lOMoARcPSD|22270319

1 Reviewer-peopleandearthsecosystem

People and Earth's Ecosystem (Central Bicol State University of Agriculture)

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)
 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

CHAPTER 1 SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT

 Planet Earth ‘s life support system consists of the communities of organisms that inhabit it, plus the energy from
the sun.
 These organisms produce oxygen, transfer energy and recycle water and nutrient minerals with great efficiency.
 However, none of these ecological processes would be possible without the physical or abiotic (non-living)
environment of the Earth.
 As the sun warms our planet, it powers the hydrologic cycle, drives ocean currents and the atmospheric
circulation pattern, and produces much of the climatic conditions to which organisms are adapted.
 The sun supplies the energy organisms use to carry on the life process

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Terms Definition Other info
Ecology  study of the interactions between  The environment includes physical and biological conditions under
organisms and their environment which an organism lives while relationships involved the interaction
 Greek: oikos “household”; logos, with the physical world as well as the interrelationships with the
“knowledge”) number of the species and the individual of the same species.
Ecosystem  includes all organisms living in an area  Individual organisms interact with each other and with their
(bacteria, plants, and animals) and the environment or habitat in a series of relationships that depends on
physical environment (water, air, soil and the flow of energy and nutrient through the system.
climate) with which these organisms
interact.
Environmental  Is the study of the interactions among the It is interdisciplinary science overlapping the areas in:
Science physical, chemical and biological a) Natural Sciences
components of the environment. -biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, medicine, geology,
 primary deals on pollution and other climatology, hydrology and ecology.
conditions and development as a result of b) Social Sciences
human activities and their impact on -economics, political science, sociology, history, anthropology,
biological diversity (biodiversity) and geography and ethics
sustainability. It covers development issues c) Other Sciences
concerning climate change, biodiversity, -mathematics, statistics, technology, business and
conservation and desertification, use of management, law, religion, morality and aesthetics.
energy resources, waste management,
pollution and sustainable development Environmental Science has its root in natural history, the study of where
and how organisms carry out their life cycles; and ecology of
environmental factors and how organisms interact with them.
Goals of Environmental Science
1. To develop a sustainable world, a world in which the supply of food, water, building materials, clean air, and
other resources can sustain human populations to continue to exist indefinitely with high standard of living and
health.
2. To study environmental problems and issues, and priorities regarding acceptable environmental preservation of
natural species and habitats, freedom of nations to do as they please, within their own potential boundaries,
and issues on the quality of life, fairness and ethics.
Environmental  the process by which people develop Due to the loss of our vital support systems (natural resources), the
Education (EE) awareness, knowledge, and concern of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
environment. (UNCED) was held on June 3 to 14, 1992 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and
 It involves the acquisition of skills, the Global Forum in 1994 and warned that unless there were changes in
motivations and commitments to work the ways in which development pursuits proceeded, there would be a
towards solving current environmental very significant increase of human deprivation and suffering and
problems and preventing new problems environmental damage.
from cropping up

THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the form of gases and chemicals enter the
atmosphere and threatened human health.
 In the Philippines, the environmental  Toxic wastes and industrial effluents flow and
disturbances are experienced air pollutants in contaminate rivers and shorelines.

