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Introduction of
Environmental Science
Environment may be
defined in the simple
terms as the sum total of
all external conditions and
influences that affect the
living organisms. It
includes lower part of
atmosphere, entire
hydrosphere and soil and
lithosphere to depth,
where evidence of
existence of living
organism has been found.
Environment
The environment is the aggregate of all those things and set of conditions, which
directly or indirectly influence not only the life of organisms but also the communities
at a particular place. Any external force or influence, which surrounds and affects the
life of a plant in any way, become a factor of its environment. These factors are called
environmental factors.
The term Environment refers to the surroundings of an organisms, which includes
both living and non-living components. The space into which living beings exist is
referred to as biosphere. The literal meaning of surround and to develop surrounding
usually refers to the Biosphere. The biosphere is considered as a thin shell of many
hundred kilometres of radius that encapsulates the earth. The life sustaining resources
such as air, water, food, etc., are recycled with in the biosphere.
It is a complex of so many things (light, soil, water, temperature, etc) which surround
an organism. Any external forces, substances or condition, which surrounds and
affects the life of an organism in any way is a factors of its environment. Environment
includes all elements, factors and condition that have some impact on growth and
development of an organisms. Thus, environment includes all the external conditions
and influence affecting life and development of an organisms. Environment includes
both biotic and abiotic factor.
Definition of Environment
Some important definitions of environment are as under according to
Anastasi The environment is everything that affects the individual except his genes.
Boring A persons environment consists of the sum total of the stimulation, which he
receives from his conception until his death.
Biological Environment
Environmental Analysis
These favourable conditions make earth a unique as compared to
other planets.
It has evolved its own environment constituting different segments,
which are
Biosphere The biosphere is a capsule encircling the earths surface,
where in all the living thing exists. That includes plants, animals and
other organisms.
Atmosphere The atmosphere which is gaseous such as nitrogen,
oxygen, helium, ozone, carbon dioxide, etc., cover, protect the earth
from cosmic radiations and provides life sustaining oxygen, the
macronutrient nitrogen and carbon dioxide needed for
photosynthesis. Argon gas is found in least concentration in
atmosphere.
Hydrosphere This comprises all water resources both surface and
ground water. The worlds water is found in oceans, lakes, seas, glacier
and rivers in the polar region in addition to ground water below the
land area.
Lithosphere It is the top crust of the earth. The uppermost layer of
soil (few metre thickness) on earth crust is the most important
region of lithosphere. The lithosphere technically includes both the
land mass and the ocean floor, it is often used to indicate only land
surface.
Classification of Environment
Environment is composed of physical and biological
components. It includes both living and non-living
components.
Environment
Physical Environment
(abiotic)
Biological Environment
(biotic)
the cost of
the cost of
development
environment
Land
Air
Water
Animals
Plants
Man
Second stage
Physical Environment
On the basis of physical characteristics and state, the
physical environment is sub-divided into three broad
categories, i.e., (a) Land (solid), (b) Water (liquid),
(c) Air (gas). They are also called abiotic components.
Fourth stage
Third stage
Environmental Factors
Various factors of environment have been grouped and discussed in different
ways.
Sometimes all the factors are classified into two groups
Environment Factors
Direct Factors
Climatic/Aerial factors,
e.g., Light, temperature
of air, humidity of air,
atmosphere and rainfall
Biotic factors,
e.g., Plant
and animal
Indirect Factors
Edaphic
factors,
e.g., Soil
Physiographic/Topographic
factors, e.g., Altitudes,
exposure of slopes, steepness
of the slopes
Direct Factors
These are light, air, temperature, soil nutrients, soil water, etc.
Most of the ecologists recognise two categories of direct factors
Climatic/Aerial Factors It includes light, temperature of air, humidity of
air, atmosphere (gases and wind) and rainfall.
Biotic Factors These are all kinds of interaction between different forms of
life, i.e., plants, animals, etc.
Indirect Factors
These are slopes, wind, soil organisms, soil structure, etc.
Most of the ecologists prefer to recognise following categories of factors of environment
Edaphic Factors These deal with the formation of soil, its physical and
chemical properties.
Physiographic/Topographic Factors It includes altitude, direction of
mountain chains and valleys, etc.
Characteristics of Environment
(i) It consists of physical, social moral, economic and political forces, which
affect the life and nature of behaviour.
(ii) It is the sum total of the stimulation from mans birth until his death.
(iii) It refers to sum total of conditions, which surround man at a given point
in space and time.
(iv) It includes all the external forces, which affect the growth and
development of living organism.
(v) It increase in economic productivity through improved health of people.
(vi) It inculcates attitude and values towards understanding the
interdependence of nature and man and work towards sustainable
development.
Principles of Environment
The members of API are dedicated to continuous efforts to improve the
compatibility of their operations with the environment, while economically
Environmental
Awareness
Several movements have taken place in
this regards. Environment related acts are
also promulgated from time to time. Many
awards have been instituted for the sake of
betterment of environment.
