Module 2: Basic Ecological consciousness and

Concepts and Principles understanding. The results are

People provide SOLUTIONS to
Introduction to the module: environmental problems of their
community. This will prove that
▶ One of the very serious WE need to inculcate in our
problems not only in our minds the need to love, care
country, but all over the world and nurture the environment.
is DEGRADATION.
▶ DEGRADATION: the wearing BUT WHY conserve and preserve the
down of the land by the erosive environment? Because of
action of water, wind, or ice. environmental crises. Among the
solutions are environmental
 We have this adverse education, information and
environmental issue and advocacies.
problems, which will serve as a
driving force that result to Ecology is the study of the
environmental conservation and relationships between the living
sustainable development. This organisms and their environment. No
means that people must living organisms exist under isolation.
collaborate and work hand in The term “ecology” was coined by
hand with the goal to save German Biologist Ernst Haeckel from
Mother Earth. oikos (House or living place) and logos
(study or science of). Literally it means
 Adoption of new value, change study of the earth’s house. It has two
of habits and lifestyle towards types: autecology and synecology.
the PRESERVATION and Autecology deals with the relationship
CONSERVATION OF THE s between an organism or population
ENVIRONMENT; these are the and environment, whereas synecology
requirements to obtain focuses on the relationships between
Environmental awareness, communities and their environment.

Relationship of science of ecology and branch of biology:

Genetic Cytology Histology Anatomy Ecological Concerns
Molecular Cell
Biology Biology

Biochemistry
and Physiology
Biotic Genes Cells Tissues Organs Organisms Populations Communities
compone
nts
Interactin
g with
Abiotic Matter~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compone ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Energy
nts
Biological Genetic Cell Tissue Organ Organismic Population Ecosystem
Systems System System System System System System

