Module 1 - Ecological Concepts

Module 1: Ecological Concepts
BS INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
Engr. Marc Jeric Farofaldane, CIE, SSGB-T
Outline
 Introduction to environmental engineering

 Ecology of life
 Biogeochemical cycles
 Ecosystems
Environmental Science / Engineering
Environmental science studies all aspects

of the environment in an interdisciplinary
way since it requires the knowledge of
various other subjects including biology,
chemistry, physics, statistics, microbiology,
biochemistry, geology, economics, law,
sociology, etc.
Environmental engineering seeks to solve

problems and design systems using
knowledge of environmental concepts and
ecology, thereby providing solutions to
various environmental problems.
The top 10 (or more) Environmental Issues
1. Population
2. Climate Change
3. Loss of Biodiversity
4. The Phosphorus and Nitrogen Cycles
5. Water
6. Ocean Acidification
7. Pollution
8. Ozone Depletion
9. Over Fishing
10. Deforestation
http://planetearthherald.com/top-10-environmental-issues/
Although it is impossible to eliminate negative impacts,
human effects can be diminished and brought under control
through…..
• Public education
• Conservation
• Regulation
• The application of good engineering practice
Factors Affecting the Environment..
1. Increasing number of humans on earth (population growth)
2. The rising standard of living (advances in agriculture, urbanization,
industrialization)
Man exerts a tremendous impact on the

environment through..
1. Extraction of resources
2. Modification and manipulation of the environment
3. Pollution resulting from deposition of wastes
Ecological Impact on Environment
• On the productivity of the ecosystem (green

plants, atmospheric oxygen)
• On other organism (microorganism, insects,

animals)
• On climate (global warming, ozone hole, acid

rain)
Health Impact
• Due to microbiological pollution

• Due to microchemical pollution
Water Quality Engineering
• Water treatment - take water from a source and subject it to treatment

processes to make the water suitable for its intended use
• Waste water treatment - after water is used, it is collected and treated to

make it suitable to be returned to the environment
A first Water Quality Engineering Problem
• 1854, outbreak of
cholera in London
• 10,000 deaths
• John Snow mapped
victims addresses
• Convinced city official
to remove pump
handle
Water Treatment Plants
Maynilad water treatment facility Marikina north wastewater catchment plant

How the Waste Water Treatment Plant Works
A few problems that we need to solve!
• RUN-OFF: Contamination of aquatic environments by fertilizers and

pesticides in agricultural runoff
• GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION: Contamination of groundwater
resources, especially by hazardous wastes
• REUSE: Treating wastewater for reuse
Air Quality Engineering
• Apply science and technology to control adverse

effects of air pollution on human health and
welfare, on other organisms, on materials, or on
ecosystems
• Most efforts focus on emission sources since
once pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere,
there are no practical engineering techniques for
removing them
Clear Day
Hazy Day
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Metal foundry refining in early industrial Germany,

1870s
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Early
1900s,
NY City
Air Pollution
Downtown Los Angeles, December 31, 1993

Air Pollution
Kuwait, August 1990
Kuwait, February 1991
21
Air Pollution
Pollution doesn’t have boundaries
This dust plume

passed over urban
areas in China, Korea
and Japan, cruised
over the Pacific Ocean
and eventually made
its way to Alaska.
3 April 2002
WHY DO WE CARE?
Some air pollutants cause adverse health effects, and we

don’t like feeling bad or dying young.
Two examples of particle collectors in

southern California
www.aqmd.gov/news1/50th_photos.htm
WHY DO WE CARE?
Human welfare…
Melon leaves damaged by ozone
Statue damaged by acid rain
Feedlot
A few problems that we need to solve!
• ACID RAIN: Deposition of contaminants emitted into the

