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1
Definition of Environment
ENVIRONMENT
Definition: Environment literally means surrounding and everything that affect an organism
during its lifetime is collectively known as its environment
...
It includes all the physical and biological surrounding and their interactions
...
Thus environment is actually
global in nature, it is a multidisciplinary subject including physics, geology, geography, history,
economics, physiology, biotechnology, remote sensing, geophysics, soil science and hydrology
etc
...
Its main aspects are:
• Conservation of nature and natural resources
...
• Control of environmental pollution
...
• Social issues in relation to development and environment
...
Importance of Environmental Science
Environment belongs to all the living beings and thus is, important for all
...
Environment study deals with the analysis of the processes in water, air, land, soil and
organisms which leads to pollute or degrade environment
...
It also deals with important issues like safe and
clean drinking water, hygienic living conditions and clean and fresh air, fertility of land, healthy
food and development
...
Need for Public Awareness
With the ever increasing development by modern man, large scale degradation of natural
resources have been occurred, the public has to be educated about the fact that if we are
degrading our environment we are actually harming ourselves
...
The United Nations conference on Environment and Development
held in Rio-de-Janeiro, followed by Earth summit on sustainable Development have high-lighted
the key issues of global environmental concern and have attracted the general public towards
the deteriorating environment
...
Public participatory
role is possible only when the public is awared about the ecological and environmental issues
...
The objectives of environmental awareness should be:
(a) Improving the quality of environment
...
(c) Creating such an atmosphere as people find themselves fit enough to participate in
decision making process of environmental development programmes
...
G
...
For example forest, grassland, desert,
aquatic etc
...
There is necessarily at least an inflow and outflow of energy
...
Any disturbance in
autotrophic-heterotrophic balance leads to ecosystem imbalance, more the imbalance more
externals are required to balance
...
Balance infact
designates to greater primary producers than consumer
...
It is controlled by feedback mechanic who may be either positive or
negative
...
When D is produced
in large amount it inactivates X1 and the reaction stops proceeding
...
Many such feedback
mechanisms occur in ecosystem to resist change
...
Types of ecosystem
Natural
Artificial
Terrestrial
Aquatic
Forest
Marine water
Grassland
Fresh water
Running water
(River, Streams)
Stagnant water
(Lake, Pond)
Structure and Function of an Ecosystem
An ecosystem has two types of components—
1
...
Biotic
...
Abiotic component includes—
(A) Physical
(1) Sunlight (for photosynthesis)
(2) Water (essential for living beings)
(3) Temperature (necessary to get survive)
(4) Soil (provide base and nutrients)
(B) Chemical
(1) Proteins
(2) Carbohydrates
(3) Fats
(4) Minerals etc
...
Biotic component
(1) Producers /Autotrophs
(2) Consumer/ heterotrophs
4 // Environment and Ecology
3
...
g
...
Consumers: They depend on the energy, produced by the producer
...
Decomposers: They attack on dead animals, producers etc
...
For example bacteria
and fungi
...
It balances the rate of biological energy flow
...
It balances the nutrients cycle
...
Food Chain
The process of eating and being eaten by the successive creatures is known to as food chain
...
Sun Green plants producer
→
Level 1
→
Herbivores primary consumer
Energy
Flow
Level 2
→
Carnivores secondary consumers
Level 3
→
Higher carnivores tertiary consumer
Types of Food Chain
A
...
Parasitic food chain
C
...
For example grassland ecosystem, pond ecosystem etc
...
Smaller
organism consumes them without killing them
...
Detritus food chain: Food chain that starts from dead and decayed organisms, to the
micro-organisms, to the detrivorous or saprovorous and these predator form a chain called
detritus food chain
...
Different food chains are
interconnected with each other in a specific pattern
...
If the chain gets disturbed a little, then
it leads to the loss of species and the web breaks down
...
It occurs due to environmental changes
...
Through this way the plants and animal species change
gradually
...
Primary
2
...
Secondary succession: When a new biotic community replaces an already existing biotic
community then this type of replacement is known as secondary succession
...
6 // Environment and Ecology
Ecological Pyramid
It is used to represent the status of the ecosystem for different parameters such as food, energy,
and biomass
...
Its base shows producer, the next level shows the primary and secondary
consumers, and the apex higher or tertiary consumers
...
Decomposer
(Eagle)
Secondary consumers
(snake)
Primary consumers
(grasshoppers)
Primary producer
(green grass)
Pyramid of number
Pyramid of energy: It is based on the total energy present in each tropic level of the
pyramid
...
