Class notes
First-Year Biology Study Notes - BIOS1301 - UNSW
- Course
- Institution
Full set of study notes for BIO1301.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
callumfisher
Content preview
Biology Lecture NotesIntroduction to Ecology and Sustainability
WHAT IS ECOLOGY?
• The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
• It is considered the fundamental environmental science
NATURAL SELECTION
• Charles Darwin proposed that the environment favours certain genotypes
that enables some organisms to survive longer in certain environments
• This creates a process known as ‘survival of the fittest’
FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANISMS
• Most organisms prefer to reside in a niche environment
• Living organisms feed off natural resources for energy
ECOSYSTEMS
• An ecosystem is an independent community of organisms interacting
with its environment
• There is an energy and chemical flow occurring within each ecosystem
• Each ecosystem has a degree of biodiversity, which is the different
variations of organisms in terms of genetic quality and species count
ENERGY FLOW
• Every ecosystem has a trophic (feeding) structure that determines the
flow of energy between organisms
• Primary producers are autotrophic plants which photosynthesis to
retrieve energy from sunlight, which commences the trophic system
CASE 1: LAND CLEARING IN AUSTRALIA
• Environmental issues:
o Clearing of wooded areas
o Impacts on ecosystem functionality and biodiversity
• Effect on environment:
o Destruction of habitats for animals and vegetation communities
• Role of environmental science:
o Measure extent of land clearing
o Estimate impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity
o Ascertaining the regrowth of vegetation
RATES OF EXTINCTIONS
, • 127 confirmed species of birds have become extinct since the 17 th
century and there are guessed to be several hundred more
o Humans are estimated to have caused 20% of this destruction
o There are currently 9800 species of birds on Earth, down from a
peak of around 13000
• Global fishing industry output increased 6-fold between 1950-1997,
leading to around 60 fish species extinctions
• The loss of biodiversity is an issue due to:
o Contributes to regulating ecosystems which benefit humans
directly
o Disrupts the trophic process for human societies who rely on
catching and hunting their own food
o Allows for medicines to be produced
o Stabilises air and water quality
THE ISSUE OF RISING POPULATIONS
• The world population has reached around 8 billion, rising exponentially
particularly in developing countries
• Natural increase is the difference between birth and death rates, giving
the annual rate of population increase
• Fortunately, the rate of population growth has receded to around 0.9%
from a peak of 2.1% in the 1960s
• Studies show that increased primary and secondary education leads to
decreasing fertility rates in women
• The rising population is an issue due to:
o Leads to increased pressure on natural resources
o Limited space on Earth
• The current human population is currently demanding 140% of what is
sustainable on Earth
CASE 2: PLASTIC LITTER
• Environmental issues:
o Plastic pollution of oceans
o Microplastic contamination
, • Effects on environment:
o Harms or kills animals when ingested
o Consumed by humans through commercial seafood
• Role of environmental science:
o Measuring extent of plastic pollution
o Estimating impacts on biodiversity
o Provide solutions to minimizing plastic litter
INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY
• Sustainability is the preservation of natural resources whilst balancing a
reasonable quality of life
• Various sustainability awareness events have been successful in:
o Raising public awareness
o Gaining private industry interest
o Improvement of environmental situation
o Foundation of an international cooperation
• These same events have failed in terms of:
o Gaining international funding
o Receiving national commitment
o Attaining solid leadership
• Global sustainability goals have been created for each year of the future
SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMICS
• Economic sustainability and environmental sustainability are often
mutually exclusive
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of all goods and
services produced in a country across an entire year
• The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) actually factors into account the
environmental degradation as a result of economic activity
• On average in the USA, a family wastes around $600 worth of food each
year
• Natural capital is any stock of natural resources that produces goods and
services for the economy
• Sustainable development is the advancement of society that does not
degrade the environment over the next century
• Civilization is not sustainable for the largely the following reasons:
o Resource scarcity
o Environmental issues
o Poverty
o Conflict between nations
o Falling standards in environmental protection
CASE 3: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN POLICY
• Environmental policy:
o Habitat loss and degradation
o Climate change
o Invasive species
o Overharvesting
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller callumfisher. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
77254 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now