the same habitat to form a

Terms that will be encountered in this stable system.
module:
▶ Population Components of Ecosystem:
◦ It is a group of organisms 1. Biotic or Living components
belonging to the same ● Bio means life. Therefore,
species living together in the biotic components
a certain area or habitat. refer to the living world of
▶ Community an ecosystem.
◦ It is a group of organisms ● Such as plants,
belonging to different animals and
species living together microorganisms.
and interacting in a 2. Abiotic Or nonliving components
certain area or habitat. ● Which includes air,
▶ Ecosystem water, soil, inorganic
◦ It is a group of organisms substances, organic
and their interaction or substances that link
interrelationships with biotic and abiotic factors,
the nonliving and climate regime in a
environment. given area.
▶ Biosphere
◦ It is composed of all Biotic Components:
1. Autotrophs
living organisms on or
around the earth. ● These are organisms that
▶ Ecological Niche fix light energy and use
simple inorganic
◦ It is the physical space
substances to build up
occupied by an organism
complex substances and
and its functional role in
which includes plants.
the ecosystem.
2. Heterotrophs
▶ Habitat
● these are the organisms
◦ It is the place where an
that utilize, reaerrange
organisms lives.
and decompose the
complex materials,
ECOSYSTEM
particularly the animals,
● It is an interaction of
bacteria, and fungi.
the living organisms and
nonliving environment. Primary Producers
● It is an area within the Green plants are called
natural environment in which producers or the first level of biotic
physical factors such as rocks & component of the ecosystem.
soil, function together along Through photosynthesis plants
with interdependent organisms, synthesize their own food like
such as plants & animals, under proteins and fats and hence are also
called autotrophs. Besides this,
producers also maintain CO2/O2 ● Carrier
balance of nature.
● Temperature regulator
● Protectant
● Herbivores
● Lubricant
● Also called as plant
● Has high heat capacity
eaters. These are the
primary consumers that ● Has high heat conductivity
eat plants only.
● Carnivores Important Process which Involves
Water
● Meat eaters, the
secondary consumers ● Dissolving of minerals and
that ingest other animals nutrients for use in natural
for their food processes in the body.
● Omnivores ● Hydrolysis
● Support of aquatic organisms
● Which eat both plants
and animals ● Fertilization of gametes
● Microorganisms ● Dispersal and germination of
● Obtain nourishment by seeds, gametes and larval
stages of aquatic organisms
absorbing dissolved
organic material. ● Photosynthesis
● they are called ● Osmosis and turgidity
saprotrophs or ● Transpiration
osmotrophs ● Translocation of
● They are responsible for microorganisms and organic
the decomposition or compounds
breaking down of dead ● As habitat for aquatic organisms
organic matter.
● Detritus feeders
● They extract nutrients
from partly decomposed Nonliving Components of the
matter Ecosystem
● Such as crabs, termites, ● Lithosphere(solid outer portion
carpenter ants and of the earth)
earthworms. ● The role of soil in the
● Nonliving Components of the ecosystem is that they
Ecosystem are the source of all
● Hydrosphere(water) nutrients and water for
living organisms in
● One of the most unusual
terrestrial ecosystem.
natural compounds found
on earth, and it is also ● The rocks facilitate the
one of the most storage and movement of
important. groundwater; they are
the source of mineral
● Covers 71% of the earths
constituents of sediments
surface and a meduim
and soils; and they serve
of transport of several
medium of storage and
ecosystems.
transportation of
Properties of Water groundwater.
● Solvent
 ● Sediments serve as the ● For life to exist, the
habitat for aquatic earth must constantly
organisms and the receive energy inputs
source of nutrients for from the sun and make
aquatic organisms. energy outputs mostly as
● Three Components of heat, which passes on
Lithosphere the outer space.
● Soil- a complex mixture ● Energy from the sun
of rock fragments, highly maintains all the life
altered minerals, organic processes in the earth
debris and living ecosystem.
organisms which ● Solar energy
supports plants in the ● Radiated in all
terrestrial environment. directions, part of it is
● Rocks- consolidated units toward the earth; but the
of the earth’s crust which atmosphere keeps some
consists of minerals that solar radiation from
have come together by reaching the earth.
hardening of lithification
of sediments, by
solidification from molten
mass or by alteration of a
preexisting rock.
● Sediments- rock
fragments that may or
may not be chemically
altered by weathering
which are carried by wind ● First Law of Thermodynamics
or water. ● It states that energy can be
● Atmosphere(air) transformed from one form to
● It is the site of weather another but can never be
and different gases which created or destroyed.
are needed by living ● It also tells us that one cannot
organisms get something from nothing.
● Stratosphere Although the amount of energy
in various forms may change,
● it is where the ozone
the sum in all forms remains
layer is found, absorbs
constant.
ultraviolet radiation
(UV) from the sun, thus
● Second Law of Dynamics
preventing excessive
amounts of UV rays to ● It states that every time
reach the surface of the energy is transformed, it tends
earth. to go from a more organized
Energy Flow in the Ecosystem and concentrated form to a less
● Energy organized and more dispersed
form that it is no longer useful.
● It never appears or
disappears into nothing . ● The ecological implication of the
It can always accounted second law is that the transfer
for. It is everywhere. of energy from one use to
another is never very efficient .
 The energy decreases in each • made of many food chains in a
successive step. community of plants and
Food Chain, Food Web and Trophic animals.
Levels •
Food chain:
• It is the transfer of energy
and material through a series
of organisms as each on is fed
by the next.
• The series of feeding
relationship between organisms
that shows who eats whom.
• A series of steps of eating and
being eaten.
• A food chain is the way energy
goes from one living thing to
another through food.

• Trophic Levels are Composed of

three basic levels, the producer,
various level of consumers and
decomposers.
• It refers to the number of steps
of the organisms are away from
primary production

