Environmental Science Key Difference...
Week 1 - Day 1 Ecology
- The study of interaction.
What is Environmental Science? - Science / field
— is the study of the natural world and how
humans interact with it. It combines Ecosystem
knowledge from many fields to understand - The actual system where those interactions
the environment and solve problems like happen
pollution, climate change, and loss of - Natural unit/ place
biodiversity.
Levels of Organization
Interdisciplinary - it blends different sciences: 1. Organism
Biology - living things - One individual living thing
Chemistry - pollutants, air, water. - Example: 1 butterfly, 1 tree, 1 fish
Physics - energy, climate Geology - earth, soil,
rocks 2. Population
Social sciences - human behavior, economics, - A group of the same kind of organisms living
laws. in the same area
- Example: A group of zebras in a grassland
Ecology and Ecosystems
Ecology - is the study of how 3. Community
living things interact with each other and with - Different populations living together in one
their environment. area
• How animals, plants and other organisms - Example: Lions, zebras, birds, and trees all
live together. living in the same savanna
• How they depend on each other.
• How they are affected by the environment 4. Ecosystem
(water, sunlight, temperature). - The community + non-living things (like air,
example: Studying how frogs, insects, plants, water, soil)
and water - Example: A forest with animals, plants,
interact in a pond. sunlight, and rainfall
Ecosystem - is a community of living 5. Biome
organisms (plants, animals, microbes) • A large area with similar climate, plants, and
interacting with non-living things (like air, animals
water, soil) in a specific area. • Example: Desert, rainforest, tundra, ocean
Two Parts of an Ecosystem: 6. Biosphere
1. Biotic (living): Animals, plants, fungi, - The whole Earth where life exists — land,
bacteria water, air
2. Abiotic (non-living): Sunlight, air, water, - It includes all ecosystems on the planet
minerals
Example ecosystems: Forest, desert, ocean, Organism → Population → Community →
coral reef, lake, backyard garden Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere
feathers
Specific Case A parrot is a bird
Conclusion A parrot has feathers
INDUCTIVE REASONING
⬇ The sun rose in the east yesterday ️
⬇ The sun rose in the east today
LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN ECOLOGY Conclusion
The sun always rises in the east
Reasoning in Science
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
1. Inductive Reasoning ⬇ The sun always rises in the east
- From specific observations to general ⬇ The sun rose in the east today
conclusions based on specific Conclusion
observations or examples. The sun rose east yesterday
- You observe patterns or examples, then
make a guess or rule that usually fits them all. Scientific Method
Observation 1 The sun rose in the 1. Observation
east yesterday - Notice something interesting or unusual
Observation 2 The sun rose in the Example: A plant near the window is growing
east today. faster.
Observation 3 The sun always rises
in the east. 2. Ask a Question
- You see 5 white swans - you guess all swans - Turn your observation into a question
are white. ex: Why is that plant growing faster than
- Every dog you've met barks - you concluded others?
all dogs barks.
- Using past patterns to predict general truth. 3. Form a Hypothesis
- Make an educated guess or prediction
ex: If a plant gets more sunlight, then it will
2. Deductive Reasoning grow faster.
- is when you start with a general rule or fact,
and apply it to reach a specific conclusion. 4. Conduct an Experiment
- It goes from general to specific. - Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment
ex: Grow plants with and without sunlight.
1. Starts with a general rule.
2. Applies it to a specific case. 5. Analyze Data
3. Always gives a certain (logical) conclusion if - Look at the results (measure height, color,
the rule is true. etc.)
ex: Did the sunlit plants grow more?
General Rule All birds have
6. Draw Conclusions - Telling the truth about results, even if
- Decide whether your hypothesis was they're unexpected or "wrong"
correct. ex: Reporting what actually happened in your
ex: Yes, more sunlight = faster growth. experiment
7. Report Results 5. Ethical responsibility
Share what you found with others (class, - Doing what is right and avoiding harm to
report, etc.) people, animals, and the environment
ex: Following safety rules and being fair
Values and Attitudes in Science
Limitations of Science
1. Curiosity • Cannot answer moral or ethical questions
- Asking questions and wanting to learn more • Limited to observable phenomena
ex: "Why does this happen?" or "What if I try • Subject to human error and bias
this?" • Provisional (subject to change with new
evidence)
2. Open-mindedness
- Willing to listen to new ideas, even if they Four Areas of Limitations
are different from your own •Moral/Ethical Limitation - Science can't
ex: Accepting results that don't match your determine what is
guess "right" or "wrong"
• Technological Limitation - Some
3. Skepticism phenomena are beyond
- Not believing something right away without current tools
good evidence • Subjective Interpretation - Personal bias
ex: "Show me proof before I agree." can affect results
• Social and Cultural Contexts - Research is
4. Honesty influenced by
societal value