2. Chapter 1: Introduction to
Environmental Science
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the student should
be able to:
1.define environmental science and ecology
2.state the history of Ecology; and
3.relate the ecological principles and laws
3. Lesson 1: Definition of Environmental
Science & Ecology
• Environmental Science gives an overview of how the biotic
and abiotic affects our environment. It also focuses on
interactions between the solid Earth, its water, its air and its
living organisms, and on dynamic, interdependent
relationships between these four components.
• Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relations
of organisms to one another and to their physical
surroundings.
• Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each
other and their environment. This includes living things
(biotic factors) and non-living things (abiotic factors).
4. Lesson 2: Historical Roots of Ecology
Ecology usually derived from teo Greek
word “Oikos” which means “HOUSEHOLD”
and “logos” meaning “TO STUDY”.
The term ecology was first defined by the
German biologist Earnst Haeckel in 1866.
5. Our Role in Ecology
1. On improving our Environment
problem: in 1960’s, ecological research identified two
major causes of poor water quality in lakes and streams-
phosphorus and nitrogen
solution: citizen were able to take the necessary steps to
help restore their communities’ lake or stream
6. Our Role in Ecology
2. Public Health
a. Natural services
b. Biomedical contributions
c. Lyme Disease
3. Natural Resource Management
a. Endangered Species Protection
b. Forestry solution
c. Agricultural solution
d. Fishing solution
7. Lesson 3: Ecological Laws & Principles
- Four Laws of Ecology
• 1.First Law of Ecology – Everything is
Connected to Everything else.
Example situation:
Justify the effect of human-frog relationship in a rice field
that in the end as frog population decreases followed the
increased of grasshoppers.
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8. Principles that support the first law:
o Interdependence/interrelatedness.
o Diversity and stability.
o Balance of Nature
o Stewardship.
9. Lesson 3: Ecological Laws & Principles
- Four Laws of Ecology
• 2.Second law of Ecology – Everything
must go somewhere.
Example situation:
Dry-cell battery mercury is purchased, used to the point of exhaustion and then
thrown away. But where does it really go? First, it is placed in a container of
rubbish, this is collected and taken into an incinerator. The mercury is heated; this
produces mercury vapor which is emitted by the incinerator stack and mercury
vapor is toxic and carried by the wind eventually brought to the earth in rain or
snow. And if any chance, mercury condenses and sinks to the bottom hence, it is
acted by the bacteria which converted it to methyl mercury. From this scenario,
what will be the fate of methyl mercury as it flows out to the bodies of water.
11. Lesson 3: Ecological Laws & Principles
- Four Laws of Ecology
3.Third Law of Ecology. Nature knows best.
Principle that support to this law:
Change is basic to nature
Sustainability Actions may address to sustain
that needs of the present situation without
compromising the environment
12. Lesson 3: Ecological Laws & Principles
- Four Laws of Ecology
4. Fourth law of ecology. There is no such
Thing as a Free Lunch
Example situation:
Deforestation activity of human shows lack of concern about to the
environment. This activity cannot be avoided nowadays but need to
mitigate it. The environmental crises can be delayed but may be
manifested as time goes by.
List some environmental result for this deforestation activity.
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13. Principle:
Finiteness and Resource. Even the most abundant
natural resources are in danger of being depleted in the
light of human overpopulation and overexploitation.
