WEEK 1-3 Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOa):

At the end of the unit, you are expected to identify the nature and scope of environmental science as
well as the basic concepts and principles, theories of environmental science.

METALANGUAGE

In this section, the essential terms relevant to the study of environmental science ULO-1 will be
operationally defined to establish atypical frame in the field of natural sciences and social influences
towards the quality of life and sustainability. You will encounter these terms as we go through
environmental science studies with how people and intimately connected and the implications of rapid
population growth and towards the environment. It involves a more comprehensive understanding of
the ecological problem, making judgments evaluation of different types of environ mental and their
functions. Please refer to the definition in case you will encounter difficulty in the understanding of
environmental science concepts.

1. Environment - it is a place where different things are such as a wet or hot environment.1.1. It can be
living (biotic) or non-living (abiotic) community, which includes three essential forces: physical, chemical,
and natural.

2. Science defines the systematized body of knowledge that builds and organizes a lot of information in
a different form of testable experiments and predictions about everything in the universe.

3. Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary academic field in science that integrates all the physical,
biological, and information to the study of the environment, and the solution to environmental
problems.

4. Ecology is a branch of biology concerning interactions among organisms, and their biophysical
environment includes both biotic and a biotic component.

5. Chemistry. The study of matter, its properties, how and why substances combine or separate to form
other elements, and how elements interact with energy.

6. Biodiversity is a group of different individual life that inhibit the plant Earth. That varies on their
genetic component and adaptation to the environment.

6.1. In the terrestrial biodiversity is composed of animals on land usually greater near the
equator, which is an indicator of the warming of the climate.

7. Habitat is considered an environment is naturally occurring toa specific organism to survive.

7.1. A species habitat is those places where the species can find food, shelter, protection, and
mates for reproduction.7.2. Both physical and biological features characterize it.

8. Sustainability. The ability of a system to exist continually at a cost, in a universe that evolves in the
state of entropy toward the thermodynamic equilibrium of the planet.

8.1. In the 21st century, it generally refers to the capacity for the biosphere and human
civilization to coexist.
9. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that could somehow be systematized, defend, recommend, and
identify what right and wrong behavior is.

10. For the environmental Ethics is a discipline in philosophy that studies or focus on the moral
relationship among human beings to the value and moral status of the environment, which includes
plants and animals.

11. The ecosystem is a community comprised of living organisms in conjunction or in relationship with
the nonliving components of their specific environment that interact with each other.

12. Photosynthesis. It is the process of all plants that transform into there lease of energy ATP. During
this process, the light energy of the sun is captured. There is a conversion of water, some mineral and
carbon dioxide, and a certain amount of oxygen needed by animals to survive.

13. A species is a basic unit of classifying and identifying the taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a
unit of biodiversity.

14. Food Chain. A linear network of links in a food web starting from producer organisms and ending at
apex predator species, detritivores, or decomposer species.

15. Food Web. The natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical representation of what-eats-
what in an ecological community.

15.1. Another name for the food web is the consumer-resource system.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcomes) for the first three (3) weeks of the
course, you need fully understand the following essential knowledge that will be laid down in the
succeeding pages. Please be reminded that you are not limited to refer to these resources exclusively.
Thus, you are expected to utilize other books, research articles, and other available resources in the
university library. e.g., e-library, search.proquest.com, etc.

To ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations, we need to understand
something about how our world works, what we are doing to it, and what we can do to protect and
improve it. The word “science” is simply an anglicized version of the Latin “Scientia," which means
knowledge.

Environment. It is defined as the circumstances surrounding an organism or group of organisms

or the complex social or cultural conditions affecting each organism in the given biotic and
abiotic community. However, human being inhabits the natural world, as well as the, built the
environment or the technological, social, and cultural world, all constitute essential parts of our
environment.

Environmental Science it is the systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it. A
highly interdisciplinary, integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in a broad,
holistic study of the world around us. It is the foundation is ecology and is more concerned on
human impact on the environment.
 Kinds of knowledge contribute to solution in Environmental Science

Goal:

Clean Energy Future

1. Ecology. How foes energy production affects populations?

2. Chemistry. How can we make better batteries?

3. Urban Planning. What urban designs can reduce energy use?

4. Sociology. How do people adopt new ideas?

5. Political Science. Which policies lead to sustainable solutions?

6. Engineering. Can we design better vehicles?

7. Economics. What are the benefits and costs of energy sources?

HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTALISM

Environmentalism encompasses environmental health and protection and depicted as an