• Food Web is A relatively

complex series of feeding
relationships which may
comprise a group of food
chains.
 398,000 km3 (95,000 cu mi) of it
over the oceans.
❖ Snowmelt. The runoff
produced by melting snow.
❖ Infiltration. The flow of water
from the ground surface into
the ground. Once infiltrated,
the water becomes soil moisture
or groundwater.
❖ Runoff. The variety of ways by
which water moves across the
2.4 BIOCHEMICAL CYCLES land. This includes both surface
❖ A. Water Cycle runoff and channel runoff. As it
◦ One of the earth’s great flows, the water may seep into
cycles is the water or the ground, evaporate into the
hydrological cycle. Water air, become stored in lakes or
constantly moves from reservoirs, or be extracted for
the atmosphere to the agricultural or other human
earth to the oceans and uses.
back to the atmosphere. ❖ Subsurface Flow. The flow of
Water changes the water underground, in the
surface of the earth. It is vadose zone and aquifers.
not simply found in the Subsurface water may return to
bodies of water., the surface (e.g. as a spring or
underground and in the by being pumped) or eventually
atmosphere. seep into the oceans. Water
◦ It is constantly cycled returns to the land surface at
from one of these lower elevation than where it
locations to another. The infiltrated, under the force of
water cycle is driven by gravity or gravity induced
energy from the sun and pressures. Groundwater tends
by gravity. It provides the to move slowly, and is
connection among the replenished slowly, so it can
atmosphere, the remain in aquifers for thousands
lithosphere, and the of years.
hydrosphere. It makes ❖ Evaporation. The
the presence of life on transformation of water from
earth possible. liquid to gas phases as it moves
from the ground or bodies of
Different Process of Water Cycle water into the overlying
❖ Precipitation. Condensed atmosphere. The source of
water vapor that falls to the energy for evaporation is
Earth's surface . Most primarily solar radiation.
precipitation occurs as rain, but Evaporation often implicitly
also includes snow, hail, fog includes transpiration from
drip, graupel, and sleet. plants, though together they
Approximately 505,000 km3 are specifically referred to as
(121,000 cu mi) of water fall as evapotranspiration. Total annual
precipitation each year, evapotranspiration amounts to
approximately 505,000 km3
 (121,000 cu mi) of water, (Simultaneous
434,000 km3 (104,000 cu mi) of evaporation.)
which evaporates from the ◦ It may fall into the
oceans. ocean(major water
❖ Sublimation. The state change reservoir)
directly from solid water (snow ◦ It may fall into land
or ice) to water vapor. masses, which results :
❖ Advection. The movement of ▪ It may infiltrate
water — in solid, liquid, or vapor the soil to be
states — through the absorbed by plants
atmosphere. Without advection, roots, used in
water that evaporated over the photosynthesis and
oceans could not precipitate transpired
over land. ▪ It may run off to
❖ Condensation. The join streams and
transformation of water vapor rivers and
to liquid water droplets in the eventually reach
air, creating clouds and fog. ocean. Water is
❖ Transpiration. The release of primarily
water vapor from plants and soil responsible for
into the air. Water vapor is a eroding the earth’s
gas that cannot be seen. surface.
▪ It may sink
downward to join
groundwater
reservoirs and then
reappear later as
springs, seeps or
lakes.
❖ A. Water Cycle ▪ It may be
evaporated once
again.
Biogeochemical Cycles
❖ In ecology and Earth science, a
biogeochemical cycle or
nutrient cycle is a pathway by
which a chemical element or
molecule moves through both
biotic (biosphere) and abiotic
(lithosphere, atmosphere, and
❖ A. Water Vapor hydrosphere) compartments of
❖ Precipitation over the ocean is Earth. In effect, the element is
more than three times greater recycled, although in some
than that over land. This cycles there may be places
precipitaion may take any (called reservoirs) where the
several courses: element is accumulated or held
◦ It may be immediately for a long period of time (such
reevaporated by the as an ocean or lake for water).
sun’s energy.
 ❖ Nutrient Cycle: Living organisms ▪ These cycles are
need 30-40 elements for normal slower and tend to
development. exert a more
❖ Most important elements: limiting influence
◦ Carbon: on living
◦ Hydrogen organisms.
◦ Oxygen B. Gaseous – Carbon Dioxide Cycle
◦ Nitrogen
◦ Sulfur
◦ Phosphorus
❖ The most important feature of a
biogeochemical cycle is that the
biotic and abiotic components
are tightly intertwined with one
another. Without cycles, the
biogeochemical cycle would B. Gaseous – Oxygen Cycle
cease; and without
biogeochemical cycles, all life
would cease.

