L1 Introduction and Sustainability

Question 1

What is Ecology?

Answer 1

The study of organisms in their communities and how they interact with their groups and environment

Question 2

List the Hierarchy of Life and define each level

Answer 2

1 - organisms (living things)
2 - populations (organisms that can breed/same species)
3 - communities (populations in defined species)
4 - functional groups (communities with and can adapt to similar environmental pressure)
5 - ecosystem (1 or more functional group + abiotic components)
6 - Biomes (ecosystems that share broad environmental characteristics)
7 - Biosphere (global assemblage of Biome)

Question 3

What are the properties of an ecosystem?

Answer 3

• self sustaining
• has organisms, populations of organisms, communities of populations and abiotic components

Question 4

Why do rainforests have so much life?

Answer 4

• lots of sunlight + water = favourable environment
• high % of moss that can retain moisture and nutrients for organisms

Question 5

What are engineers roles in environmental sustainability?

Answer 5

• shouldn’t exceed the capacity of impact that the planet can take
• consider environmental impact at earliest planning stages of a project
• impossible to sustain (maintain for period of time) forever, but want to do as long as possible
• must meet needs of present without compromising future generations from meeting their needs

CONDENSED FORM:
1) Respect the planet’s limits and capacity it can take.
2) Plan in advance with the environmental impacts in mind.
3) Aim to sustain for as long as possible.
4) Meet today’s needs without harming the future.