light, water, air, nutrients, heat, solar radiation, atmosphere...

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ECOLOGICAL TERMS
Autecology - branch of ecology that deals with the biological
relationship between an individual organism/species and its
environment, physiological ecology, animal behavior and dynamics.
Synecology -study of the ecological intterrelationships among
communities of organisms.
Photosynthesis - process that plants use to convert inorganic material
H2O and CO2 into organic matter(sugar) with help of light energy.
Chlorophyll - green photosynthetic pigment found in chloroplast
Chloroplast- plastid that contains chlorophyll and site of photosynthesis
Limiting factor - any environmental conditions or set of conditions that
approaches most nearly the limits (max or min) of tolerance for a given
organism
Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez
ECOLOGICAL TERMS
Limits of Tolerance - the upper or lower limits to the range particular
environmental factors (light, temperature, availalbility of water) within the
organism can survive
Environmental Resistance - collection of factors that reduces the growth
rate of a population. (Shortage of food, water; diseases, predation)
Carrying Capacity - the number of individuals in a particular population
that the environment can support over an indefinite period of time in
terms of food, space and shelter.
Biotic Potential - number of offspring that could theoretically exist if all
offspring survived and produced young.
Habitat - space that the organism or community inhabits
Niche - functional role the species/organism plays in a community

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
Atom - basic unit of matter
Organism- individual form of life
Population- group of individuals of the same species in a certain area at
a given time
Community - all populations occupying a given area; composed of
interacting species
Ecological system/Ecosystem - interaction of the community and the
non-living environment. Biotic + Abiotic
Biomes - large geographic areas with similar climates and ecosystem
Biosphere - surface of the earth; Composed of many ecosystems and
biomes

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ECOLOGICAL TERMS
Natural Selection - process that causes organisms to adapt to their
environment.
Charles Darwin - British naturalist who developed the theory of natural
selection in his book "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural
Selection"
Evolution - change in the characteristics shown by the organisms.
Natural process of change of organisms in response to physical changes
in the environment
Speciation - production of new species from previously existing species
Diversity - number of species(varieties and kinds) of plants and animals
in a given community.

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ORGANISM INTERACTION
Neutralism - relationship in which neither population is affected by
association with the other
Competition - wherein 2 or more species use the same limited resource,
and in the process both organisms are harmed to strive to obtain the same
limited resource.
Amensalism - one population is inhibited by an external factor; the other is
not affected.
Parasitism - one species benefits; other species is harmed
Predation - when one animal, predator, hunts, kills and eats another know
as prey.
Commensalism - one species benefits; other is not harmed/affected
Protocooperation - favorable to both organism, but not obligatory to them
Mutualism - both species benefit from each other
Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez
ENERGY FLOW THROUGH ECOSYSTEM
Sun - ultimate source of all energy
Producers - green plants and algae that uses an outside source of energy
like the sun to create energy-rich food molecules
Consumers - organisms that cannot create energy-rich molecules but
obtains food by eating other organisms
Decomposers - consume wastes and dead organisms
Autotrophs - organisms which can synthesize their own complex, energy-
rich organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules.
Heterotrophs - organisms that must obtain complex energy-rich organic
compounds from the bodies of other organisms
Saprotrophs - heterotrophic organisms who secrete digestive enzymes
onto dead organism matter and absorb the digested material.

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ENERGY FLOW THROUGH ECOSYSTEM
Energy Pyramid - Each time energy moves to a new trophic level, approx. 90%
of the energy is lost. Therefore, the higher trophic levels contain less energy
and fewer organisms in most ecosystems.

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ENERGY FLOW THROUGH ECOSYSTEM
Trophic level - each step in the flow of energy through an ecosystem
1st trophic level - producers (plants)
2nd tropic level - herbivores
3rd tropic level - carnivores that eat herbivores
4th tropic level - carnivores that eat other carnivores

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ENERGY FLOW THROUGH ECOSYSTEM
Food chain - the passage of energy from one trophic level to the next as a
result of one organism consuming another.

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ENERGY FLOW THROUGH ECOSYSTEM
Food Web - made-up of several overlapping and intersecting food chains.

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

BIOMES
Terrestrial climax communities with wide geographical distribution
A biome is a distinct biogeographical unit consisting of a biological
community that has formed in response to a shared regional climate.
Biomes may span more than one continent.
DESERT
receive less than 25cm of precipitation per year
hot during much of the year
extremely cold during winter and have relatively cool summer
vegetation: cactus, sagebrush, lichens
animals: lizards, snakes, birds, insects

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

DESERT

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

GRASSLAND
also known as prairies and steppes
receive between 25cm to 75cm of rain per year
windy with hot summers and cold to mild winters
vegetation: grasses (60% to 90%) with many kinds of flowering plants
animals: herds of migratory, grazing mammals, sheep, cattle, goat, insects
herbivorous mammals, birds

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

GRASSLAND

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SAVANNA

extensive grasslands with occassional or patches of trees

typically with 50cm to 150cm of rain per year
parts of Africa, South America, and Australia
vegetation: grasses, thorny trees, flat-topped trees
animals: grazing mammals, rodents, birds, insects, reptiles

