NASC 1093 General Ecology

I.

Course Description: This course intends to acquaint the students with the environment and their

relationships. It aims to update all students on the increasing importance of this study in human affairs. It aims to present topics that are value oriented, and conservative in approach. It also tries to develop among the students social awareness related to the biological world. Thus, concerned and better persons will be the product of this course. II. Objectives: A. Cognitive Aims At the end of the course, the students should be able to: 1. understand and appreciate Science, the changes it brings about and develop abilities necessary to cope with such changes especially on environmental study. 2. realize environmental problems and impart their constructive roles. 3. acquaint themselves on advancements in Science. B. Value Aims At the end of course, the students should be able to: 1. love nature and recognize their importance to man. 2. participate actively in the national effort to preserve and conserve the natural resources. 3. develop appreciation for the harmony and order of nature. III. A. Course Outline Part One (Introduction: Ecology, Definition and its Scope) global trends of modern technologies and

a. Brief Historical Background i. Ecology as a branch of Biology ii. Related biological disciplines b. Environmental Problems and the Role of Man in his Community

B.

Part Two

(Basic Ecological Concepts and Principles)

a. The Ecosystem i. Physical Environment or abiotic component Lithosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere

ii. Biotic Community Producers Consumers Decomposers iii. Interrelationships of living things in the ecosystem iv. Planet Earth as an ecosystem v. Microsystem: aquarium, paramecium culture, hay infusion b. Energy in the Ecological System i. Energy sources: traditional and non traditional ii. Alternative sources of energy e.g. Tidal, Current, Geothermal, Solar , Nuclear, etc. iii. Energy Transformation iv. Food chains, food web and trophic levels v. Channeling of energy in the crop ecosystem c. Biochemical cycles i. Types of biogeochemical cycles ii. Gaseous: oxygen cycle, hydrochloric cycle, carbon and nitrogen cycles iii. Recycle pathways d. Factors that limit growth and reproduction of living things i. Physical factors of importance as limiting factors

 Light, water, temperature, atmospheric gases, biogenic salts, current, soil, etc. e. Population and communities i. Attributes of population ii. Demographic factors iii. Concepts of density dependent and density independent, population regulation and control iv. Relationships in nature Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism Predation Interspecific competition Antibiosis v. Problems of food supply IV. C. Quiz Part Three (The Habitat)

a. Freshwater Ecology i. Classification of freshwater organisms b. Marine ecology i. Marine flora and fauna ii. Mangrove and coral reefs o MIDTERM Exam c. Terrestrial ecology i. Major terrestrial biomes; tropical rainforest, tundra, northern coniferous forest, temperate grassland, etc. d. Estuarine ecology i. Biota and productivity D. Part Four (Appreciation and Technology)

a. Philippine Natural Resources i. Agriculture and forestry ii. Aquaculture iii. Land use Total area cultivated in the Philippines Uncultured areas Residential areas b. Depletion of environmental resources and long terrestrial effect i. Soil and water ii. Forests iii. Minerals iv. Wildlife: endangered species in the Philippines c. Conservation and the failure d. Pollution and environmental health i. Kinds of pollution: air, water, soil, noise ii. Basic concepts of eutrophication iii. Waste management and control iv. Radiation effects Fallout Waste disposal e. Environment and health i. Community health safeguards Safe water supply Garbage disposal system Safe waste disposal ii. Food preservation: A boon or bane iii. Food protection and food laws Pesticides and catastrophe Antibiotics in the farm, major threat to human health

iv. Health and food agencies Community National International o FINAL Exam Textbook and references 1. Fundamentals of Ecology: Eugene P. Odum, Third Ed.; W.E Sauders Co. 1972 2. Readings in Man, the Environment and Human Ecology, Arthur S. Boughey, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1983 3. Environmental Pollution by Chemicals: Collin Walker, 2nd Ed: Hutchinson and Co. (Publishers) Ltd. London 1975 4. 5. Silent Spring: Rachel Carson Magazines, pamphlets and newspapers