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

 Illegal fishing using chemicals significantly students into smug crusaders whose initial
damage our coral reefs. foundation of knowledge is shaky at best.
 Non-biodegradable materials clogging esteros, TWO WORLD VIEWS
canals and other waterways causing severe CORNUCOPIANISM ENVIRONMENTALISM
floods in rural and urban areas.  The dominant world view  Natural resources are
 Contamination of oceans due to frequent oil by Western Civilization products of the natural
spills is evident. throughout most of history. environment.
 The demand for food, water, energy, housing,  All parts of environment are  Resources will be limited by
transport and other basic necessities continue natural resources to be the regenerate capacities of
to escalate. exploited for the advantage the natural environment
 These environmental problems created urgent of humans and that these limited
demands and challenges to the education  It assumes that resources resources will be available
sector in the country and the whole world. are infinite. if the natural environment
 One strategic approach to address these  Pollution is a sign of is protected, maintained,
demands and challenges is to incorporate progress and sustained.
social and environmental issues, concerns and  Without exploitation of  Continuing the trend of
awareness into the curricula in the primary, resources, men would still increasing exploitation is
secondary and collegiate levels in the be living a primitive life sustainable only if we do it
educational program of the government. with limitations
 There is a timely appeal of environmentalists
to the Department of Education to incorporate SEVEN ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES
the “Zero waste” approach in dealing with the 1. Nature Knows Best
day to-day activities of every Filipino in the  In the environment, there are processes or
curricula and extra-curricular activities in the cycles that maintained ecological balance. Any
three levels of education in the country. disruption in these processes affects the
 The schools provide the bet venue and training environment.
ground to introduce, support, and promote a) Cyclic flow of materials or nutrients
ecological awareness, action and commitment in the ecosystem.
among students.  In nature, nutrient pass from the
environment to organism and
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ITS GOALS back to the environment.
1. Society prepares its citizens to carry out their  Ex. Our atmosphere is 78%
responsibilities through its system of nitrogen but this cannot be
education. directly assimilated by plants. It
a) Education must develop in each citizen has to be converted by plants
an awareness of, and a sensitivity to the and used to form plant proteins.
environment and its problems. When a plant is eaten by an
b) Education must teach each citizen the animal, the plant protein is
knowledge, understanding and skills utilized to form animal protein.
needed to solve problems. When the plant and the animal
c) Education must foster positive attitudes die, the proteins are acted upon
and patterns of conduct toward the by decomposers releasing the
environment. nutrients back into the
environment to be reused again.
2. Environmental education must consider all  Burning of farm wastes instead
aspects of the environment – natural and man- of allowing them to decompose
made, technological, social, economic, naturally disrupt the cycle.
political, cultural, aesthetic and knowledge.  When farm waste is burned,
3. E.E. must emphasize an enduring continuity, organic compounds are released
linking actions of today to the consequences into the atmosphere thus,
for tomorrow and the need to think globally. decomposers will not be able to
4. E.E. must aid young citizens in developing a break down immediately
sense of responsibility and commitment to the resulting in delay in the return of
future, and prepare them to carry out the role nutrients in the environment.
of safeguarding and improving the b) Interaction within the food web.
environment upon which al life depends.  This will cause the prey
5. Real environmental education is far different. population to increase causing
It teaches students critical thinking and imbalance in the food web.
informs them of environmental science as it  Ex. Excessive deforestation in
really is; an ongoing search for truth. Mindanao caused by moving
6. In sum, environmental education is a valuable away of owls and snakes that
part of science instruction, that molds prey on rats. This brought an
increase in the rat population