Characteristics of Biogeochemical
cycle
❖ Movement of the nutrient
element from the environment
to organisms and back to the
environment. B. Gaseous– Nitrogen Cycle
❖ Involvement of biological
organisms
❖ A geological reservoir
(atmosphere and lithosphere)
❖ Chemical change

Types of Biogeochemical cycles

❖ Gaseous nutrient cycle: it is in
which the reservoir of the
nutrients in the atmosphere.
◦ The typical gaseous B. Gaseous – Nitrogen Cycle
nutrient cycles are the ❖ The major reservoir of nitrogen
carbon dioxide, the is the earth’s atmosphere.
oxygen cycle and the Atmospheric nitrogen is
nitrogen cycle. combined with other chemicals
◦ Sedimentary nutrient into organic compounds used by
cycle: it is in which the plants and animals. It is a vital
nutrient reservoir is component of proteins which
sedimentary rocks, soil are necessary to all living
and minerals. things. When plants and
◦ It includes the animals die, their bodies are
phosphorus cycle and the broken down by bacteria into
sulfur cycle. ammonia, a nitrogen
 compound. Other bacteria very slow pace. It begins with
change the ammonia to dissolved phosphates, which are
nitrates. Still other bacteria absorbed by plants through
break down the nitrates and their roots and incorporated into
release back the nitrogen as all cells in complex molecules.
gas back into the atmosphere. Animals get phosphorus from
B. Sedimentary – Sulfur Cycle plants. When plant and animal
die or excrete waste products,
their organic compound are
broken down by phosphotizing
bacteria into organic dissolved
phosphates.
❖ Notice that in all
biogeochemical cycles, the
nutrient usually enters the living
systems through vegetation.
❖ Animals are unable to free and
B. Sedimentary – Phosphorus Cycle absorb the nutrient elements
from the soil.
❖ Plants easily absorb nutrients
along with the soil water
through root system.
❖ An ecosystem depends on
plants not only to supply the
necessary nutrient to maintain
the flow of energy but also to fix
the solar energy.

B. Sedimentary – Phosphorus Cycle Interaction among organisms

❖ The major reservoir of How do Organisms interact with each
phosphorus is sedimentary rock, other?
which is available to the basic • Mutualism
cycle in small amounts as a • Competition
result of weathering. The cycle • Parasitism
does not have a major gaseous • Commensalism
phase and therefore moves at a • Predation
Population 1 Population 2 General Nature of Interaction

Mutualism + + The interaction is favorable to both and

obligatory.
Competition _ _ Both organisms are affected.

Parasitism + _ Population 1, the parasite, generally the

organism that benefits and the host is the
organism that is harmed.

Commensalism + 0 Population 1, the commensal, the benefits

while population 2 is not affected.