It is always upright
as energy decreases at successive tropic level from base (producers) to apex (consumers)
...
The biomass decreases from the lower tropic level to the higher for
e
...
forest ecosystem
...
Over the years, there
have been notable changes in the pattern of farming; Manual farming has been replaced by
‘mechanized farming’ due to the advancement of different technologies
...
Modern agricultural techniques have eventually changed into both
ways
...
The changes in the earlier
form of agriculture have been brought by the following ways:
(i) Mechanical factors: Tractors, tube wells and agricultural equipments
...
The chemical factors have brought a revolution in the agriculture, as they express growth
in a very short span of time but their affects in the long run are detrimental
...
Use of tractors has
considerably increased in agriculture these days
...
Fertilizers: Crops require basic food like nutrients for their growth
...
It helps in the growth of plants and contributes greatly to increase
yields of the crops
...
Artificial Fertilizers: In the form of agricultural practices today artificial fertilizer is used
in abundance
...
Its
increasing use is polluting the environment and contaminating the surface and ground water
resources
...
It also affects the lakes, ponds and underground water due to the
accumulation of fertilizers in them and the soil
...
Advantages
1
...
2
...
3
...
Disadvantages
1
...
2
...
3
...
4
...
5
...
(2) Industries
Industrial activities generate a huge amount of waste products which are usually discharged
into the water bodies
...
Its noise causes noise
pollution too
...
In recent years, emphasis is laid on the industrial waste
treatment, for the recovery of useful byproduct
...
Nowadays various measures have
been taken to transform industrial waste into profitable products in order to save our environment
as well as money
...
8 // Environment and Ecology
Industrialization is considered the synonym to development but it is necessary to review
the impact of industrialization on society and environment otherwise it can bring the following
consequences:
1
...
Man’s uncontrolled actions for the
fulfilment of his desires are contaminating the atmosphere and leading the biosphere
to undesirable changes that will result into the ecosystem imbalance
...
Biodiversity loss: To set up new industries, the biologically rich habitats are being
destroyed and fragmented
...
A rich biodiversity is essential for the health of biosphere and industrial
development of a country
...
Toxic metal and non-metal discharge: Toxic metals and non-metals from the
industries, cause great harm to the biosphere
...
Discharge of effluents
form industries, decreases the amount of DO (dissolve oxygen) in water
...
4
...
It disrupts the
energy flow of the ecosystem as well
...
Disturbance of self purification mechanism: The organic matter gets oxidized by
bacteria which break it into simpler substances such as ammonia, nitrates, sulphates
etc
...
Discharge of organic
matter into the streams, results into the growth of bacteria and consequently, it
depletes the dissolved oxygen, which is replenished by the atmosphere
...
When large amount of industrial sewage is disposed off into
the natural water bodies, the self purification mechanism gets disturbed
...
Gaseous emissions: Natural resources have been exploited at their fullest, in the race
of development, all over the world
...
The emission of these green house gases results into global warming, at
the same times SO2 and NO2 emitted from industries cause acid rain and formation
of smog
...
2
...
4
...
Scientific techniques should be adopted for the reprocessing of the industrial waste
...
Reasonable funds should be provided for the construction of treatment plants for
industrial effluents
...
Eco-friendly industrial plants should be taken into consideration
...
from the earth
...
The major effects of mining operations on human being and plants are as follows:
1
...
Water dissolves these wastes to produce contaminated
fluid that pollute soil, river and ground water
...
Mining also leads to air pollution due to release of green house gases and other toxic
gases, for example CH4, CO2 etc
...
It leads to deforestation including loss of flora and fauna
...
Mining operations produce a lot of noise
...
5
...
6
...
7
...
(4) Transportation
Way back two centuries, the atmospheric gases were balanced, atmosphere had the capacity to
protect itself from the encroaching pollutants
...
The affect, after all
was the disturbance in the atmospheric
...
Carbon dioxide (CO2 /CO): It emits from automobiles
...
5 ppm
...
The symptoms are
headache, fatigue, tiredness, unconsciousness and cardiovascular damage
...
Nitrogen oxides (NO2): It is toxic at the highest rate, attacks the lungs and it also
reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood
...
It occurs due to the breakdown of the air sacs in the lungs
...
3
...
10 // Environment and Ecology
Sea Transport
It consists of ships and submarines etc
...
Sometimes,
due to storms and icebergs, accidents take place due to which oil spills into the ocean
...
Air Transport
It is one of the fastest modes of transportation and pollution too
...
Jet planes travel in the stratosphere and disrupt the Ozone layer by emitting pollutions
such as SO4, and Cl2 etc
...