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319
Week 1
that destroyed the crops in the
farms.
2. All Forms of Life are Important
 Biological diversity refers to the variety of
species in a given community (Species
diversity/ Number of species, Genetic
diversity/ Variety of genes in the gene pool, &
Community diversity/ Number communities in
a given area)
 At the human lever, biological diversity also
means cultural diversity- human vary in
religion, political beliefs, tradition, language,
etc.
 Disruption of these functions may lead to
instability or imbalance. Each individual is a
part of the food chain, and the removal of one
will upset eating patterns and may cause the
extinction of other organisms which feed on it.
3. Everything is Related to Everything Else
 This principle is best exemplified by the
concept of ecosystem.
 Ecosystem
- unit of the biosphere in which living
and non-living things interact.
- This definition shows that living and
non-living things are interconnected.
 Industrialization
- is one process that bring pollution
that may affect one’s heath.
- Vehicle gas emissions and
combustions of fossil fuels for
industrial processing power plant
and factories cause air pollution that
increase the incidence of respiratory
illness. Households also release raw
sewage into bodies of water that
pollute the water causing any
aquatic organisms to die and causing
chronic health problems for people.
Conversion of agricultural lands to
subdivisions results in reduction in
hectarage for food production which
results to lower volume or quantity
of crop harvest. Also, agricultural
land converted to urban and
industrial uses account for the
growing loss of country’s best soil.
4. Changes
Types of Natural Change
a) Linear Change (physical and biological
evolution)
- Since the Earth began, is has been
undergoing change. From a ball of a
dust and gas to its present state with
a distinct lithosphere, hydrosphere,
from the soupy oceanic bowl of
quasi-life molecules to the exuberant
diversity that now inhabits the Erath.
b) Cyclic Change.
Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)
- The movement of the Earth as an
astronomical body results in the
occurrence of the seasons, and the
days and nights. With this rhythm
also occurs rhythms in plants and
animal life.
c) Random Change
- The catastrophic forces like volcanic
eruption, earthquakes, tsunami, and
typhoons.
Human activities have impacted on natural system in
several ways.
a) Change can be accelerated
- as in siltation of lakes due to rapid
soil erosion, eroding of metals
because of air pollution and
development of cancer cells because
of modern chemicals.
b) Change can be inhibited
- the non-complete development of
fetuses because of radiation of bird’s
egg’s because of DDT in the food
chain.
c) Change that is totally different from nature’s
cycle can also be introduced
- such as non-systems like urban
communities.
Changes that brings about by Human Activities
 One big change is the population explosion
that have been brought about by modern
medicine resulting in increased life expectancy
and decreased mortality.
 Another important change in lifestyle has been
made possible by new resource consuming
technology and is accompanied by
materialistic values.
 These cultural changes have caused significant
changes in the natural world such as the
destruction of forest, coral reefs and other
ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, leveling of
mountains due to quarrying, and poisoning of
the seas by toxic waste an oil spill.
5. Everything Must go Somewhere
 It is important that everyone becomes aware
of the different types of waste whether they
are biodegradable or non-biodegradable,
whether they are hazardous or not.
 Classification of waste facilities their proper
disposal and minimizes if not prevents the
entry of toxic waste into the vital ecosystems
and ensures reconversion into useful forms.
6. Finiteness of Resources
The finiteness of resources can be seen in the following
ways:
a) Limits to the Earth’s carrying capacity
- The amount of life the Earth can
support)
 lOMoARcPSD|22270319
Week 1
- An environmental issue brought
about by exceeding the threshold
level of an ecosystem is extinction.
b) Limits of the Earth’s absorptive capacity
- The ability to assimilate its waste
products
- A growing population loads to an
increasing generation of waste. This
is giving more stress on our
ecosystems and making them
polluted.
c) Limits to the Earth’s supply
- Resources like water are considered
renewable but there is still a limit of
what it can provide to human living.
They are even threatened by
pollution, erosion, and over-use.
- Trees and other plants are
renewable resources but are being
cut at a rate faster than they can
replace them.
- The Earth’s supply minerals which
are non-renewable present to us
very clearly that the Earth’s supply of
resources has limits.
d) Limits to economic value
- Some of the things we buy in the
market used to be free. Now
because of scarcity of food source,
they are being sold even air which is
still unlimited supply becomes a
commodity. One has to spend
money to go to a place to breath
fresh air. Nations must choose how
they are willing to pay to keep the air
clean
e) Limits overtime
- we decide whether to use a resource
today or in future
- ex, once oil is pumped from the
ground and burned as fuel or source
of energy it is gone forever. A tree
when cut down today cannot be
logged in the future, although a
sapling can be planted to replace the
tree. But at the rate some people are
cutting trees in our Philippine forest,
they will be gone in 30-35 years. The
world’s supply of oil is projected to
last for 50 years.
f) Limits to the distribution of resources
- The Earth’s resources are like a pie.
Nations and individuals partake a
slice of it. But who consumes most
of the resources? The developing
world has ¾ of the world’s
population but shares in 1/10 of the
resource pie. There is a highly
unequal distribution of the Erath’s
wealth. Industrialized nations have
consumed most of their source of
raw materials. When supply
becomes acute or gone, they crossed
Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)
oceans and mountains and
overcame natural barriers to
conquer the world.
7. Nature is Beautiful and We are Stewards of God’s
Creation
- Humans are the only ones made in God’s image
and have been given the right to have dominion
over all his creations.
- Being the most intelligent and gifted with
reasons, humans are capable of manipulating
creation to their own advantage. Yet, creation
exists not to be ravaged or abused but to be
taken care of. Humans cannot exist without
nature. They are co-natural with the
environment they live in.
Chapter 2. Environmental Jurisprudence
Law Considered as “Instruction from the Maker”
If an inventor should favor you with the gift of a highly-
complicated machine, how would you make it work?
The answer is simple: follow the instructions, and the
machine will work.
How can the human machine should be made to
function well?
The answer is also simple, human machine will become
futile, senseless object, utterly incapable of fulfilling its
destiny. These instructions from the Creator - we call
Laws.
Law
- is defined by St. Augustine as “as ordinance of reason
promulgated for the common good by Him who is in
charge.”. Environmental law has evolved to protect our
surroundings.
HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
After WWII, environmental destruction has risen to an
alarming level, and awareness of the problem has
become a matter of worldwide concern.
In 1972, the UN Stockholm Conference declares the
following agreements among nations for the world
environment.
a) Dangerous Level of Pollution in Water and Air
b) Earth and Living Being
c) Undesirable disturbance to the Ecological
Balance of the Biosphere
d) Destruction and Depletion of the Irreplaceable
Resources
In the spirit of good neighborhood, the Philippines
became a party to the following International Treaties as
of May, 1991.
a) International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution of the Sea by Oil.
 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