ideology, philosophy, and social movement, including all aspects covering the changing environment of
the Earth. It began after the industrial revolution when there was an increase of smoke pollution and
chemical discharge which led to the formation of modern environmental laws. In 1863, Britain’s Alkali
Acts were passed to combat air pollution. In 1898, Coal Smoke Abatement Society was established in
response to coal combustion leading to heavy smoke in industrial cities. After World War II, the
industrialization expansion was stupendous that led to economic development and brought nature
degradation. With each passing day, the people became environmentally conscious. With this, the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1948was created to protect and preserve
nature in its original form. The Clean Air Act 1956was formed following the London Smog Episode (Great
Smog of London) 1952. It initially aimed to limit air pollution by controlling the emission of air pollutants.
During 1960-1970 marks the beginning of Modern Environmental Movement and the establishment of
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which was created to protect animals and places from human
developmental activities. The Green Revolution in Agriculture 1966was initiated to understand the
negative impacts of uncontrolled and unregulated use of pesticides and fertilizers on the environment. It
was intended on improving agriculture using environmental-friendly techniques. Other environmental
movements flourished during this decade such as NEPA (1969) which aimed to ensure environmental
health by negotiation policies and acts; US EPA which was created in 1970 to monitor human activities
that are negatively impacting the environment of the Earth; and Greenpeace (1971), a campaign of
committed individuals who tried to stop the American Nuclear Weapon test. Environmental Justice
Movement (1980) is an international movement that aims to encourage social, economic, and
environmental justice by identifying the connection between health and environmental issues began in
response to the unjust treatment of low-income communities that were exposed to environmental
pollution. Thereafter, many conferences were organized that included Stockholm conference in 1972
(United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, 1972), Montreal protocol in 1987 (The
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987), and Kyoto protocol in 1997, etc.
People became more cognizant of the environmental problems attributed by industrialization. The
Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was a massive environmental issue. Hence, the Brundtland Report in 1987
(Our Common Future, 1987)brought more consciousness among people and the Earth Summit in 1992
discussed the socio-economic development along with ways to solve problems concerning
environmental protection. Environmentalism in the new millennium kicked off with the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) 2000 which based on eight goals to be achieved before 2015 which was
reenforced with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2015 as set during the United Nation
General Assembly to be achieved before 2030 that aims for the future through sustainable approaches.
The second Earth Summit which was dubbed as the World Summit on Sustainable Development was
held in 2002 to discuss and organize sustainable development approaches. The key focus was solving
problems of the growing population along with increasing demand for energy, water, and food
resources. International environmental treaties were also established such as Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2001 which aimed to reduce or limit the production, manufacturing, and
utilization of persistent organic pollutants; and the Paris Agreement in 2015 that aimed to limit the
global emission of greenhouse gases to reduce rising global temperature, mitigating and adapting to
climate change. Currently, various conferences were held at various locations around the world to
discuss ongoing environmental crises and possible sustainable approaches.

Environmentalism is constantly developing and dealing with new environmental concerns including
plastic pollution, genetic engineering, global warming, overpopulation, etc.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

It studies the ethical basis of environment or discussion of the ethical basisof

environmental protection. It also deals with the moral relationship of humanbeings to and the
value and moral status of the environment and its nonhumancontent. The ways we interpret
environmental issues, or our decisions aboutwhat we shouldor should not do with natural
resources, depend partly on ourunderlying worldviews. Perhaps you have a primary ethical
assumption thatyou should be kind to your neighborsor try to contribute in positive ways to
yourcommunity. Moral views in society also changeover time. In ancient Greece,many
philosophers who were concerned with ethics and morality ownedslaves; today, few societies
condone slavery. Most societies now believe itiswrong, or unethical, to treat other humans as
property.

The Greeks granted moral value, or worth, only to adult male citizenswithin
theircommunity. Women, slaves, and children had few rights and wereessentially treated
asproperty. Over time we have gradually extended oursense of moral value to a broader circle,
an idea known as ethical extensions.

These philosophical questions are not merely academic or historical. In2004, the journal
science caused a public uproar by publishing a studydemonstrating that fish feel pain. Many
recreational anglers had long managed tosuppress worries that they were causing pain to fish.
The story was so unsettlingthat it made national headlines and provoked fresh public debates on
the ethics offishing. How we treat other people, animals, or things, can also depend on
whetherwe believe they have inherent value—an intrinsic right to exist, or instrumentalvalue
 (they have value because they are useful to someonewho matters). If I hurtyou, I owe you an
apology. If I borrow your car and smash it into a tree, I don't owethe car an excuse. I owe you an
apology—or reimbursement.

Environmental Ethics and Principle:

1. Profound respect for nature

2. Maintain a harmonious relationship with other species

3. Take responsibility for the impact on nature

4. Local and indigenous environmental knowledge should be respected

5. Plan for the long term

MATTER, ENERGY, AND LIFE

Matter. It is anything that can occupy space and has a mass. Solid, liquid, gas,plasma, and Bosh
Einstein Condensate are the phases of matter that constitute thearrangement of the structures and
properties of atoms. All life is made of matter. It cannotbe created nor destroyed, recycled nor
transformed as stated in the Law of Conservationof Matter. Energy provides the force to hold matter
together, tear it apart, and move fromone place to another. The energy in moving objects is called
Kinetic Energy, the stored energy, latent and ready to use is called Potential Energy, and the energy
stored in foodor carbon compounds is called Chemical Energy. Conservation of matter has a
directbearing on human relationship with the biosphere since we use natural resources toproduce a
tremendous amount of disposable goods such as Styrofoam cups, plasticsbags and other synthetic items
that aggravate the garbage problem which eventuallybecomes a major and permanent pollutants.

