Enviromental Science Prelim Exam

Submitted by: Richard J. Canapi BSHRM II Submitted to: Dr. Carmelita Abbang Instructor

The Three Elements of Biosphere The lithosphere is the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. On Earth, it comprises the crust and the portion of the upper mantle that behaves elastically on time scales of thousands of years or greater.

The hydrosphere in physical geography describes the combined mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet. An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low. Some planets consist mainly of various gases, but only their outer layer is their atmosphere. The Four Laws of Ecology Formulated by physicist and ecologist, Barry Commoner. 1) Everything is connected to everything else - humans and other species are connected/dependant on a number of other species. 2) Everything must go somewhere - no matter what you do, and no matter what you use, it has to go somewhere. For example, when you burn wood, it doesn't disappear, it turns into smoke which rises into the air, and ash, which falls back down to the earth. 3) Nature knows best - Like it says, nature knows best. As much as you think it might help a place by repainting it, you are submitting the fumes into the air and into your lungs. Why not put siding on it? 4) There is no such thing as a free lunch - Everything you do, must have a reson behind it. For example, a class pizza party. In order to win the party, you have to fill out a survey, and submit it back to your teacher. This law basically means you have to do something in order to get something in return. Different Components of our Ecosystem 1. Abiotic Components Abiotic components are such physical and chemical factors of an ecosystem as light, temperature, atmosphere gases(nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide are the most important), water, wind, soil. These specific abiotic factors represent the geological, geographical, hydrological and climatological features of a particular ecosystem. Separately: Water, which is at the same time an essential element to life and a milieu

Air, which provides oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide to living species and allows the dissemination of pollen and spores Soil, at the same time source of nutriment and physical support. The salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus content, ability to retain water, and density are all influential. Temperature, which should not exceed certain extremes, even if tolerance to heat is significant for some species Light, which provides energy to the ecosystem through photosynthesis Natural disasters can also be considered abiotic. According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, a moderate amount of disturbance does good to increase the biodiversity.

2. Biotic Components The living organisms are the biotic components of an ecosystem. In ecosystems, living things are classified after the way they get their food. Biotic Components include the following -Autotrophs produce their own organic nutrients for themselves and other members of the community; therefore, they are called the producers. There are basically two kinds of autotrophs, "chemoautotrophs and photoautogrophs. " Chemautotrophs are bacteria that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds such as ammonia, nitrites, and sulfides , and they use this energy to synthesize carbohydrates. Photoautotrophs are photosynthesizers such as algae and green plants that produce most of the organic nutrients for the biosphere. Heterotrophs, as consumers that are unable to produce, are constantly looking for source of organic nutrients from elsewhere. Herbivores like giraffe are animals that graze directly on plants or algae. Carnivores as wolf feed on other animals; birds that feed on insects are carnivores, and so are hawks that feed on birds. Omnivores are animals that feed both on plants and animals, as human. Detritivores - organisms that rely on detritus, the decomposing particles of organic matter, for food. Earthworms and some beetles, termites, and maggots are all terrestrial detritivores. Nonphotosynthetic bacteria and fungi, including mushrooms, are decomposers that carry out decomposition, the breakdown of dead organic matter, including animal waste. Decomposers perform a very valuable service by releasing inorganic substances that are taken up by plants once more

Types of ecological interactions

1. Competition two species share a requirement for a limited resource reduces fitness of one or both species Ex. Forest and rat 2. Predation one species feeds on another enhances fitness of predator but reduces fitness of prey. Ex. Polar Bear and fish 3. Parasitism one species feeds on another enhances fitness of parasite but reduces fitness of host. Ex. Ant and Coackroch 4. Mutualism two species provide resources or services to each other enhances fitness of both species. Ex Beez and flowers 5. Commensalism one species receives a benefit from another species enhances fitness of one species; no effect on fitness of the other species. Ex. Stingray and shark 6. Symbiosis two species live together can include parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism Ex. Jellyfish and The Corals