b) International Plant Convention of the endangered forests and

Regulation of Whaling. watershed areas.
c) International Plant Protection Convention
d) Plant Protection Agreement for Southeast Asia c) PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1151
and the Pacific Region 1. The Philippine Environmental
e) Vienna Convention on Civil Liability of Nuclear Policy:
Damages and Optional Protocol Concerning
the Compulsory Settlements of Disputes  Section 1: Policy - it is hereby
f) Treaty Banning Nuclear Test in the Atmosphere declared a continuing policy of
in Outer Space and Water the State:
g) Convention on the Prohibition of the To create, develop,
Development Production and Stockpiling of maintain and improve
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons conditions under which
and on their Destruction man and nature can thrive
h) Convention on the Prevention of Marine in productive and
Pollution by Dumping Waste and other Matter enjoyable harmony with
i) Convention on the International Trade of each other;
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora To fulfill to social,
j) Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete economic and other
Ozone requirements of the
present and future
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS OF THE generations of Filipinos;
PHILIPPINES and
To ensure the attainment
1. The Constitution of the Republic of the of an environmental
Philippines provides the following quality that is conducive of
jurisprudence: a life of dignity and well-
being.
a) ARTICLE II
Declaration of Principles and State 2. Philippine Environment Code:
Policies
 Section 1: Short Title: This
 Section 15: The State shall decree shall be known and cited
protect and promote the right as the “Philippine
to health of the people and Environmental Code”
instilling health consciousness
among them. Title I. Air Quality Management
Title II. Water Quality Management
 Section 16: The State shall Title III. Land Use Management
protect and advance the right Title IV. Natural Resources Management and
of the people to a balanced and Conservation
healthy ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of Chapter I. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
nature. Chapter II. Wildlife
Chapter III. Forestry and Soil Conservation
b) ARTICLE XII Chapter IV. Flood Control and Natural Calamities
National Economy and Patrimony Chapter V. Energy Development
Chapter VI. Conservation and Utilization of Surface and
 Section 4: The Congress shall, as Ground Water
soon as possible, determine by Chapter VII. Mineral Resources
law the specific limits of forest
lands and national parks, d) EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 192 (1987) -
marking clearly their Providing for the reorganization of
boundaries on the ground. the Department of Environment,
Thereafter, such forest lands Energy and Natural Resources
and national parks shall be renaming it as the Department of
considered and may not be Environment and Natural Resources
increased nor diminished, (DENR) and for other purposes:
except by law. The Congress
shall provide, for such periods  Section 13: FOREST MANAGEMENT
as it may determine, measures BUREAU
to prohibit logging in - hereby created a forest
management bureau which shall

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

integrate and absorb the powers,

and functions of the Bureau of
Forest Development (BFD) and
Wood Industry Authority (WIDA).