Predation + _ Population 1, the predator is the organism

that eats; population 2, the prey, is the
organism that is eaten.
 distinct biotic communities,
creating a variety of
Mutualism ecosystems such as terrestrial
• A biological interaction in which ecosystems (biomes) and
the growth and survival of both aquatic ecosystems (Nebel &
interacting species are Wright, 1998, 2000).
enhanced. The climate of the given region is a
• In nature, neither species can description of the average
survive without the other. temperature and precipitation that
• A relationship between two may be expected on each day
organisms of different species throughout the entire year. Climates in
that benefits both and harms different parts of the world vary
neither. widely. Soil type and topography may
Competition also contribute to the diversity found
• A type of interaction between in biome because these two factors
two populations in which they affect the availability of moisture.
vie for the same limited
resources. Common terrestrial and aquatic
• the struggle between organisms ecosystems in the Philippines
of the same or different species
for limited resources such as A. Terrestrial
food or light. Communities/Ecosystems
Commensalism Tropical Rain Forest
• A type of interaction between Location: Northern South America,
two species populations where Central
one population benefits and the America, Congo, western and central
other is unaffected. equatorial Africa, Madagascar,
Parasitism Southern Asia, various islands in the
• A type of interaction between a India and Pacific Oceans
host and a parasite. Called a Climate and Soils:
destructive symbiosis where Nonseasonal. Annual temperature
parasite harms the host And averages 28°C. Rainfall is frequent
benefits at the expense of the and heavy, the annual average being
host. greater than 240 centimeters. Soils
Predation are thin and often acidic and nutrient-
• A relationship between the prey poor.
and the predator. The predator Vegetation:
is the organism that eats and There is great diversity of evergreen
generally larger than the prey, and towering trees (the tallest being
the organism that is being 60 meters or so), epiphytes (plants
eaten. attached to trees) and lianas (woody
vines that climb to the treetops). The
KINDS OF ECOSYSTEMS AND forests have a dense canopy and little
COMMUNITIES understory.
▶ The concepts of limiting factors Animals:
and optimum factors can be Enormous biodiversity; exotic, colorful
used to gain a better insects; amphibians, reptiles, and
understanding of the birds very abundant (e.g., lizards,
occurrence of different snakes, parrots, macaws); monkeys
regions or localized areas as
having
and small mammals, a few large reptiles and amphibians common;
predators. many kinds of fish feeding on other
animal and plant life; wading birds and
Environmental Concerns: ducks are common animal present.
Forest clearing to provide farms for Functions:
landless peasants or large cattle Important to humans because they
ranches often leaves the land and soil supply fresh drinking water, provide
barren and causes biodiversity loss transportation routes and serve as
and erosion. Tree removal for firewood home for important fisheries, and
in erosion-prone areas causes loss of source of irrigation water and
vital topsoil and flooding downstream. hydroelectricity.
Forest trees are cut for their lumber,
often with no attention to replanting, Environmental concerns:
which leads to soil erosion. Toxic chemicals and other pollutants
affect water quality, kill wildlife and
Rain forest clearing, burning, and create human health problems.
reforestation affect the global carbon Eutrophication from excessive
cycle and causes global warming. Loss nutrients creates unwanted growth of
of tropical rain forest brings wide-scale vegetation. Introduced species like
extinction of organisms or biodiversity water hyacinth and zebra mussels kill
loss. native species and choke waterways.
Acid deposition leads to acidification
B. Aquatic of bodies of water, killing fish life.
Communities/Ecosystems Erosion changes riverbeds and causes
Description: flooding and loss of aquatic habitat.
Lakes and ponds are physical
depressions that allow precipitation
and groundwater to accumulate; in Coral Reefs
rivers and steams, water flows by Location:
gravity toward oceans or large lakes. They extend from the coastline
Environmental parameters: outward, often over a continental
The low concentration of dissolved shelf, to a depth of 200 meters. In the
solids is determined primarily by soils tropics, coral reefs are major shallow
around the water body. Seasonal coastal forms.
vertical stratification in lakes Environmental parameters:
separates water masses. They are characterized by high
Vegetation: productivity due to coastal upwelling
generally included in this group are and transport of nutrients from
microscopic algae suspended in water estuaries; the water column mixes to
(referred to as phytoplankton) or on the bottom except where seasonal
rocks and sediment (periphyton); vertical stratification development.
plants are rooted at the bottom, and Tidal currents promote mixing.
submerged vegetation or emergent Vegetation:
vegetation are also present Commonly included in this group are
(macrophytes). plankton algae which dominate
Animals: productivity; some large benthic
Microscopic crustaceans and rotifers plants are present where water clarity
suspended in water (commonly permits. In coral reefs, symbiotic algae
referred to zooplankton); many live in coral animals; other large algae
invertebrates, especially insect larvae, and turtle grass predominate.
 Animals: rivers, streams and its tributaries
Microscopic plankton abound in the where the water is brackish.
water column; rich bottom fauna of Environmental parameters:
worms, shellfish and crustaceans; Mangroves are characterized by poor
diverse and abundant fish fauna; soil aeration, variable salinity, high
jellyfish, turtles, fish-feeding birds, humidity, light to moderate winds, and
dolphins and whales regionally moderate to strong currents and
abundant. waves.
Plants:
Functions: (1) They are important as Mangrove trees dominate the
fishery and nursery areas and as ecosystem due to their ability to
tourist spots; (2)they provide survive in both marine water and
protection from erosion of coastlines; freshwater. The most important
(3) and almost half of the potential mangrove families are the
pharmaceuticals being explored are Combretaceae, the Verbenaceae and
from the coral reef and ecosystem. the Rhizophoraceae. Besides the
mangrove tree species may other
plant species thrive such as jelly bean
Environmental concerns: plant, salt brush, bead weed and
Pollutants from estuaries and coastal malalencus.
ecosystems contaminate shellfish and Animals:
fish. Rising sea levels will inundate Aside from fish, a wide variety of
many low-lying coastal areas. invertibrates live in the mangrove
Overfishing of coastal fisheries causes ecosystem such as worms, protozoa,
loss of breeding stock and changes in barnacles, oysters and crabs.
ecology. Past whaling in coastal areas Environmental concerns:
has depleted the stocks of most Thousand of hectares of mangrove
species. Dynamite and cyanide fishing areas have been destroyed due to the
kill many aquatic organisms leading to following: firewood collection, charcoal
biodiversity loss and habitat making, conversion to
destruction. Global warming can cause fishpond/aquaculture, conversion to
coral bleaching. commercial and real-state
development, salt-making industry,
Mangrove Ecosystem dumping areas for solid wastes and oil
Description: spills.
Mangroves are woody, seed bearing,
highly specialized plants ranging in
size fro shrubs to tall trees. Most Open Ocean
mangrove species live on muddy soils, Location:
but they grow also on sand, peat and It covers 70% of the earth's surface,
coral-rock. There are two kinds of from the edge of the continental shelf
mangrove ecosystem, the mangrove outwards.
swamps which consist of large trees Environmental parameters:
and their associated species and the It reaches great depths (as much as
nipa swamps characterized by the 11 000 meters); except for the upper
growth of stemless palms. 200 meters, it is without light and
Location: cold. It is nutrient-poor, except
Mangroves are found along the coastal where vertical currents bring deep
waters of tropical and subtropical water to the surface (upwelling.)
regions, tidal flats extending along Animals:
It has a diverse zooplankton fauna animals and the people who manage
together with fish fauna adapted to them.
different depths. The bottom fauna is
sparse except in regions of deep The agroecosystem is
hydrothermal vents. Seabirds, whales, characterized by the
dolphins, tuna, sharks, flying,fish, following features:
squid, etc. as well as unique deep-sea - The farmer decides the plant
fish with bioluminescence are present. (species and variety) to grow.
Vegetation: - It is composed of one or few species
Commonly included are plankton only, simple flora.
species (coccolithophorids, diatoms, - The age and status of growing
dinoflagellates). The vegetation varies plants is uniform.
according to nutrient availability. - The farmers supplies water and
Environmental concerns: fertilizer uniformly. high.
Ozone shield depletion will kill - The farmers harvest the products
phytoplankton in the Antarctic, and remove them all away from the
affecting the entire food chain. Drift- yield (continuity is short.)
netting in the high seas depletes - Insect fauna is simple, comprising,
fisheries and kills ocean birds, turtles of their pests and natural enemies.
and mammals. Whaling has led to - There is an order of arriving of
steep declines in most whale species, organisms: crops, pests and natural
which are still not of danger in spite of enemies.
danger in spite of a moratorium. Warm - It is ecologically unstable due to
temperature, pollution and other simple flora and fauna and low natural
factors cause the red tide control effect.
phenomenon, which poses a danger to - The chances of pest outbreak is
human health. Oil pollution from ships high.
could harm and kill aquatic organisms
and destroy habitats of organisms. The following are properties of
the ecosystem:
1. Productivity is the desired
C. Man-made Ecosystems output of a system or output of valued