Thermodynamics and Energy Transfers

The study of thermodynamics deals with how energy is transferred in naturalprocesses. It deals
specifically with the relationships of heat, work, and energy. Ecosystem dynamics are governed by
physics laws, including the law of conservation ofmatter and the laws of thermodynamics. The recycling
of matter is the basis of the cyclesof elements that occur in the ecosystems such as solar energy enters
the system and isconverted to chemical energy through photosynthesis. Likewise, the chemical
energystored in the bonds that hold the food molecules together is available for the metabolismof
organism.

The dynamic balance or homeostasis of organisms and ecosystems centersaround an optimum

stage that is best suited for the healthy existence of the living system.Homeostasis which means “to
stand equally” refers to the dynamic balance in a livingecosystem. When a living ecosystem is active, the
condition in it is change continuouslyin response to many environmental stimuli. It is a condition of
fluctuating balancecentered on some ideal state or optimum. This dynamic balance is maintained by
activeand opposing adjustments and compensation.
Laws of Thermodynamics

Atoms and molecules cycle endlessly through organisms and theirenvironment,

butenergy flows in a one-way path. A constant supply of energy—nearlyall of it from the sun—
isneeded to keep biological processes running. Energy canbe used repeatedly as it flows through
the system, and it can be storedtemporarily in the chemical bonds of organic molecules, but
eventually, it isreleased and dissipated. The study of thermodynamics deals with how energy
istransferred to natural processes. More specifically, it deals with the flow rates andthe
transformation of energy from one form or quality to another.Thermodynamics is a complex,
quantitative discipline regarding the relationshipbetween heat, work, and energy. Heat is the
transfer or flow of energy becauseof temperature difference. Work is the transfer of energy that
is not due to adifference in temperature. However, both heat and work are significant type
ofenergy transfer in organisms and ecosystem.

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy is conserved; that is, it isneither
created nor destroyed under normal conditions. Energy may betransformed, for example, from
the energy in a chemical bond to heat energy, butthe total amount does not change.

The second law of thermodynamics states that, with each successiveenergytransfer or

transformation in a system, less energy is available. Thatis, energy isdegraded to lower-quality
forms, or it dissipates and is lost, as itis used. When youdrive a car, for example, the gas's
chemical energy is degraded to kinetic energy and heat, dissipating, eventually, to space.
Thesecond law recognizes that disorder,or entropy, tends to increase in all-naturalsystems.

Ecological Organization

While cellular and molecular biologists study life processes at themicroscopic level,
ecologists study interactions at the species, population,biotic community, or ecosystem level.
Species refers to all organisms of thesame kind that are genetically similar enough to breed in
nature and produce live, fertileoffspring. Organisms occur in populations, communities,and
ecosystems. A population consists of all the members of a species livingin each area at the same
time. All thepopulations of organisms living andinteracting in a particular area make up a
biologicalcommunity. An ecologicalsystem, or ecosystem, is composed of a biological
community and its physicalenvironment. The environment includes abiotic factors
(nonlivingcomponents), such as climate, water, minerals, and sunlight, as well as bioticfactors,
suchas organisms, their products (secretions, wastes, and remains), and effects in each area.

Energy Flow through Ecosystems

The movement of energy through a living system begins with the capture of sunlight by
primary producers, then energy flows through food chains and food webs in a steady “one way
stream”. As it flows, energy is alternately stored and used to power the life processes of animals
through which it moves. The energy captured by producers and consumers is temporarily stored
until one organism eats another. Each of this storage steps along a food chain or food web are
called a trophic level. The producers represent the first trophic level, herbivores, occupy the
second; carnivores that eat herbivores form the third trophic level, and so on.
 There are practical limitations of trophic levels. Every time one organism eats another,
only a small fraction of energy present in the lower trophic level is stored in the next higher
level. Using the ecological rule of 10 or the 10% rule, an average of only about 10% of energy
fixed by plants is ultimately stored by herbivores. Only 10% of the energy that herbivores
accumulate ends up being stored in the living tissues of carnivores that eat them. And only 10%
of that energyis successfully converted into living tissues by carnivores on the third trophic level.
This inefficient energy chains are called ecological pyramids.

Food Chains and Food Web

Matter and energy are processed through the trophic levels of an ecosystem via food
chains and food web. At each energy transfer point, less energy is available to do work. So,
energy must be supplied to an ecosystem continuously. A primary producer, a herbivore, and a
carnivore form a simple chain.

Take notice of all the animals and plants in most ecosystems, we can see that feeding relationships
usually weave numerous organisms into large, complex, and dynamic networks called food webs, in
which many animals eat several different kinds of food.