 Section 14: LAND MANAGEMENT

BUREAU
-absorbs the functions and powers
of the Bureau of Lands except those
line functions and power which are
transferred to the regional field
office.

 Section 15: MINES AND

GEOSCIENCES BUREAU
- absorbs the functions of the Bureau
of Mines and Geosciences (MBGS),
Mineral Reservations Development
Board (MRDB), and Gold Mining
Industry Development Board
(GMIDB).
MATTER, ENERGY AND LIFE IN ECOSYSTEM
 Section 16: ENVIRONMENT
MANAGEMENT BUREAU IMPORTANT CONCEPTS ABOUT MATTER AND ENERGY
- abolished the powers and functions of EXCHANGES
the National Environmental Protection - The principles of conservation of matter and
Council (NEPC), the National Pollution thermodynamics provide a basis for
Control Commission (NPCC) and the understanding the dynamic interactions of matter
Environmental Center of the Philippines and energy in living systems, from the cellular to
(ECP). ecosystem levels.

 Section 17: ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH AND WHAT IS MATTER?

DEVELOPMENT BUREAU 1. Organic compounds
- abolished the Research Institute and - Compounds containing carbon atoms
National Mangrove Committee. combined with each other and with
atoms of one or more other elements
such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
 P.D. No. 1442 - An Act to promote the sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, and
exploration and development of fluorine.
geothermal resources. 2. Inorganic compounds
- All compounds not classified as organic
 E.O. No. 223 - Vesting of the Philippine compounds.
National Oil Company (PNOC) the
Jurisdiction, Control and Management, CONSERVATION OF MATTER
Protection, Development and - Matter is used over and over again. It is
Rehabilitation over the Watershed Areas transformed and combined in different ways, but
of Geothermal Reservation where PNOC it doesn’t disappear. Ecosystem dynamics are
has geothermal projects, plants and based on matter that is physical present at a site.
properties. The most commonly recycled components of
ecosystem are the biological molecules that are
composed of carbon, hydrogen,, oxygen, nitrogen,
and other elements required by cells.
Conservation of matter has a direct bearing on
human relationships with the biosphere. We use
natural resources to produce an incredible
amount of disposable consumer goods. But after
using these goods, where do we dispose of them?
Do we have enough dumpsite for our garbage?
Your one-on-one interaction with our environment
is related to the conservation matter. The use of
Styrofoam cups, plastic bags and other items
made of complex synthetic aggravate the garbage
problem. Significantly, these things virtually