Environment Education, Awareness and
Training (EEAT) Scheme is a central
scheme.
EEAT scheme was launched during the 16th
five year plan in 1983-84 with the following
objectives.
(i) To promote environment education
through existing educational/research
institutions/scientific.
(ii) To ensure training and manpower
development
for
environment
education, awareness and training.
(iii) To
facilitate
development
of
education/training materials and aids
in the formal education sector.
(iv) To mobilize peoples participation
for preservation and conservation for
preservation and conservation by
environment.
(v) To
promote
environmental
awareness among all sections of the
society.
Che
mi
str
y
L aw
R eligion
er in g
Ma t
he
e
gin
ma
Nature
En
ti c
Society
S oc
io
A rt
Human
Environment
Culture
log
y
at
e
ur
Mineral
rocks and soil
Organisms
cs
ysi
Ph
ol
al
iti c
L it
S ci e n
ce
H isto
er
ry
Atmosphere
(gases and wind)
Environmental Cycles
Most of elements flow continuously in ecosystem in a cyclic
manner from one factor to another factor. Their transport
can be studied as a cyclic stages and from at different factors
(the flow of water is also in cycle manner and can be studied
as energy cycle and water cycle respectively).
In a self-sufficient ecosystem, there occurs the flow of
minerals (P, C, H2 , N2 , etc.) and energy through the abiotic
and biotic components of the system. This cyclical path of
Gaseous Cycle
The elements have main reservoir in gaseous phase is the essential feature of these
cycle. The cycles of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen are classified under the
gaseous cycle. Thus, water cycle is considered separately as hydrological cycle.
Carbon Cycle
It is an example of gaseous type of biogeochemical cycle of nature. Carbon is
found as graphite and diamond in nature. It amount of 0.03% in the air. It
includes most important phenomenons like photosynthesis, respiration, etc.
Decomposition through which carbon cycles in various form of carbon
compounds from one system to another. While the present day cycling of carbon
nitrates with photosynthetic activity that accumulate CO 2 into carbohydrates.
These carbohydrates (food) is taken up by animals, where it is used to produce
energy and again CO 2 is released in the atmosphere.
Besides this decomposer decay the complex living matter into simple compounds
that are further dissolved in soil. Such a form that can be used by plant in their
metabolic activities. Carbon cycle includes following reaction
2C + O 2CO at normal temperature
CO 2 + C 2CO at high temperature
Atmospheric CO 2 is produced by burning by fossil-fuel, conversion of limestones
into cement, etc., while CO is produced due to incomplete burning of carbon
compound.
Oxygen Cycle
Oxygen is the life supporting portion of the earths atmosphere. It is present in
large quantities (about 21% v/v) in the atmosphere. It is also found dissolved in
water and as oxides and carbonates in rocks.
Atmospheric
oxygen (O2)
Nutrient uptake
cay
De
CO2
H 2O
Oxygen cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
It is a good example of gaseous cycle.
Because of its role in the construction of
proteins and nucleic acid and its
importance as a potential limiting
factor in many biological phenomena,
nitrogen is a significant element. The
atmosphere is the reservoir of free
gaseous nitrogen. But living organisms,
except some nitrogen fixing bacteria,
cannot use elemental nitrogen directly.
It has to be converted into nitrate to be
utilised by plant. The atmospheric
nitrogen is converted into nitrates by
nitrogen fixing bacteria and blue-green
algae. The soluble nitrates are taken up
by plants, which utilise them in
synthesis of amino acid and proteins.
Components of
living matter
Nutrient pool
Carbohydrate,
glucose
(C6H12O6)
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Atmospheric
nitrogen
Nitrogen oxide
Plant
and animal
proteins
or
Nitrogen
oxide
Free living
nitrogen
fixing
bacteria
Root absorption
Nodules Azotobacter
Saprophytic containing
Rhizobium
bacteria
Death and decay
amino acid
ammonifying
ammonifying
bacteria
bacteria
Death
Ammonia and
its commend
(soil)
Soil nitrates
Nitrobacter
Leaching loss to rivers
and oceanic basins
Nitrites
(soil)
Nitrogen fixation
Symbiotic
and free
living bluegreen algae
Denitrifying
bacteria
Nitrogen fixation
Washed
by rain
Some iron and sulphur bacteria utilise the oxygen of nitrates for
chemosynthetic activity as follows
Nitrosomonas
Nitrogen cycle
Sedimentary Cycle
This type of cycle do not have a gaseous phase. The
elements are usually found in soil and sediments and cycle
through soil, water and organism. The only exception to
these cycle is sulphur cycle, which has a gaseous phase as
H2S and SO 2 . The sulphur forms sediments. Bacteria can use
elemental sulphur.
Sulphur Cycle
Sulphur is an essential element of protein synthesis. It
provides a linkage between polypeptide chain in protein
molecules. Life on earth, could not exist without sulphur. It
is less likely, however to be limiting of ecosystem
productivity than phosphorus.
