Mathematics, Science and Technology

Reviewer in Prelim
MODULE 1: Components of the Environment EL NIÑO-SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO)

Environment – A person's environment is made up of 1. ENSO – Natural climate variability every 3–8
his surroundings. years.
Physical Environment – NATURAL surroundings (e.g., 2. El Niño – Abnormal warming of Pacific waters.
water, rocks, weather). 3. Pressure Reversal – See-saw pattern between
Human Environment – A CHANGED physical east and west Pacific.
environment (e.g., urban city). 4. Impact – Coral bleaching, monsoon
Cloud Seeding – Survival of vegetation, avoidance of distortion, jet stream shifts.
droughts. Mnemonic: "Every El Niño Pushes Impact"
Sustainable Development – Meets the need of the
present without compromising the future needs. Module 2: Carbon Footprint
Mnemonic: "PHHCS" TOPIC 1: Environmental Awareness
EARTH’S SPHERES 1. Environmental Science – The study that
creates awareness about environmental
Geosphere – Solid Earth: continental and oceanic problems and develops concern for the
crust, and various layers of the Earth's interior. environment.
Atmosphere – Layer of gases surrounding Earth TOPIC 2: Carbon Footprint
retained by gravity. 1. Carbon Footprint – A measure of the exclusive
Hydrosphere – Liquid water component of the Earth. global amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and
Cryosphere – Frozen water part of the Earth. other greenhouse gases emitted by a human
activity or accumulated over the full life cycle
Anthrosphere – Part of the environment made or
of a product or service.
modified by humans.
2. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – Accurately
Biosphere – Outermost part of the planet's shell where
determines the current carbon footprint.
life occurs. 3. Carbon Offsetting – Investment in projects
that aim at reducing CO₂ emissions (e.g., tree
Mnemonic: "GACHAB planting).
Mnemonic: “CLO”
LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
TOPIC 3: Common Misconceptions
Troposphere – Lowest layer (~11 km), most clouds and 1. CFC Molecules – Not too heavy to reach the
weather. stratosphere; atmospheric turbulence mixes
Stratosphere – Contains ozone layer (~11–48 km), gases.
temperature increases slightly. 2. Manmade Chlorine – Responsible for 80% of
Mesosphere – Meteors burn here (~50–53 km), stratospheric chlorine; natural sources like
temperature decreases. methyl chloride contribute 20%.
Thermosphere – Absorbs UV/X-rays, temperature rises TOPIC 4: Pollution & Pollutants
up to 2000°C. 1. Point Source – Pollution source that can be
Aurora – Unpredictable light display caused by solar identified easily (e.g., power plants).
particles colliding with gases. 2. Non-point Source – Pollution source that is
difficult to identify and control (e.g., land
runoff).
Mnemonic: "The Smart Monkey Thinks Aloud"
3. Primary Pollutants – Directly emitted into the
atmosphere (e.g., SO₂, NO₂, CO₂, He).
WEATHER VS CLIMATE
4. Secondary Pollutants – Products of chemical
reactions between pollutants and
1. Weather – Given place at a given time; atmospheric compounds (e.g., OH⁻, NO⁻, O).
chaotic and dynamic. Mnemonic: “PNSP”
2. Climate – Weather averaged over a long TOPIC 5: Hydrological Cycle
period of time. 1. Hydrological Cycle – Driven by evaporation,
3. Micro Climate – Local zone with climate evapotranspiration, precipitation, and air
different from surroundings. movement.
Mnemonic: "We Can Manage" 2. Evapotranspiration – Combined process of
evaporation and plant transpiration.
3. Precipitation – Water released from clouds as
Climate Factors & Global Warming rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
1. Greenhouse Gases – Water Vapor, Carbon 4. Air Movement – Includes winds and weather
Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide. systems that transport moisture.
2. Global Warming Causes – Burning of fossil
fuels, deforestation.
3. Global Warming Effects – Sea level rise,
extinction, migration, disasters.
Mnemonic: "WCMN"
 Mathematics, Science and Technology
Reviewer in Prelim
TOPIC 6: Groundwater
TOPIC 3: Theories, Paradigms & Peer Review
1.
Groundwater – A hidden resource that 1. Theory – A consistently supported hypothesis
saturates tiny spaces between alluvial that becomes a widely accepted
material or fractures in rocks. explanation of one or more cause-and-effect
2. Water Table – The upper surface of relationships.
groundwater. 2. Paradigm Shift – A change in the dominant
3. Alluvial Material – Includes sand, gravel, silt, view.
and clay. 3. Peer Review – Other scientists provide
4. Contamination – A serious issue affecting comments and criticism to guard against
purity and availability. faulty science.
Mnemonic: “GWAW” TOPIC 4: Ethics & Environmental Ethics
1. Ethics – The study of good and bad, right and
MODULE 3 wrong.
TOPIC 1: Introduction to Environmental Science 2. Ethical Standards – Criteria that help
1. Environmental Science – The study of how the differentiate right from wrong.
natural world works, how our environment 3. Environmental Ethics – Application of ethical
affects us, and how we affect our standards to relationships between human
environment. and non-human entities.
2. Environmentalism – A social movement TOPIC 5: Ethical Perspectives
