Eco;ogy & Sustainable Development

Prof.I.Kolbay

Lecture 1 Topic: Introduction to the course Ecology & Sustainable Development 1. Subject and primary tasks of ecology Ecology - the interrelationships among organisms and between organisms, as well as how organisms interact with their environment. This means that ecologists might study the behavior of a single species to see how it interacts with other organisms and the environment. Or, an ecologist might study many different species that either depend on each other (a foodweb, for example), or compete with each other for food and space. Ecologists can be people who are mainly out in the field doing surveys and research, or in front of a computer modeling complex interactions between populations, for example. From Greek: "oicos" means "home" and "logos" means "study". This term was introduced by E. Heckel in 1868. Ecology was developed as separated biological science in 1920s and as integrated science in 1950s. ! For comparison: Economics: oicos means home and nomos means managing (Managing the house). Bernard Show about Ecology: The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists intrying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. Some ecologists focus on theory, such as developing models that predict how a population of a species will fluctuate, or how likely it is to go extinct. Theoretical ecology is generally heavy on math, computers, and a real understanding of the interactions that cause the things we can observe in the outside world. Other ecologists are field ecologists. They collect data from the field, maybe through plant surveys, or bird counts, or measuring pollutant levels in a water body and relating it to algae levels. They are generally outside more, and rely on the work of theoretical ecologists to help them explain the observations they make. Applied ecology includes fields such as conservation biology, in which theory and field work is applied to conservation problems, like species extinction, nature reserve design, and even education. Restoration ecology is another applied field that focuses on how to bring back some of the habitats that have been removed for a variety of reasons. Again, restoration ecology relies on the work of field and theoretical ecologists to guide their projects. Environment - anything outside the individual organism in which the organism lives and which affect or could affect that organism, other organisms or life in general. Environment - is the set of conditions experienced by an organism or a group of organisms. Environmental science seeks to understand the nature of the environment and its impact on organisms. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Sustainable development: progress in human well-being that we can extend or prolong over many generations, rather than just a few years. Sustainable development is defined as actions that satisfy the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The benefits of sustainable development must be available to all humans, not just to the members of a privileged group. IPAT model (Paul Ehrlich 1970s): I = P A T , where I Environmental Impact P Population (Number of people) A Affluence (Consumption of resources per capita) T Technology (Environmental degradation and pollution)
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Eco;ogy & Sustainable Development

Prof.I.Kolbay

Sustainability = Environmental Issues + Economic Issues + Social Issues Primary tasks of ecology: - to study how organisms act together. - to study how organisms are adapted to their environment. - to develop the rational ways in which people use natural resources. - to find ways in which people can protect natural resources. History Since 1960s - interest of public & governments in protecting environment - establishment of Earth Day - April 22, 1970 - creation of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) - 1970. - Clean Air Act - 1970, 1977, 1990. - Clean Water Act - 1972, 1977. - Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987: phasing out the production of CFCs - Kyoto protocol -1997, industrialized countries (except USA): to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. - International Earth Summits (1992 - Rio-de-Janeiro, 2002 Johannesburg, 2009 Copenhagen). Human condition Humans life on Earth - the planet that we call home: Past: life was hard and short for all people 20 century: progress in medicine, agriculture, industries life becomes easier but not for everybody: 1983: 25% lived in luxury and had a greater life expectancy 21 century: - fast growing population consumes the resources (land, water, fuel) faster than nature can replace them; - resources are not distributed evenly. Environmental Attitudes Development approach = anthropocentric - Human race - master of nature - Earth and its resources exist solely for our benefit and pleasure Preservation approach = ecocentric - Nature has intrinsic value apart from human uses - Keeping large parts of nature intact Conservation approach in between 2 ideas - Promotes human well-being - From Conservation to Sustainable Development Classifying the Modern Environmental Problems 5 major types: Overpopulation Depletion of Resources Pollution Global Changes Wars Overpopulation - presence in a given area of more people that can be supported adequately by the resources available in that area. Overpopulation is a major cause of all other environmental problems: - The needs of everybody for food, water, & energy are not met and it will be worse. - Human activities increasingly damage the environment because of air and water pollution, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity. Consumption and Pollutants A person in a rich country has a much higher consumption of resources and production of pollutants than a person in a poor country. Rich countries comprise 10% of world population,
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Eco;ogy & Sustainable Development but consume ~ 90% of the world's resources and produce ~75% of the world's pollutants.

