1

MODULE

ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

Module 1 covers the following topics:

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
1. Ecological Concepts At the end of this module, the students shall be able
to:
1.1. Introduction to Environmental 1. Identify the importance of environmental
engineering
Engineering
2. Describe the environment and its
components
1.2. Ecology of Life
3. Discuss the role of engineers in
environmental engineering
1.3. Biogeochemical Cycles

1.4. Ecosystems

9
 MODULE 1
Ecological Concepts
PRE-TEST
Choose the letter of the correct answer and write them on the blanks provided.

_____1. What is biotic environment?

a. consists of physical (non-living) factors that influence life

b. consists of all the living things including plants, animals, human beings and micro-organisms

c. the water on or surrounding the surface of the earth. (e.g. seas, rivers and oceans)

_____2. What are the basic components of environment?

a. Abiotic and biotic environment

b. Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

c. Land, air and water

_____3. What is Lithosphere?

a. the layer of gases that surrounds the earth

b. the water on or surrounding the surface of the earth. (e.g. seas, rivers and oceans)

c. the rigid outer part of the earth consisting the crust and the solid outermost layer of the upper
mantle

_____4. The layer of gases that surrounds the earth

a. biosphere

b. lithosphere

c. atmosphere

_____5. What is abiotic environment?

a. consists of physical (non-living) factors that influence life

b. consists of all the living things including plants, animals, human beings and micro-organisms

c. the water on or surrounding the surface of the earth. (e.g. seas, rivers and oceans)

_____6. Which of these are examples of man-made ecosystem?

10
 a. Aquarium

b. Crop Field

c. Wet land

d. Both A and B

_____7. Which of the following occupy top vertical strata of forest ecosystem?

a. Tree

b. Shrubs

c. Phytoplankton

d. Herbs and Grasses

_____8. Primary productivity depends on which of the following factors?

a. Availability of nutrients

b. Environmental factor

c. Photosynthetic capacity of plant

d. All of these

_____9. The biomass available for consumption by the herbivores and the decomposers is called

a. Net primary productivity

b. Gross primary productivity

c. Secondary productivity

d. Standing crop

_____10. This factor contributes to the carbon cycle:

a. Respiration

b. Photosynthesis

c. fossil fuel combustion

d. All of the above

11
_____11. The source of carbon to plants in the carbon cycle is:

a. carbonate rocks

b. fossil fuels

c. atmospheric carbon dioxide

d. None of the above

_____12. In the carbon cycle, the human body returns carbon to the atmosphere through this way:

a. waste products

b. formation of glucose

c. cellular respiration

d. None of the above

12