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

become major and permanent pollutants. That - Is the principle of physics that recognizes
matter cannot be created nor destroyed but is can that energy is conserved.
be transferred and combined in different ways - Energy may be transferred into a system,
support the principle that “Everything goes and as a result, there is a change in
somewhere”. energy within the system.
- It may be transformed or changed from
THERMODYNAMICS AND ENERGY TRANSFERS one form to another (e.g., from chemical
energy to heat energy).
Thermodynamics - In a biological context, the principle is
- deals with the how energy is transferred in natural stated as “Energy may be transferred or
processes. It deals specifically with the relationship transformed but is not lost”.
between heat, work, energy. - Ex. Vase fall from the table and
shattered into pieces
Ecosystem dynamics 2. Second Law of Thermodynamics
- are governed by physical laws, including the law of - is a principle that recognizes that with
conservation of matter and the laws of each successive energy transfer or
thermodynamics. transformation, less energy is available
for work.
The recycling of matter - Energy tends to be degraded or
- is the basis of the cycles of elements that occur in dissipated from useful form (mechanical
the ecosystem. However, compared to matter, work), to a less useful form, usually
energy does not cycle. heat.
- This is an energy of “expenditure,” the
Photosynthesis “cost” for doing work.
- is the process of converting solar energy into - There is a tendency in natural process to
chemical energy stored in food go from a state of order, or high-quality
- CO2 + H20 ---> C6H12O6 + O2 energy (work energy) toward a state of
- The chemical energy stored in the bonds that hold increasing disorder, or low-quality
the food molecules together is available for the energy.
metabolism of organism. - The second law recognizes the general
trend toward disorder (entropy) and
Respiration deals with the universal degradation of
- is the process of releasing chemical energy stored matter and energy.
in food to be used by living things. C6H12O6 + O2 - It can be summarized crudely as “Left to
---> CO2 + H20 themselves, things tend to degenerate.”
- Ex. 1 Running engine of a vehicle that
 Matter and energy are processed through the radiates heat
trophic levels of an ecosystem via food chains - Ex. 2 Process of photosynthesis
and food webs.
 At each energy transfer point, less energy is
available to do work. Homeostasis
 So energy must be supplied to an ecosystem - (Greek term “to stand equally”)
continuously. The relationships between - refers to the dynamic balance in a living
producers and consumers in an ecosystem, ecosystem.
often depicted as pyramids, demonstrate this - When a living system is active, rather that
principle. static, the conditions in it change continuously
 Most of the energy enters an ecosystem can in response to many environmental stimuli.
be traced back to the sun. - It is a condition of fluctuating balance centered
on some ideal state or optimum.
LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS - This dynamic balance is maintained by active
and opposing adjustments and compensation
Heat - Human body must maintain homeostasis with
- is the transfer or flow of energy as a result of respect to numerous internal facts, including
temperature difference. concentration of water and mineral nutrient,
Work hormones, temperatures, etc. the body is a
- is the transfer of energy that is not due to a difference complex system of mechanisms interacting
in temperature. and affecting each other. On an organismal
level, increased disorder means decreasing
Both heat and work are important kinds of energy vitality and eventually, death.
transfer in organisms and ecosystem.

1. First Law of Thermodynamics

- Energy input= Energy output

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

small fraction of energy present in the lower

trophic level is stored in the next higher level.
- Using the rule of 10 of the 10% rule, an average
of only about 10% of energy fixed by plants is
ultimately stored by herbivores. Only 10% of
that energy that herbivores accumulate ends up
being stored in the living tissues of carnivores
that eat them. And only 10% of that energy is
successfully converted into living tissues by
carnivores on the third trophic level. This
BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEMS inefficient energy chains is called ecological
1. Producers (autotrophs) pyramids.
2. Consumers (heterotrophs)
a. Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores Pyramid of It shows number of organisms at each trophic level in
b. Decomposers and detritivores Numbers a given ecosystem
c. detritus = dead organic material Pyramid of Shows the total biomass at each successive trophic
Biomass level. Biomass is the amount of organic material in
ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEMS plants or animals in which energy can be derived.
1. Food chains – sequence of organisms which is Pyramid of Indicates the energy content, often expressed as
a source of food for the next. Energy kilocalories per square meter per year of the biomass
2. Food webs – most species participate in pf each trophic level.
several food chains (they don’t just eat one
thing!).
3. Trophic levels ◦ each step in the flow of energy
through an ecosystem (feeding level)

ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
1. Pyramid of energy flow
2. Ecological efficiency
3. Pyramid of biomass CHAPTER 4. RESOURCES
4. Pyramid of numbers ________________________________________

Non- Renewable Resources

- Are resources that once extracted and utilized, are
forever lost and are not capable of replacement or
renewable.