Organic sulphur in
plants and animals
Decomposition by
bacterial reduction
Taken up by
green plants SulphurH2S
fixing
bacteria
Photosynthetic and
chemosynthetic
sulphur bacteria
SO4
Solution
sulphates
Oxide
SO2
Sulphur cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus forms part of the sedimentary cycle. It is also a
key element in all living organisms. It play an important role
Protoplasm
synthesis
Fish and
marine birds
Protoplasm
plants
animals
bacteria
Excretion
Relatively insoluble
Ca3(PO4)2
Phosphate rocks,
bone deposits and
guano deposits
CO2
O2
Vapours
Nitrogen
Water
Dead
leaves
Organic
matter
Denitrifying
bacteria
Mineral
Salts (N, P, K Ca and Fe) Nitrifing bacteria
Ecosystem
Definition of Ecosystem
Phosphatising
bacteria
Heat
Sun
Marine deposits
Phosphorus cycle
Ecosystem
It is considered to be a major ecological unit and was coined
by AG Tansley in 1935. Ecological system or ecosystem is
any unit that includes all the animals, i.e., the communities
in a given area, interacting, is with the physical environment
so that a flow of energy leads to clearly defined trophic
structure biotic diversity and material cycle such as
exchange of materials between living and non-living
components within the system.
Human beings live upon as a giant ecosystem, where abiotic
and biotic components are constantly acting and reaching
upon each other and bringing forth structural and
functional changes in it.
10
Kinds of Ecosystem
The ecosystem is broadly classified under two
categories
(b) The industrial and automobile generated air pollutants are trapped by
leaves of the trees and converted into harmless compounds.
Artificial Ecosystem
These are developed and maintained artificially by man. In them natural
balance is disturbed by addition of energy and planned manipulations, e.g.,
cultivation of crop plants like maize, wheat, rice crops, etc. In addition, the
rapid progress made during recent years led to the recognisation of some other
types of ecosystem such as space ecosystem, pond ecosystem, closed bottle or
aquarium, etc.
Functions
Such ecosystem are the creations of human beings. The kinds of species and
the size of artificial ecosystems may vary widely.
A few examples of artificial ecosystem may be enumerated as follows
Ecosystem
Natural Ecosystem
(controlled by natural)
Terrestrial
(based on vegetation)
Natural Ecosystem
Artificial Ecosystem
(controlled by human)
Aquatic
Others
Marine
Deep sea
Ocean
Lagoons
Coral reefs
Aquatic which may be lotic (running Rivers Streams Springs Lakes Pool Ponds
water as spring, river, stream) or lentic
Different types of ecosystem
(standing water as lakes, pool, ponds) and
Agricultural fields sprinpled with pesticides.
marine (deep bodies and ocean ecosystem
as lagoons, corals reefs).
A waste water treatment plant.
A water filtration tank-pond, which purifies water before supplying if for
Functions
drinking.
These function themselves under natural A home-aquarium or an exhibition-aquarium such as marine drive, Mumbai,
conditions and are not influenced by etc.
man-made activities.
functions
of
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Abiotic Components
These include mainly organic and inorganic compounds including
water, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium, salts, amino acids, humans, etc.
All the bottom most of the nutrients are available in plenty.
Biotic Components
These may be categorised as
Producers In a pond ecosystem, the primary producers are diatoms
and microscopic free floating algae (phytoplankton) like
Chlamydomonas, Euglena, etc. There are also the larger algae like
Spirogyra, Cladophora, Chara, etc.
Consumers The primary consumers (C 1 ) are minute floating water
flea, larvae of insects that feed on green plant.
Grassland Ecosystem
This is a type of terrestrial ecosystem.
The various components of a grassland ecosystem are as
follows
Abiotic Components
These are the nutrients presents in soil and the aerial
environment. Thus, the element like C, H, O, N, P, S,
etc., are supplied by carbon dioxide, water, phosphates
and sulphates, etc.
Benthos
Primary consumers
(herbivores)
Consumers
Producers
Macrophytes
(rooted)
Phytoplanktons
Sun
Water
Mud
Abiotic components (basic inorganic
and organic compounds)
Tertiary consumer
(carnivores)
Decomposers
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Biotic Components
Functions of Ecosystem
Herbivores
Abi
otic
mat
er
ial
Decomposers
Grassland ecosystem
Balanced Ecosystem
A balanced ecosystem is such a biome in which the natural
balance of energy flow, structure and functions are not disturbed
and they occur in a natural way. Natural ecosystem are examples
of balanced ecosystem.
Unbalanced Ecosystem
Artificial ecosystem are generally unbalanced. They are
maintained to serve certain specific purpose. Pond ecosystem,
crop field, etc., are some example of artificial ecosystem. In
agricultural fields, the control of biotic community as well as
physio-chemical environment is also unbalanced due to such
manipulations.