KK

Lect02_LIfeHierarchy&Science1_S25

Course Goal

  • Examine Earth’s diverse ecosystems and how people are changing them.

  • Relevant fields:

    • Geology

    • Biology

    • Ecology

    • Hydrology

    • Climatology

    • Fish and Wildlife

    • Bio-Chemistry

    • Crop Science

    • Politics

    • Energy studies

    • Earth History

    • Conservation

    • Sustainability

Foundations: Defining Life

  • Concept of "Emergent Properties"

    • What characteristics define something as living?

Defining Life (Emergent Properties)

Order

  • Living organisms show organization.

Reproduction

  • Living things can independently reproduce.

Growth and Development

  • Living things grow and develop over time.

Response to Environment

  • Living organisms respond to their environment and require energy inputs.

Adaptation

  • Populations can adapt over time to become better suited to their environment.

    • Example: AMSE (adaptive mechanisms in specific environments).

Hierarchy of Life

  • Life is structured in levels from molecules to the biosphere:

    • Atomic level (e.g., oxygen)

    • Molecular level (e.g., DNA)

    • Cellular level (e.g., smooth muscle cell)

    • Organelle level (e.g., cell nucleus)

    • Tissue level (e.g., smooth muscle tissue)

    • Organ level (e.g., stomach)

    • Organ system level (e.g., digestive system)

    • Organism level

    • Population level

    • Community level

    • Ecosystem level

    • Biome level

    • Biosphere level

Focus of Environmental Scientists

  • Study upper levels of organization:

    • Organism

    • Population

    • Community

    • Ecosystem

    • Biomes

    • Biosphere

Population Growth and Resource Demand

  • Lecture on impact of increasing population:

    • Increased demand for energy, water, food, and space.

    • Example: Upsala Glacier (Argentina) comparison from 1928 to 2004.

Contentious Environmental Issues

  • Discussion on environmental debates:

    • Letter critique on perceptions of wolves and masculinity through metaphors.

Argument Construction

  • Guidance on formulating arguments:

    • Use first person for clarity.

Temperature Anomalies and Climate Science

  • Exploration of temperature anomalies and their implications for climate science.

    • Historical graph data from NASA and NOAA showing temperature changes over time from 1880-2020.

Global Warming Evidence

  • 2020 recorded as the hottest year.

  • Increased CO2 emissions linked to human activity.

  • Majority of scientists advocate for CO2 reductions.

  • Scientific evidence for warming is unequivocal.

Terminology in Science

Definitions:

  • Truth: Real facts about something.

  • Fact: A reality that truly exists.

  • Reality: Quality of having existence.

Common Phrase:

  • "The proof is in the pudding": Quality assessed after testing.

Scientific Method

  • Step-by-step approach:

    • Observations lead to questions about natural phenomena.

    • Questions create hypotheses with testable predictions.

    • Data collection leads to results that support or reject hypotheses.

Identifying Scientific Questions

  • Examples of scientific questions:

    • Is the earth warming?

    • How will climate change affect resources and energy?

Difference Between Science and Logic

  • Science describes/explains but does not prescribe actions or ethical judgments.

Alternative Perspectives

  • Other belief systems include logic and tradition, exemplified by Aristotle's authority on physics.

Scientific Challenges to Authority

  • Galileo's tests challenged Aristotle's ideas about gravity.

Test Implementation in Science

  • Example of controlled tests from Apollo 15 mission shows scientific validation.

Historical Observations

  • Erratic boulders as evidence of ancient glaciers moving through landscapes.

Logical Argument Construction

  • Using hypotheses and predictions to construct scientific claims.

Evidence from Historical Findings

  • Fossils found proving past climates supported existence of arctic plant species.

  • Discovery of ancient tools in the North Sea substantiates human civilization studies.

Scientific Process

  • Detailed process involving observations, questions, testing, and peer review.

Scientific Publication

  • Importance of publishing results and data in scientific journals.

Evaluating Scientific Claims

  • Baloney detection to assess validity of scientific claims:

    1. Use of primary journals and peer review

    2. Presentation of data

    3. Repeated observations

    4. Considering alternate hypotheses

    5. Funding source impact

    6. Identifying biases/hidden agendas.