1. Mineral Resources
- any naturally occurring concentration of a
free element or compound is solid form is
called mineral deposit.
- Ore -A mineral deposit with a high
concentration of at least one metallic
element.
- Mineral resources are stock resources that
are dormant and if let alone, no economic
benefit could be derived from them.
Therefore, they must be extracted and
ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
processed so that they can be used in the
- There are practical limitations of trophic levels.
industry.
Every time one organism eats another, only a

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319
Week 1
- The Philippines has largest deposits of
metallic minerals like cadmium, chromium,
cobalt, copper, gold and zinc. Non-metallic
mineral includes asbestos, cement raw
material, clay, dolomite, feldspar, gypsum,
marble, phosphate, sulfur and talc.
- Our mineral resources are estimated at 30.8
billion metric tons of which 37% are metallic
and 63% are non-metallic. They are
considered as one of the prime contributors
to the country’s foreign exchange earnings
valued at 1.9 billion US dollar in 1988.
2. Energy Resources
- Fossil fuels are also known as conventional
fuels such as petroleum, fossilized liquid
carbon and coal, a carbon in a solid form.
These minerals are found beneath the earth’s
surface where they have been stored for
billions of years. They are processed and then
burned to produce energy.
- 1910 – oil and natural gas have largely
replaced coal because they are
environmentally “clean” and are easier and
cheaper to transport.
- 1984 – about 82% of the commercial energy
used throughout the world was provide
primarily by the burning of non-renewable
fossils fuels.
- Thus, oil, coal and natural gas and a small
amount of nuclear fission of non-renewable
uranium atoms were used to produce
electricity.
- 1986 – the first oil well in the Philippines was
drilled in Cebu
3. Geothermal Resources
- These are non-renewable but perpetual
energy resources
- Hot springs form when underground water
comes in contact with hot molten materials
beneath the earth’s surface. Wells are drilled
to bring the stream of water into the surface
to be used for space heating in cold countries
and electricity for industrial processes.
- In the Philippines, existing geothermal
resources and power plants are in the province
of Leyte, Tiwi in Albay, Makban in Quezon,
Laguna and Negros Occidental. Indeed, the
Philippines has the second largest geothermal
reserves in the world and is now
internationally recognized for its ingenuity and
expertise on the subject.
4. Conventional Non-renewable Nuclear Fission
- After World War II, the potential of nuclear
power to benefit human became a worldwide
sentiment. Nuclear Fission was used for
creative and constructive purposes such as the
generation of electric power. It was heralded
as cheap, clean and safe source of energy.
Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)
- As Uranium – 325 and plutonium -239 split
apart by neutrons, energy is released and
converted mostly to high temperature heat in
a chain reaction. The rate at which this
process occurs when the high temperature
heat is released is used to spin a turbine
connected to a generator that produces
electrical energy. After about three years in a
reactor, the concentration of fissionable U-235
becomes too low for the certain chain reaction
to proceed, or the rod becomes damaged from
ionizing radiation.
- Primarily because of concerns on safety,
Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Norway
have chosen not to develop this energy source
and Sweden closed its 10 operating reactors by
2010. Since the Chernobyl nuclear incident in
1986, most developing countries have sealed
back or eliminated their plans to build nuclear
power plants.
- In July 1973, the Philippine Government
announced its decision to construct a nuclear
power plant to be operated by the National
Power Corporation (NPC) with a projected
generating capacity of 620 MW in the town of
Morong, Bataan, 85 km west of Manila. After
its completion, group of environmentalists,
and lawyers mounted a resistance against its
operation challenging the NPC and its builders,
the Westinghouse Electric Corporation based
on the following allegations:
o The Philippine Nuclear Power Plant
(PNPP) was deficient, defective and
unacceptable by any reasonable
standards.
o Implementations of designs
developed for another plant are not
suitable for PNPP and many others.
- On December 1, 1988, the Republic of the
Philippines instituted an action with the
District of New Jersey, USA against
Westinghouse Electric Corporation and Burns
and Roe Enterprises Inc. for rescission and
damages on the above grounds and breach of
contract, fraud, and racketeering, among
others.
- On September 19, 1991, the District Court of
New Jersey denied the Philippines’ motion for
summary judgement on the “preliminary
finding” of insufficient evidence of bribery
earlier determined by arbitrators in Geneva.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Government is
paying approximately US$335,000 a day on
interest alone for the loan contracted for the
construction of PNPP.
 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

RENEWABLE RESOURCES
- Our renewable resources of energy are wood,
plants, falling water, solar, tidal wave energy as
well as human and animal muscle power.