Important pre-requisites for controlling vehicular pollutions are:
(a) Reduction of lead content in motor fuel
...
(c)
Improvement in the processes of automobile technology
...
(e)
Restriction in the growth of urban centers, industries and commercial centers
...
(g) Use of unadulterated fuel
...
(i)
Improvement in fuel quality and usage of cleaner fuel
...
(k)
Streamlining traffic management
...
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
1
...
are the major causes
for displacement of people from their well established living places
...
has introduced the land Acquisition Act, 1894, which empowers
it to serve notice to the people to vacate their lands if required for the govt
...
Provision of cash compensation in lieu of the land vacated exists in section 16 of the act
...
The involuntary movement of the residents from
one place to another for resettlement gives rise to a variety of problems which may be social,
economical and of other types
...
2
...
4
...
6
...
Dispersal of kith and kins
Weakening of traditions
...
Inter-relationship and potential for mutual fraternity is diminished
...
2
...
Income sources are shattered and ruined
...
Search of new jobs requires time
...
b
...
d
...
Joint families are separated which affects different members of the family, differently
...
People face greater problems of availing recourses due to competition in the relocated
environment
...
Their losses are compensated by the Ministry
...
To provide adequate compensation
...
To provide social infrastructure and community services
...
To provide proper rehabilitation and facilities
...
To help them providing a locality of their preference
...
To settle them in a community, they are acquired to
...
To help them improving their living standard
...
Various sources of pollution generated in housing activities are:
Indoor Sources of Pollutants
(a) Air conditioner provides good temperature for fungal and other bacterial growth
...
12 // Environment and Ecology
(c) Other appliances such as T
...
, radio, fan, cooler etc
...
(d) Materials used for decoration such as varnishes, paints, coated wall papers etc create
air pollution
...
(b) Shops producing ozone from photocopier machine, tobacco smoke, freon using as
solvent in industries causes air pollution
...
(ii) The volume of electronic appliances should be up to audible limit
...
In the case of outdoor pollutants–
(i) Eco-friendly appliances should be in use
...
(3) Social, Ethical and Aesthetic Issues
It involves some of them as
1
...
Global Warming
5
...
Greenhouse effect
9
...
Watershed management
13
...
Diseases
2
...
6
...
10
...
14
...
It absorbs the sun’s UV radiation
and keeps it away from the earth’s surface
...
Ozone hole is usually measured as
reduction in the total column above a point on the earth’s surface, which is normally expressed
in Dobson units
...
Definition of Environment // 13
Wasteland Reclamation
The land which is either incapable for agricultural purpose or is not useful to its optimum
potential, due to various reasons is marked as wasteland
...
India has total land area of about 328 million hectares out of which 24% is a
wasteland area
...
Afforestation
2
...
Protecting soil erosion by providing ground cover
...
Change in the agricultural practices by adopting mixed cropping and crop rotation
etc
...
Eco-logical succession i
...
natural process of development and re-development of the
ecosystem
...
Afterwards
when the flood water recedes, these areas are used for agricultural purposes, for wildlife habitat
and aquifer recharging etc
...
By applying farming practices at high areas such as mountains, reduces soil loss
...
Planting the trees retains soil on the earth
...
It preserves water to recharge the aquifers
...
5
...
Fish breeding can be done in the collected water
...
The water thus stored
in tanks etc
...
Rain Water Harvesting
Rain water harvesting in needed to fulfil the
1
...
2
...
3
...
4
...
5
...
6
...
Consumerism
It refers to the consumption of resources by the people
...
Consumerism has arisen due to the increase in
population size and due to demand by this population, as our life style is dynamic and changing
...
Consumerism aeries with the place and maximum consumerism are found in developed
countries
...
Definition of Environment // 15
Diseases
If the environment keeps getting polluted, the health of mankind will also be deteriorated &
many diseases will affect and strike
...
Air borne diseases
• Asthma, cough; due to SO2
• Defects of nervous system; due to Pb
• Fibrosis, emphysema; due to NO and NO2
• Bronchitis, respiratory problems; due to suspended particulate matters
...
Water borne diseases
• Cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever; due to bacterial infections
...
• Amoebic dysentery; due to protozoial infections
...
Green revolution
The program started to bring revolution in the reservoir of food grain by enormous
production of food grain
...
S
...
Human Activities—Food
Anything eaten to satisfy appetite and to meet physiological needs for growth to maintain all
body processes and to supply energy to maintain body temperature and providing physical
strength to perform activities properly is called, food
...
Its headquarter is in Rome, Italy
...
