SUBJECT: Ecology and

Environmental Protection
Duration: Four (4) hours
A. Overview of Ecology
B. Water Cycle & its Relation to the
Ecosystems
C. Biodiversity Conservation
D. Env’tal Problems: Causes & Effects
E. Articles on Environmental Protection
F. Climate Proofing 4 Development
Eulito V. Casas, Jr., PhD EnSci.
Environmental Advocate
Chair DNSM, UPVTC
PNP 3rd Master Plan
Sangyaman:
• Sangyaman
– Protection and Preservation of the Environment,
cultural heritage and Natural Resources.

• Saklolo
– Disaster Response and management

• Sandigan, Sang-ingat
Key Concepts in ECOLOGY

Basic ecological principles

Major components of ecosystems

Matter cycles and energy flow

Ecosystem studies

Ecological services
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Ecosystem Ecology
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•Study of interactions among

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organisms and their physical
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 What is an ecosystem?
•bounded ecological system
consisting of all the
organisms in an area and the
physical environment with
which they interact.
–Biotic and abiotic processes

–Pools and fluxes

Simple ecosystem
model
Spatial
scale
The Nature of Ecology

Ecosystem organization
Organisms
Populations
Communities
Ecosystems
Biosphere
Ecosystem components
Plants
Animals
Decomposers
Abiotic components
 Water

 Atmosphere

 Soil minerals
The Earth’s Life-Support Systems

Biosphere
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere

Fig. 4-6 p. 68
 Atmosphere

BIOS-
Lithosphere PHERE
Hydrosphere

Biosphere: Life Support System (LSS) of all orgms.

Sustaining Life of Earth

One-way flow
of energy

Cycling of
matter

Fig. 4-7 p. 69
The Source of Energy
Ecosystem Concepts : Biomes
Ecosystem Concepts and Components
B
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Role of
climate
Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones
Principles of Ecological Factors
Abiotic factors Law of tolerance
Biotic factors Limiting factors

Fig. 4-14 p. 73; Refer to Fig. 4-13 p. 73

The Biotic Components of
Ecosystems
 Producers
(autotrophs)
 Photosynthesis
 Consumers
(heterotrophs)
 Aerobic
respiration
 Decomposers
Trophic Levels
Primary consumer (herbivore)
Secondary consumer (carnivore)
Tertiary consumer
Omnivore
Detritivores and scavengers
Decomposers
Biodiversity

Genetic diversity

Species diversity

Ecological diversity

Cultural diversity
Connections: Food Webs and Energy
Flow in Ecosystems
Food chains Food webs
Ecological Pyramids

 Pyramid of Fig. 4-20 p. 79

energy flow
 Ecological
efficiency
 Pyramid of
biomass
 Pyramid of
numbers
Connections: Matter Cycling in
Ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycles

Hydrologic cycle (H2O)

Atmospheric cycles (C, N)

Sedimentary cycles (P, S)

Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)
The Nitrogen Cycle
The Phosphorus Cycle
The Sulfur
Cycle
How Do Ecologists Learn About
Ecosystems?

Field research
Remote sensing
Geographic information systems (GIS)
Laboratory research
Systems analysis
GIS and Systems Analysis

Fig. 4-32 p. 91 Fig. 4-33 p. 91

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability