Ecosystem An area where interactions between living and non-living things taking place.

Producers (autotrophs) Manufacture organic molecules from simple inorganic substances, generally CO2, H2O, sunlight (Photosynthesis) Incorporate the chemicals they manufacture into their own bodies, becoming potential food resources for other organisms

Consumers (heterotrophs) Herbivores (primary consumers): Plant eaters Carnivores: eat other animals (secondary consumers eat primary consumers whereas tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers) Omnivores: eat both plants and animals.

Decomposers (saprotrophs) Are heterotrophs (consumers) that break down dead organic materials. They typically release simple inorganic molecules such as CO2, mineral salts (K, N, P), that producers can re-use. Bacteria and fungi are important decomposers. Without decomposers, important elements (K, N, P) would remain permanently in dead organisms, unavailable for new generation of organisms.

Food chains and Food webs

Food chains is a series of organisms occupying different trophic levels through which energy passes as a result of one organism consuming another.

Food webs When several food chains overlap and intersect, they make up a food web.

Energy movement Energy movement through food chains is in one direction only. Approximately, 90% of the useful energy is lost with each transfer to the next highest trophic level.

Organism interactions

Kinds of Organism Interactions Predation Competition Symbiotic relationship Some relationships are difficult to categorize

Kinds of Organism Interactions Predation (predator & prey relationship) One organism known as a predator, kills and eats another known as prey

Kinds of Organism Interactions 2. Competition Two organisms strive to obtain the same limited resources. Intraspecific competition Is competition between members of the same species. Interspecific competition Is competition between members of different species.

Kinds of Organism Interactions 3. Symbiotic relationships Is a close, long lasting, physical relationship between TWO different species. 3.1 Parasitism (+,-) Is a relationship in which one organism (parasite) lives inside or on surface of another organism known as the host, from which it derives nourishment

Live on the surface of their hosts such as fleas, lice, mildews. 3.1.1 Ectoparasite Live on the surface of their hosts such as fleas, lice, mildews. 3.1.2 Endoparasites Live inside the bodies of their hosts such as tapeworms, malaria parasites.

Kinds of Organism Interactions 3.2 Commensalism (+,0) Is a relationship between organisms in which one organism benefits while the other is not affected. Shark and remoras (small fish)

Kinds of Organism Interactions 3.3 Mutualism (+,+) Is actually beneficial to both species involved. The relationship is obligatory; the species cannot live without each other.

Kinds of Organism Interactions 4. Some relationship are difficult to categorize How would you classify mosquitos? There are also mutualistic relationship that do not require permanent contact between participants in the relationship

Nutrient Cycles

Comparing C & N cycles Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle 1. Need Food chain YES 2. Benefits to plants Building C6H12O6 (glucose = food) by photosynthesis Building protein which are needed for cell growth 3. Benefits to animals, humans Carbon is the basic building block required to form proteins, carbohydrates and fats Nitrogen is needed to make amino acids for proteins 4. Mechanisms involved Photosynthesis Respiration Nitrogen fixation Nitrification (bacteria need oxygen) Denitrification (without oxygen)

Comparing C & N cycles Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle 5. Nutrient Source CO2 in the air + Dead organic matter and wastes N2 (gas) + Dead organic matter and wastes with help from following bacteria in soil Nitrogen fixing bacteria Nitrifying bacteria (nitrification) Denitrifying bacteria (denitrification) (Plants cannot uptake N2 (gas)) 6. Form of nutrients uptake by plants CO2 (carbon dioxide) NH3 (ammonia) and NO3-1 (nitrate)

Relationship between environment and industry (+ sustainable development)

The natural environment is the “sink” for the wastes (produced from industry) and the “source” for the resources (used to produce goods & services by industry). Sustainable development: development that does not cost the Earth! Sustainable development means handing down future generations not only “man-made capital” such as roads, schools, buildings, and “human capital” such as knowledge and skills, but also “natural/environmental capital” such as clean air, fresh water, forests, the ozone layer and biological diversity.

Ecosystem Services

This grouped ecosystem services into four broad categories: provisioning, such as the production of food and water; regulating, such as the control of climate and disease; supporting, such as nutrient cycles and crop pollination; and cultural, such as spiritual and recreational benefits.

Pollution & Pollutant

What is Pollution? Pollution is the undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water or land (soil) that may or will harmfully affect human life or that of other desirable species, our industrial processes, living conditions or cultural assets or that may or will waste or deteriorate raw material resources. Pollution causes risks to environmental quality, human health and damage to natural resources.

What is Pollutant ? A substance or condition that contaminates air, water, or soil. Pollutants can be artificial substances, such as pesticides and PCBs, or naturally occurring substances, such as oil or carbon dioxide, that occur in harmful concentrations in a given environment.

POLLUTION CONTROL (PC) (The end of pipe method: producing wastes firstly, then later thinking of how to manage it)

Pollution Control Solve no problem It only alters the problem, shifting it from one form to another. It takes resources to remove pollution, pollution removal generates residues, it make more resources to dispose of this residue and disposal of residue also produces pollution.

Pollution Prevention (P2) Meaning thinking beforehand how to reduce waste before it will be produced. Waste is simply material that is not being used efficiently.

Pollution Prevention (P2) Includes practices that reduce OR eliminate the creation of pollutants through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, or protection of natural resources by conservation. Involves waste minimization, source reduction, design for the environment, and clean technology. Since a number of pollution control measures apply only AFTER wastes have been generated, they cannot be called Pollution Prevention.

Environment & Industry (Hierarchy of waste management)

1st choice Last choice

Definition of Pollution Prevention (P2) Pollution prevention (P2) is a way of looking at what causes waste and pollution and then figuring out the best way to reduce the pollution BEFORE it is created. P2 means avoiding pollution at the source rather than trying to control it afterwards. Source reduction and recycling are considered as pollution prevention.

Definition of Pollution Control (PC) Historically, people looked for ways to control pollution AFTER it was created. Treating wastewater, filtering air emissions, and creating landfills for solid wastes are all methods of controlling pollution AFTER it has been created. Treatment & disposal are considered as Pollution Control. Landfill site