Prof.I.Kolbay

Resources : fuels, minerals, water, soil, timber

depleted = used up

Depletion of resources in 3 ways: 1) substance can be destroyed, converted to smth else: Examples: coal ashes + gas; U radioactive waste products 2) substance is considered lost if its diluted (not usable): Example: Iron ore is subject to mining (processing) if it contains >40% Fe (iron). Scattered iron is not suitable for mining iron resources are depleted. 3) substance becomes unfit for use by being polluted: Example: Chemical wastes dumped into water water unfit for drinking. Pollution is a reduction in the quality of the environment by the introduction of impurities. Examples: Smoke pollutes the air. Sewage pollutes water. Give more examples Global Changes. Human activities affect the global environment. Example: CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) used widely as refrigerants, sprays catalyze the destruction of OZONE O3, a chemical that protects life on earth from harmful radiation. 10% loss of ozone worldwide causes more skin cancer and cataracts. Wars cause a combination of all possible environmental problems: air, water, soil pollution, nuclear war radioactive waste, depletion of resources, etc.

2. Ecological units: life levels organization: There are 10 levels of biological organization that differentiate by increasing in structural complexity and may also by unique property distinct from the structure. I. SUBATOMIC PARTICLES protons (+ charge), neutrons (neutral: 0 charge), and electrons (- charge). II. ATOMS. Its a fundamental unit of matter, smallest unit of a substance that retains the properties of that substance. 92 types of atoms found in nature. Each kind of atom forms a specific type of matter known as an element. Isotopes - atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons they contain: Hydrogen, Deuterium & Tritium III. MOLECULES. They consist of two or more atoms bonded together. Compound a molecule made up of 2 or more kinds of atoms (elements) held together by chemical bonds IV. ORGANELLES and CYTOPLASM. This level of biological organization is the first one concerning living organisms. These structures are the components from which cells are constructed. V. CELL. The smallest unit that is itself alive. VI. MULTICELLULAR ORGANISM. Its an individual composed of many specialized cells. VII. POPULATION. Its a group of organisms of the same species = all the members of a species that live in the same area and make up a breeding group. Species - a group of organisms that look alike and are capable of producing fertile offspring in the natural environment. VIII. COMMUNITY: Populations of organisms living together in the same environment = all the populations in an area.
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Eco;ogy & Sustainable Development

Prof.I.Kolbay

IX. ECOSYSTEM: Dynamic system of organisms interacting with each other and the inanimate environment = is an ecological unit that includes all the interacting parts of an environment in an area (A. Tansley 1935). X. BIOSPHERE: Entire surface of the earth and its organisms = is that area of the earth where life exists.
Water Unique substance ~70% of the weight of living organisms - Medium in which life's chemical reactions occur - Water solutions electrical conductors - Highest surface tension - Liquid over a wide temperature range - Expands when it crystallizes, unlike most substances - High heat of vaporization (latent heat) - High specific heat Inorganic and Organic Matter Organic matter consists of molecules containing carbon atoms that are bonded to form chains or rings. All living things contain molecules of organic compounds. Chemical bonds in organic molecules contain a large amount of chemical energy that can be released when the bonds are broken. Essential Elements of Life: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen make up 96% of living matter 3. Commoner's principles of ecology. Barry Commoner (1972) proposed four principles: 1. "All parts are interrelated" (universal relationships between phenomena and processes in nature). = Everything is connected to everything else 2. "A change in one part of the system causes changes in other parts" (based on principle of matter and energy conservation) = Everything must go somewhere 3. "Nature knows better" (cooperation between people and nature, or coadaptation, instead taming). 4. "It did not get for nothing" (there is no "free of charge use" of nature).= There is no such thing as free lunch 4. World views and ethical perspectives on environment (a comparison): Philosophy Intrinsic Value Role of Humans Anthropocentric Humans Masters Stewardship () Humans and nature Caretakers Biocentric Species One of many Animal rights Individuals Equals Ecocentric Processes Destroyers Ecofeminist Relationships Caregivers 5. Ecology structure, approaches and objects: Ecology structure and approaches Ecology objects Autecology - the ecology of single species. Single species (organisms) Demecology - the ecology of populations. Populations Synecology - the ecology of communities. Communities Global ecology - the ecology of biosphere. Biosphere 6. Connection of the ecology to other disciplines: Biology Mathematics, (Botany, Zoology, Physiology. Genetics etc..) Computer science Physics Geography

Chemistry Geology
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Eco;ogy & Sustainable Development

Prof.I.Kolbay

Medicine Politics Sociology

Economics Law Ethics etc.

Engineering Philosophy

7. Importance of knowledge of the ecology Knowledge of the ecology is important for understanding such phenomena as: Species' conserving biodiversitys preserving ecosystem functions maintenance soil fertilitys preserving (preventing the land degradation) studying the effects of pollutants preventing the global warming, air and water pollution calculating the sustainable yields in fisheries, forestry, and hunting etc. Summary: Ecology has own subject, objects, tasks and methods therefore we should use its principles, definitions and terms correctly. Modern Ecology - is universal fundamental integrated developing science. Ecology is to environmental science as physics is to engineering. Ecology - is the theoretical base for rational using of natural resources.

of

investigations;