Introduction to Ecological Principles PDF 2024-2025

Introduction to Ecological Principles Topics What is Ecology? What is ecological organization?  ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION 3  Term Details biosphere the portion of Earth where life occurs ecosystem the basic functional unit of nature. Living and...

Introduction to Ecological Principles Topics What is Ecology? What is ecological organization?  ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION 3  Term Details biosphere the portion of Earth where life occurs ecosystem the basic functional unit of nature. Living and nonliving factors interact to process energy and cycle materials biotic a natural grouping of different kinds of community plants and animals within any given habitat population individuals of the same species living together within a given area biomes areas that can be recognized by the distinctive life forms of their dominant species; in most cases, by the dominant type of vegetation 4  Ecology The scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment, such as the interactions organisms have with each other and with their abiotic environment. 5  Biosphere: Zone Where Life Exists Earth’s Biosphere 10973m below sea level into 9144+m the atmosphere. May reach temperatures of 250F (121ºc). Thought to have first contained life forms similar to bacteria 3.5 billion years ago. Approximate 1.8million named species and more awaits to be discovered. The environmental system : set of interactions between the elements of the biosphere, which includes the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the ecosphere. 6  The Biosphere 7  Ecosystems Broad definitions: Community of living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) organisms that occur within an environment linked together through the processes of energy collection and use. Can range from a drop of water to an entire planet. Eco = the Environment; System = regularly interacting and interdependent components forming a unified whole 8 Biotic Communities A natural grouping of similar organisms. Individuals of the same specials collectively called a population. Like ecosystems, can vary in size. Again, an organizing concept rather than a precise set of facts Example: Coral reef ecosystem Biomes ~Tundra ~Taiga ~Temperate Deciduous Forest ~Grasslands ~Desert ~Tropical Rain Forest Nature knows best. (Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.) 11  1. Nature knows best. (Ang kalikasan ang mas nakakaalam.) Nature manifests certain processes that enable it to maintain balance and remain in a state of equilibrium. The nutrient cycling of nitrogen, carbon, sulfur and phosphorous in the air, water and land indicates that minerals are utilized within the confines of the earth. Also shown in the food chain and food web. 12 13  2. All forms of life are important. (Ang lahat na may buhay ay mahalaga.) All living organisms were created for a purpose in relation to humans, other species on earth and global ecosystem in general. Thus, when a species becomes extinct, it is like removing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle from the web of life. The variety of life forms, manifested by the different levels of biological diversity – community, species and genes – contributes to the stability of the environment. Food webs, food chains and ecological relationships link plants and animals together in the web of life. Even bacteria, insects, snakes and rats have ecological functions even though humans perceive them as parasites or pests. 14 15  3. Everything is connected to everything else. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkakaugnay.) The intricate relationships of various elements of the ecosystem bind the components together into one functional unit. The trees in the forest are home to ferns, orchids, birds, insects and mammals. When these plants and animals die, their products of decomposition contribute to soil fertility. Plants provide oxygen to animals for aerobic respiration while animals furnish carbon dioxide to plants for photosynthesis. The quality of the soil determines the type of vegetation that exists while vegetation contributes to the minerals of the soil when they die. The living component of the ecosystem affects and is affected by the abiotic components, such as air, temperature, land. Inter-specific relationships create a dependency with each other so that they both have to co-exist to live. 16 17  4. Everything changes. (Ang lahat ay nagbabago.) Changes in the biophysical world occur naturally. As they say, there is nothing more permanent in this world than change. Consider the following examples. Metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies illustrates morphological changes that occur in living forms. The increase of vegetation on earth augmented the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere through time. Seasons are cyclic changes that contribute to the diversity of flowers, fruits, vegetables and other crops during the year. Random changes manifested by natural catastrophe such as typhoons destroy forests, coral reefs and mangroves. Volcanic eruptions annihilate surface flora and submerge rivers. 18 19  5. Everything must go somewhere. (Ang lahat ng bagay ay may patutunguhan.) By-products of consumption go back to the environment. Everything that we throw away – pieces of paper, left-over food, peelings of fruits, plastic wrappers, used containers – have to go somewhere. 20 21  6. Ours is a finite earth. (Ang kalikasan ay may hangganan.) Everything that we need is provided by nature in abundance – food, water, energy, minerals and air. However, some resources that we depend upon nowadays are extracted excessively but are slow to replace. These non-renewable resources experience limits of supply. For instance, fossil fuels produced over thousands of years may be exhausted in a hundred years. Some energy sources like water, and wood may be replaced easier but have become inaccessible due to pollution and excessive extraction. 22 23  7. Nature is beautiful, and we are stewards of God’s creation. (Ang kalikasan ay maganda at tayo ang tagapangasiwa ng lahat na nilikha ng Diyos.) Creation presupposes the existence of a Creator. The beautiful nature around us, perfect by itself, has deteriorated due to the negative impacts of human use. This principle suggests how a Human-Creator relationship is translated in our attitude towards creation. Theologians explain that there are different levels of this relationship. First is a relationship determined by dominion of humans over creation, that humans can do as they wish because this was given by God. The book of Genesis says “have dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air…” The second level is one of stewardship, that of a caretaker where humans are not owners but guardians of the integrity of nature. The third level promotes a kinship relationship postulated by St. Francis de Assisi in the famous verse “Bother sun, Sister moon”, where humans are no higher than the birds and fishes of the sea. Fourth is one of sacrament, where nature becomes a testimony of God’s love. Fifth is a covenant relationship, where protection of the earth is a life mission manifested in the things that we do and say. 24  Conclusion Which ecological principle is the most striking to you? Why? 25