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SAVANNA

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TROPICAL RAINFOREST
located near the equator in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, etc.
has an average temperature of 25 deg Celsius
receive 200cm to 500cm or more rain per year
no frost and rains almost daily
temperature is normally warm and relatively constant
vegetation: tropical trees, ferns, mosses, orchids, vines
animals: insects, birds,climbing mammals, lizards and trees

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

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TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST
receive 100cm or more relatively evenly distributed precipitation per year
generally have fewer species
trees lose their leaves during winter and replace them in spring
Eastern half of USA, parts of south central and Southeastern Canada
Southern Africa, many areas of Europe and Asia
vegetation: tall trees, shrubs
animals: insects, birds and mammals

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

CONIFEROUS FOREST
Taiga, Northern coniferous forest or Boreal Forest throughout the Southern
half of Canada, parts of Northern Europe
World's largest biome
short, cool summers and long winters, with abundant snowfalls
Climate is humid because of the generally low temperature
receive 25cm to 100cm rain per year
vegetation: trees for winter condition, needle-shaped leaves
animals: birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

CONIFEROUS FOREST

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TUNDRA

North of Taiga
Cold, dry, treeless biome with less than 25cm of precipitation per year
Lack trees and has permanently frozen soil layer known as permafrost
Alpine Tundra - scattered patches of tundra-like communities
Extremely-cold windy climate
vegetation: Many plants and lichens
animals: mammals, waterfowl, no reptiles

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

TUNDRA

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

MAJOR AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
Primary factors that determine the nature of aquatic ecosystems:
Ability of the sun's rays to penetrate the water
Nature of the bottom substrate
Water temperature
Amount of dissolved materials
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Those that have high dissolved salt content
Pelagic Ecosystem - ecosystem that are free-swimming; upper layer
Benthic Ecosystem- located on the ocean bottom
Abyssal Ecosystem - located at the great depths in the ocean
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Coral reef Ecosystem - result of large numbers of sea animals, corals,
that secrete external skeletons. Found near the equator, in shallow, clear
water. Most productive ecosystems on Earth
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Mangrove/Swamp - occupy a region near the shore where water is
shallow and wave action is not too great so that mangroves can become
established. Mangroves are tropical trees that are able to live in very
wet, salty muds along the ocean shore.
MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Estuaries - consist of shallow, partially enclosed areas where freshwater
enters the ocean. Particularly productive ecosystems because of the
large amounts of nutrients introduced into the basin from the rivers that
run into them.
FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
Stationary - lakes, ponds, reservoirs
Running downhill - streams, rivers
PROJECT # 1
CASE STUDY (Environmental Science and Engineering Ecosystems)
Each group will choose one biome/ecosystem (Tundra, Taiga, Desert,
Tropical RF, Temperate RF, Grasslands, Savanna, Freshwater,
Saltwater, etc.)
Select a specific city/region/municipality/country/ecosystem that
belongs to your group's chosen biome.
Create a case study of the your chosen biome/ecosystem and location.
Format: Word, Times New Roman, Size 12, Single Spaced, Minimum of
15 pages
Submit via Blackboard on or before June 25 2022

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

PROJECT # 1
CONTENT/OUTLINE:
Title page (Mapua logo, Title, Grp No, Members, Section, Date Subm)
Table of Contents
Location Description (Population, geography, public health,
biodiversity, demographics, environment)
Objective of the study
a. To determine the current state of environment and biome in _____.
b. To determine key characteristics of _____ that shows its
qualification as a part of ____ biome/ecosystem.
c. To determine environmental problems affecting the ecosystems
and public health in the chosen location.
d. To recommend engineering actions to address these environmental
problems.
Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez
PROJECT # 1
CONTENT/OUTLINE:
Key description of the location that proves its qualification to your
chosen biome (temperature range, precipitation, season/climate,
vegetation/plants description, animals, etc.
Environmental Status (Pollutions, human activity destructions, etc.)
Recommendation as a young engineer
Conclusion
References

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SUCCESSION
The regular, predictable changes in the structure of a community over
time. Occurs because organisms cause changes in their surroundings
that make an environment less suitable for themselves and more
suitable for other kinds of organisms.
One community is replaced by a slightly changed community, which
itself is replaced by a subsequent collection of organisms.

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SUCCESSION
Primary succession - begins with the mineral surfaces (rocks or sand)
or water. Takes place where no soil exist.
*Pioneer community - organisms that can survive on bare rock
surfaces or pure sand. Dominant organism: Lichen
Secondary succession - begins with the destruction or disturbance of
an existing ecosystem. Takes place where soil is already present.
*Climax community - relatively stable, long lasting, more complex
and interrelated community of plants, animals, fungi and bacteria
*Successional or seral stage - each step in succession process
*Sere - entire sequence of stages in succession (pioneer to climax)

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SUCCESSION

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SUCCESSION

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

SUCCESSION

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES
Forests
Marginal lands
Agricultural or crop lands
Freshwater ecosystem
Coastal areas
Urban areas

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

ECOSYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

Questions?

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez

 HW#3
ECOLOGY and the NUTRIENT CYCLE (Typewritten; Provide pictures and
references)
Briefly discuss and illustrate the following:
1. Carbon Cycle
2. Nitrogen Cycle
3. Phosphorus Cycle
4. Hydrogen Cycle

Engr. Paul Hendrik Cortez