FAO promotes national and international plans, actions to undertake scientific,
technological, social and economic research to improve educations and administration
of the food sector, to conserve and sustainability of natural resources
...
(B) Equal distribution of food grains throughout the country for public betterment
...
Balanced diet: A balanced diet contains a variety of food stuff having sufficient protein,
carbohydrate, fats, vitamins and minerals, which can be obtained from cereals, vegetable,
oils, fruits etc
...
It affects human beings in
following ways:
1
...
2
...
Definition of Environment // 17
The affects of under nourishment on children are:
1
...
Various abnormalities arises
...
Mentally retartedness is seen
...
Hormonal disorders such as goiter is seen
...
Delayed adulthood is observed
...
Physical abnormality generates social inferiority complex
...
If the food is being eaten, has
nutritional imbalance due to lack of appropriate dietary ingredients, malnutrition may take place
which can bring following abnormalities:
(1) Anemia: It is caused due to lack of iron in the diet and/or inability of tissues to
absorb iron from the blood
...
(3) The deficiency of vitamin such as vitamin A causes Night blindness, vitamin B causes
Beri-beri; vitamin C causes Scurvy, vitamin D causes Rickets etc
...
Such assessment may include those projects which can significantly alter
the landscape and consequently disrupts and disturb the services and inhabitant of that place
...
EIA concentrates on problems and conflict of natural resources continuously that could
affect the surroundings
...
The predicted future problems are looked after by it and maximum attentions are paid to
minimize it
...
To achieve the aim of EIA, the statements are sent and being communicated to all the
groups of:
(1) the project developer and their investors
(2) the regulators, planners and politicians
18 // Environment and Ecology
Steps in EIA
Impact identification
Impact prediction
and management
Impact Interpretation
Identifying monitoring
requirements and
mitigating measures
Communication of
impact information
to users
...
The project gets its credit and recognition which yields its benefit
without causing serious problem to environment and is likely to be completed on time and
within the budget decided to it
...
After realizing the conclusion by members of the assessing team and finding
it beneficial to local people along with their main motive not to harm the existing ecology,
they give permission to the owners after having undertakings
...
This project has to be designed to suit the local environment
and should be completed on time to avoid any difficulties on the way
...
•
Project that yields benefits without causing serious problems is more likely to bring
credited and recognition to its proponents
...
(b) EIA should be undertaken–throughout the project with best applicable science &
mitigation technology
...
(d) EIA result in–accurate and appropriate information
...
In summary we can say that it
(1) Finds way to reduce unacceptable impacts and to shape the project so that it suits the
local environment
...
(3) Predicts the likely environmental impacts of project
...
”
Development means: Improving people’s lives
...
Economic development
• Economic growth
Community
economic
development
• Private profit
Conservation
• Market expansion
• Externalise costs
Sustainable
development
Community development
Ecological development
• Local self-reliance
• Basic human needs
• Carrying capacity
• Resource conservation
• Elegance
• Equity
• Participation
• Social accountability
• Appropriate technology
Deep ecology
Important Aspects of Sustainable Development
(1) Environment
(2) Society
(3) Economy
All the aspects are interlinked and balanced without compromising the ability of present
and future generates to meet their needs
...
(2) To improve the quality of human life
...
(4) Protecting the Ecosystem
...
(6) Considering environment in decisions
...
(8) Zero pollutant emissions from the industrial process
...
(2) Increasing population growth and population density
...
(4) Uncontrolled consumption of energy and environmental
...
(6) Deterioration of land
...
Both developed of
developing countries have to work together to achieve more progress in these areas
...
QUESTIONS
A
...
2
...
4
...
What is environment? Discuss its scope and importance
...
How food web is different from it?
What do you mean by structure of an ecosystem? Explain the various components of
an ecosystem
...
Short Answer Questions
1
...
3
...
Explain the objectives of environmental science
...
Define the ecological pyramids
...
6
...
Fill in the Blanks
1
...
The term ecosystem was given by __________________
...
The term ecology was coined by ___________________
...
2
...
4
...
D
...
Multiple Type Questions
1
...
3
...
5
...
Mesosphere
c
...
b
...
None of these
Global atmospheric temperature is likely to be increased due to
a
...
Noise pollution
b
...
Burning of fossile fuels
Increasing industrialization is causing much danger to man life by
a
...
Producing more goods
b
...
Polluting the environment
Environmental education should be imparted only at
a
...
College stage
b
...
Primary school age
World environment day is celebrated on
a
...
14 November
b
...
1 December
F
...
2
...
Environment education is essential for research work
...
G