dedicated to protecting the natural world. 1. Anthropocentrism – Only humans have rights;
3. Natural Sciences – Information about the costs and benefits are measured only
natural world. according to their impact on people.
4. Social Sciences – Study human interactions 2. Biocentrism – Certain living things also have
and behavior. value; all life has ethical standing.
Mnemonic: “ENNS” 3. Ecocentrism – Whole ecological systems have
TOPIC 2: Nature of Science & Scientific Method value; stresses preserving connections.
1. Science – A systematic process for learning
about the world and testing our Mnemonic: “ABE”
understanding of it.
2. Observational (Descriptive) Science – TOPIC 6: Environmental Ethics Movements
Scientists gather information about something 1. Preservation Ethic – Unspoiled nature should
not well known or that cannot be be protected for its own inherent value. (John
manipulated in experiments. Muir)
3. Hypothesis-driven Science – Research that 2. Conservation Ethic – Use natural resources
proceeds in a structured manner using wisely for the greatest good for the most
experiments to test hypotheses through the people. (Gifford Pinchot)
scientific method. 3. Land Ethic – Healthy ecological systems
4. Experiment – An activity that tests the validity depend on protecting all parts. (Aldo
of a hypothesis. Leopold)
5. Variable – Conditions that can be 4. Ecofeminism – A patriarchal society is a root
manipulated and/or measured. cause of both social and environmental
6. Independent Variable – A condition that is problems.
manipulated. 5. Environmental Justice (EJ) – Fair treatment of
7. Dependent Variable – A variable that is all people with respect to the environment,
affected by the manipulation of the regardless of race, income, or ethnicity.
independent variable. Mnemonic: “PCLEJ”
8. Controlled Experiment – One in which all
variables are controlled. TOPIC 7: Sustainability & Human Impact
9. Control – The unmanipulated point of 1. Sustainability – Living within our planet’s
comparison. means.
10. Treatment – The manipulated point of 2. Natural Capital – The accumulated wealth of
comparison. Earth.
11. Data – Information that is generally 3. Ecological Footprint – The environmental
quantitative (numerical). impact of an individual or population.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD > Observations → Questions → 4. Sustainable Development – Using resources to
Hypothesis → Predictions → Test → Results satisfy current needs without compromising
future availability.
A technique for testing ideas. 5. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) –
A scientist makes an observation and asks questions The most comprehensive scientific assessment
of some phenomenon. of the condition of the world’s ecological
The scientist formulates a hypothesis, a statement that systems.
attempts to answer the question. Mnemonic: “SNEFM”
The hypothesis is used to generate predictions:
specific statements that can be tested.
The results support or reject the hypothesis.
 Mathematics, Science and Technology
Reviewer in Prelim
MODULE 4 Decomposition The breakdown of dead organisms
and organic waste by
Term Definition decomposers.
Ecosystem - A system that consists of living
organisms interacting with the non-living Why is biodiversity important to people?
components of their environment. BIODIVERSITY AND HUMAN BENEFITS
- The structural and functional unit of Definition
the biosphere where living beings Term
interact with each other and their Biodiversity The variety of life in all its forms, levels,
environment. and combinations.
Ecosystem Functions provided by ecosystems
ECOSYSTEM CATEGORIES (3) Services that benefit humans (e.g., oxygen
Aquatic An ecosystem found in water production, climate regulation).
Ecosystem environments like oceans, lakes,
and rivers.
Terrestrial An ecosystem found on land such
Ecosystem as forests, deserts, and grasslands. MODULE 5
Freshwater A type of aquatic ecosystem found
Ecosystem in rivers, lakes, and streams. FUNCTIONS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
 Energy Flow
IMPORTANCE OF ECOSYSTEM  Nutrient’s cycle
 Ecosystems regenerate soil and recycle  Ecological succession or development
nutrients.
 They provide food, fiber, paper, timber, and
medicines. FOOD CHAINS & TROPHIC LEVELS (Key Terms)
 Ecosystems regulate energy flow and
maintain ecological balance.
 They allow recycling of minerals in the Term Definition
biosphere. Food Chain A linear sequence of organisms
 They support life systems and provide through which nutrients and
stability. energy pass.
Trophic Level Each step in a food chain or
food web.
WHY IS THE ECOSYSTEM SO IMPORTANT?
Autotrophs Also called producers; organisms
Term Definition
that produce their own food
Conservation of The principle that matter and
through photosynthesis.
Matter and energy are neither created nor
Gross Primary The total rate at which radiant
Energy destroyed but recycled in
Production (GPP) energy is stored by
ecosystems.
photosynthesis in green plants.
Biosphere - The sum of all worldwide
Consumers Organisms that rely on other
ecosystems; also known as the
organisms for food.
ecosphere.
Decomposers Organisms that break down
- The global sum of all
dead material and recycle
ecosystems; includes all life forms
nutrients.
and their relationships.