1. Solar Energy
- is collected and converted by photovoltaic
cells commonly known as solar cells. A solar
cell is made up from purified silicon to which
other substances such as gallium and cadmium
sulfide are added so that it will emit electrons
and produce a small amount of electrical
current when struck by sunlight.

2. Hydroelectric Power
- since the 1700s, the kinetic energy in the
falling and flowing of water in rivers and
streams has been used to produce electricity.
High dams are built across rivers to create a
large reservoir. The stored water is then
allowed to flow at controlled rates, spinning
turbines and producing electricity as it falls
downward to the river below the dam. All
hydroelectric dams have limited life because of
the silt accumulation due to erosion.

3. Energy from Heat Stored in Water

- ocean water stores large amount of heat from
the sun and this energy is tapped by giant
floating ocean thermal energy conversion
(OTEC) power plants.
- Warm surface water is pumped through a
large heat exchanger and used to evaporate
and pressurize a low-boiling fluid such as
ammonia. The ammonia gas drives turbines to
produce electricity. Cool ocean water is used
to condense the ammonia back to liquid state
to begin the cycle again. However,
construction of such power plant cost twice or
thrice that of coal-fired electric power plant
and can only generate energy up to 3%.
4. Energy from Wind
- since the 1600s, wing energy has been
harvested to propel ships, grind grains, pump
water and power many small industrial ships.
- With an average wind speed of 14-34 mph, a
small to intermediate-sized wind turbine can
generate 10-1000 kilowatt of electricity.

5. Biomass
- this is produced through photosynthesis. It s
an organic plant matter that can be burned
directly as a solid fuel or converted to gaseous
or liquid biofuels through distillation and
pyrolysis (heating in the absence of air).
- In 1984, biomass supplied about 11% of the
world’s commercial energy and is projected to
provide upwards of 15% of the world’s
commercial energy by the first decade of the
21st century.

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

Matter moves in numerous cycles from one part of an

ecosystem to another that is, from one organism to
another and from living organisms to the abiotic
environment and back again. These cycles of matter are
called biogeochemical cycles because they involved
biological, geologic, and chemical interactions.

There are four cycles of matter namely: carbon,

nitrogen, phosphorus, and water as representative of all
biogeochemical cycles. These four cycles are particularly
important to organisms because they involve materials
used to make the chemical components of the cells.
Carbon, nitrogen and water have gaseous component
and so cycle over large distances of the atmosphere with
relative ease. Phosphorus has no gaseous phase; only
local cycling of phosphorus occurs easily

Which biogeochemical cycles are key to life?

Water, which contains hydrogen and oxygen, is essential
for living organisms. That places the water cycle pretty
high on the list of cycles we care about!
The hydrosphere—the set of places where water can be
found as it cycles on Earth—is large and diverse. Water is
present as a liquid on the Earth's surface and
underneath the ground, as ice in the polar ice caps and
glaciers, and as water vapor in the atmosphere.

Water makes up more than half of our bodies, but

humans cannot live by water alone. Instead, there are
some other key elements that keep our bodies running
and are part of biogeochemical cycles:
 Carbon is found in all organic macromolecules
and is also a key component of fossil fuels.
 Nitrogen is needed for our DNA, RNA, and
proteins and is critical to human agriculture.
 Phosphorus is a key component of DNA , RNA
and is one of the main ingredients—along with
nitrogen—in artificial fertilizers used in
agriculture.
 Sulfur is key to protein structure and is
released to the atmosphere by the burning of
fossil fuels.

These cycles don't happen in isolation, and the water

cycle is a particularly important driver of other
biogeochemical cycles. For example, the movement of
water is critical for the leaching of nitrogen and
phosphate into rivers, lakes, and oceans. The ocean is
also a major reservoir—holding tank—for carbon.
Though each element or compound takes its own route,
all of these key chemical nutrients cycle through the
biosphere, moving between the biotic—living—and
abiotic—nonliving—worlds and from one living
organism to another.

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)

 lOMoARcPSD|22270319

Week 1

Downloaded by Crisanto Solomon (crisantosolomon91@gmail.com)