atmosphere that have been converted to acidic species
• OZONE HOLE: Depletion of stratospheric ozone by
chlorine from CFCs
• HAPS: Reduction of hazardous air pollutant emissions
(carcinogens, teratogens, etc.)
• BIOMASS COMBUSTION: Exposure of women and
children to emissions from biomass cook stoves in rural
areas in developing countries
HAZARDOUS WASTE Management
• Creation, growth of
the chemical
industry during the
20th century
established need
• Hazardous if…
corrosive, ignitable,
reactive, toxic,
radioactive, infectious…
• Hazardous if…
corrosive, ignitable,
reactive, toxic,
radioactive,
infectious…
• What needs to be done?
–Develop, apply methods for proper use, treatment
and disposal
–Identify and remediate contaminated waste sites
Sustainable development
• "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs."
Sustainable Engineering
© 2011 Cengage Learning Engineering. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction to Ecology
Define ecology:
The scientific study of interactions among

organisms and between organisms and
the environment.
Introduction to Ecology
Biosphere contains the

combined portions of the planet
in which all of life exist,
including land, water and
atmosphere
Level of Organization of an Ecosystem
Species
Species - group of
organisms so similar
to another that they
can breed and
produce fertile
offspring
Population
• Population – same
species and live in
same area
Community
• Communities –
different populations
that live together in a
defined area
Ecosystem
• Ecosystem – a
collection of all
organisms that live in
a particular place
together with their
nonliving
environment.
Biome
• Biome – a group of
ecosystems that
have the same
climate and similar
dominant
communities.
What shapes an Ecosystem?
Biotic and Abiotic
• Biotic and Abiotic factors determine the

survival and growth of an organism and the
productivity of the ecosystem in which an
organism lives.
Biotic Factors
• Living Factors that

influence an
ecosystem
• Plant life
• Animal life
Abiotic Factors
• Physical, non-living
factors that influence
an ecosystem
• Examples-
temperature,
precipitation,
humidity, wind,
nutrients, sunlight
Other factors that affect an Ecosystem
• The
A niche
areaiswhere
the fullanrange
organism
of physical
lives isand
called
biological
its habitat.
conditions in which an
organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions. It is
• an organisms’
Habitats occupation.
provide populations of wildlife with food, water, shelter and space.
Cycles that affect Ecosystems
Water Cycle
Water Cycle Definitions
• Evaporation – process of becoming a vapor; liquid to a

gas
• Condensation – state of matter from gas to liquid; reverse
of vaporization
• Precipitation – the amount of water that falls to earth as
snow, sleet, hail, rain, mist
• Transpiration – loss of water from a plant through its
leaves
• Runoff – the flow of water, from snow and rain
• Infiltration – process by which water on the ground enters
soil
Carbon Cycle
CO2 Cycle Description
• Plants release O2 into atmosphere as a waste product

• Animals release CO2 into atmosphere as a waste product
• Factories and cars release CO2 into atmosphere through combustion.
• Plants use CO2 during photosynthesis and animals use O2 for
respiration.
Energy Flow
• Every organism needs energy to power life’s processes
• The flow of energy through an ecosystem is one of the most important factors
that determines the ability to sustain life
Autotrophs
• Captures energy from sunlight or

chemicals and use that energy to
produce food.
• Other names are producers or plants.
• Are essential for the flow of energy
through the biosphere
• Produce food through Photosynthesis
Heterotrophs
• Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply.
• Consumer is another name
• Types of Consumers
• Herbivores
• Carnivores
• Omnivores
• Decomposers
• Detritivores
Decomposers
• Breaks down
dead/decay matter
• Bacteria and fungi
are examples of
decomposers
• Detritivores feed on
plant/animal remains
• Millipedes and
earthworms are
detritivores
Parasites
A parasite is an organism that

lives on or in a host organism
and gets its food from or at the
expense of its host.
Example – Tick, Flea, Tapeworm