Types of Food Chains

Biotic The living organisms in an
Component ecosystem (e.g., plants, animals,  Grazing Food Chain – Starts with green plants
fungi). and moves up to herbivores and carnivores.
Abiotic The non-living elements in an  Detritus Food Chain – Starts with dead organic
Component ecosystem (e.g., sunlight, water, matter and moves through decomposers.
soil).
-These biotic factors are fundamental to the FOOD WEB
food chains that are formed of all other
ecosystems on earth
 A Food Web shows multiple food chains and
ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEM how they interconnect in an ecosystem.
Definition  It represents a more realistic flow of energy
Term than a single food chain.
Primary The process by which producers
Production convert solar energy into chemical
energy.
Energy Flow The movement of energy through
trophic levels from producers to
consumers.
 Mathematics, Science and Technology
Reviewer in Prelim
ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
- The steps of trophic levels expressed in a
diagrammatic way where the food producers form
the base of the pyramids and the top carnivore forms
the tip. EXAMPLES OF ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

Pyramid of Shows the number of organisms at  Acadia National Park – Forest regrowth after
Numbers each trophic level. wildfire.
Pyramid of Represents the total dry weight of  Coral Reefs – Colonization by coral polyps
Biomass organisms at each level. forming new reef structures.
Pyramid of Illustrates the energy content at
Energy each trophic level, always upright.

COMMUNITY ECOLOGY

Term Definition
Community The study of how populations of
Ecology species interact and form
communities.
(ex. Forest community)
Species The number of different species in a
Richness community.
Species A measure of both species richness
Diversity and the relative abundance of each
species.

Types of Interspecific Interactions

In biology, interspecific interactions refer to the ways
in which species interact in their community.
 Mutualism
 Commensalism
 Parasitism
 Predation
 Competition

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

Term Definition
Primary Begins in lifeless areas with no soil.
Succession
Secondary Occurs in areas where an
Succession ecosystem previously existed but
was disturbed.
Cyclic Repeating changes in ecosystem
Succession structure over time.

Seral Community-A seral community is an

intermediate stage of ecological succession
advancing towards the climax community.
Types of Seres
Term Description
Hydrosere Succession in aquatic habitat.
Xerosere Succession in dry habitat.
Lithosere Succession on bare rock.
Psammosere Succession on sandy areas.
Halosere Succession in saline soil or water.
Senile Succession of microorganisms on
dead matter.
Eosere Development of vegetation in an era.