I. Agroecosystem product per unit resource input. It is
is an ecosystem which is measured in terms of crop yield or net
modified or regulated by man in order income.
to produce food. It is self-sufficient 2. Stability is the property of
where the living organisms and the short-term homeostasis or the
nonliving components of the consistency of productivity in the face
environment interact to exchange of small, disturbing forces arising from
energy and matter in a continuing the normal fluctuations and cycles in
cycle. the surrounding environment.
It is also referred to as 3. Sustainability is the ability of
community of plants and animals the system to persist in the face of
interacting with their physical and repeated stress or major perturbation
chemical environments that have or it is the ability of the agrosystem to
been modified by people to produce maintain productivity when subjected
food, fiber, fuel, and other products to major disturbing forces.
for human consumption and 4. Equitability is the evenness of
processing. It comprises domesticated distribution of the productivity of the
plants and/or agroecosystem among the human
beneficiaries, i.e., the level of equity 5. Depletion of ground water and
that is generated. salinization
5. Authonomy is the extent to In many farms, the withdrawal of
which a social system is able to groundwater for irrigation is excessive
function at a normal level, using only during the dry season. This has caused
resources derived from the ecosystem the groundwater to recede, affecting
over which it has effective control. the availability of potable water for
6. Solidarity is the ability of domestic use. Also, when much
the social system to make and groundwater is withdrawby
implement decisions in managing agroecosystems near coastal areas,
ecosystem. saltwater intrusion usually occurs.
What problems beset the
agroecosystem?
1. Soil erosion, overgrazing
Huge area of productive, semi-arid,
lands are being turned into worthless II. Urban Ecosystem
deserts each year by overgrazing.
Continued grazing makes grass Urbanization is an increasing
difficult to grow. As a result, topsoil concentration of the population in
losses compactness and this will lead cities and a transformation of land use
to rapid soil erosion. and society to a metropolitan pattern
2. Land conversion of organization. A city or urban
Agricultural lands, prime agricultural ecosystem is a differentiated
lands included, are being converted community with a population and
into residential areas and commercial resource base large enough for urban
areas due to urbanization and residents to specialize in arts, crafts,
industrialization services or profession rather than
3. Pollution natural resource-based occupations
Pesticides are transported by air, (Cunningham and Saigo, 1999).
water and soil, resulting in pollution.
Pesticides are found in the food we eat III. Urbanization and Urban Problems
as well as in deep wells located near
agricultural areas. The health effect in People are pulled to urban areas of
humans include increased incidence of jobs, a better life, better livelihood
tumors, cancer, sterility, etc. opportunities and better basic
pesticides kill not only pests but services. They may also be pushed
beneficial animals as well. into urban areas by modern
4. Loss of generic diversity mechanical agriculture which uses less
The release of high-yielding varieties farm labor and allow large landowners
or hybrids which was strongly to but out subsistent farmers who
advocated by the government in the cannot afford to modernize. Without
name of modernization and world jobs or lands, those people are forced
competitiveness has also caused to move to cities. There jobs may
indirect extinction of indigenous or expose to people to dust, hazardous
traditional varieties. With constant use chemicals, excessive noise and
of these hybrids, the pure lines are dangerous machinery. Problems such
displaced, causing genetic erosion in as pollution, garbage, flooding,
many of our crop sciences. proliferation of squatters shanties,
traffic congestion and increase in the
incident of communicable diseases are
also correspondingly increasing (Miller,
1994).

The major urban resource and

environmental problems are:
1. Scarcity o trees, shrubs and
other natural vegetation
This is problematic because
plants absorb air pollutants, give off
oxygen, help cool the air as water
evaporates from their leaves, muffle
noise, provide wildlife habitats, and
give aesthetic pleasure.
2. Alternative of local and
sometimes, regional climate
Generally cities are warmer,
rainier, foggier, and cloudier than
suburbs and nearby rural areas.
3. Lack of water
This requires expensive
reservoirs, canals and deep well.
4. Rapid runoff of water
from asphalt and concrete
This can overload sewers and
storm drains, contributing to water
pollution and flooding in cities and
downstream areas.
5. Production of large quantities
of air pollution, water pollution,
and garbage and other solid
waste
6. Excessive noise
Every day, one every nine
Filipinos lives, works, or plays around
noise of sufficient duration and
intensity to cause some permanent
hearing loss, and that number is rising
rapidly.