CE3501.

Fundamentals of
Environmental Engineering

Environmental Biology
Lecture 1, Oct. 5, 2005
 Key terms & concepts
Biotic Organism groups:
Abiotic viruses
Atmosphere bacteria
Hydrosphere algae
Lithosphere fungi
Biosphere protozoa
Ecosphere rotifers
Ecology microcrustaceans
Species macrophytes
Population macroinvertebrates
Community fish
Natural vs. engineered systems
What is Life?

• Movement;
• Response to stimuli;
• Metabolism Biotic
• Reproduction; Abiotic
 Scope of Environmental
Engineering – nano- to micro-
Subatomic  Atomic  Molecular  Crystals  unicellular
Scope of Environmental Engineering
micro- to Mega
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
BIOSPHERE

ECOSYSTEM
Structure
• materials;
• size;
• porosity, density;
•
•
•
STRUCTURE? • biotic components
• species
• populations
•Age structure
• communities
• geologic components
• soil type
• soil depth
• slope
• hydrologic components
• water table depth
• rainfall
• runoff, deep seepage
• climatic components
• insolation
• wind
FUNCTION: transportation
FUNCTION(s)?

• Primary production;
• Secondary production;
•Organic matter accumulation;
• Respiration;
•
SUBCELLULAR

PRIONS
VIRUSES
 BACTERIA

Image: epifluorescence microscopy of bacteria in

activated sludge by Ed Verhamme.
FUNGI
Algae
Macrophytes
MICROBIAL LOOP: BACTERIAL
GRAZERS

PROTISTS
ROTIFERS
 Microcrustaceans

Diporeia – dominant
benthic macroinvertebrate
Daphnia- the water flea
in the Great Lakes

Cyclopoid
Copepod
Bosmina
MACROINVERTEBRATES
FISH
 Key terms & concepts
Biotic Organism groups:
Abiotic viruses
Atmosphere bacteria
Hydrosphere algae
Lithosphere fungi
Biosphere protozoa
Ecosphere rotifers
Ecology microcrustaceans
Species macrophytes
Population macroinvertebrates
Community fish
Natural vs. engineered systems
 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
Ecosystem Structure

Population Dynamics

Energy Flow Material Flow in

In Ecosystems Ecosystems
Biochemical
Oxygen Nutrients & nutrient
Demand cycles

Dissolved Eutrophication in lakes

Oxygen in
Rivers