Energy Flow
Energy flows through an

ecosystem in one direction from
the sun to autotrophs (producers)
and then to heterotrophs
(consumers).
Food Chains
• A food chain is a
series of steps in
which organisms
transfer energy by
eating and being
eaten.
Food Web
• A network of complex
feeding relationships
among the various
organisms in an
ecosystem
Why are Natural Resources Important?
 The Earth provides almost everything we need to survive

through its atmosphere, oceans, and soil.
 We use Earth’s natural resources to help us survive
 A natural resource is any natural material that is used by

humans or living things
 Examples include water, petroleum, minerals, forests, and
animals.
 Most natural resources are made into products; very few
natural resources are used in their natural state
What are Renewable Resources?
• A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be used and replaced

over a relatively short time
• Although they can be replaced, we have often used them more quickly than
they can be replaced
• Examples:
– Water
– Trees
What are Non-Renewable Resources?
 Not all of Earth’s resources are renewable
 A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be replaced or

that can be replaced only over thousands or millions of years
 The Earth only has a certain amount of nonrenewable resources at any
given time
 Examples:
 Oil
 Natural Gas
 Coal
What are Fossil Fuels?
• Energy Resources are natural resources that humans use to generate energy
• Most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels.
• A Fossil Fuel is a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of

plants and animals that lived long ago.
• Examples of fossil fuels include petroleum, coal, and natural gas.
• When these fossil fuels are burned they produce energy
• However, when these fossil fuels are burned and because they are non-
renewable resources they are gone.
• Once they are used up and gone, new supplies won’t be available for
thousands or millions of years
How is coal formed?
How is oil and natural gas formed?
What are Alternative Resources?
• Most of our energy needs comes from the use of fossil fuels, but there are
two main problems with fossil fuels:
– Availability is limited
– Obtaining and using fossil fuels harms the environment
• To continue to have energy, but reduce pollution we must find alternative

energy sources
What are some Alternative energy sources?
• Like all things, each alternative energy sources

has pros and cons
– Nuclear Energy- energy from fission or fusion
reactions
– Solar Energy- energy from the sun
– Wind Energy- energy from the wind
– Hydroelectricity- energy from the flow of water
– Biomass- energy from burning organic or living matter
– Geothermal- energy from the earth
• These energy sources are Inexhaustible meaning
they are constant and will not run out
Why is it important to conserve our
Natural Resources?
 We need to be careful on how we use our natural

resources and use them only when necessary
 Conservation is the preservation and careful
management of the environment and of natural
resources
 Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!!!
 One way is to limit their uses
 Example: turn off the faucet, replant plants
 Recycling is the process by which used or discarded
materials are treated for reuse
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs,
but not every man’s greed. ― Mahatma Gandhi

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Module 1: Ecological Concepts

 Introduction to environmental engineering

Environmental science studies all aspects

Environmental engineering seeks to solve

Man exerts a tremendous impact on the

• On the productivity of the ecosystem (green

• On other organism (microorganism, insects,

• On climate (global warming, ozone hole, acid

• Due to microbiological pollution

• Water treatment - take water from a source and subject it to treatment

• Waste water treatment - after water is used, it is collected and treated to

Maynilad water treatment facility Marikina north wastewater catchment plant

• RUN-OFF: Contamination of aquatic environments by fertilizers and

• Apply science and technology to control adverse

Metal foundry refining in early industrial Germany,

Downtown Los Angeles, December 31, 1993

Kuwait, August 1990

Kuwait, February 1991

Pollution doesn’t have boundaries

This dust plume

Some air pollutants cause adverse health effects, and we

Two examples of particle collectors in

Melon leaves damaged by ozone

Statue damaged by acid rain

• ACID RAIN: Deposition of contaminants emitted into the

• "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the

© 2011 Cengage Learning Engineering. All Rights Reserved.

The scientific study of interactions among

Biosphere contains the

• Biotic and Abiotic factors determine the

• Living Factors that

• Evaporation – process of becoming a vapor; liquid to a

• Plants release O2 into atmosphere as a waste product

• Every organism needs energy to power life’s processes

• Captures energy from sunlight or

A parasite is an organism that

Example – Tick, Flea, Tapeworm

Energy flows through an

 The Earth provides almost everything we need to survive

 A natural resource is any natural material that is used by

• A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be used and replaced

 Not all of Earth’s resources are renewable

 A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be replaced or

• Most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels.

• A Fossil Fuel is a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of

• When these fossil fuels are burned they produce energy

• To continue to have energy, but reduce pollution we must find alternative

• Like all things, each alternative energy sources

 We need to be careful on how we use our natural

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