1

CONTENT

CHAPTER: 1 - ECOLOGY 3
CHAPTER: 2 – FUNCTIONS OF AN ECOSYSTEM 8
CHAPTER: 3 - TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS 16
CHAPTER: 4 - AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM 24
CHAPTER: 5 - ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION 32
CHAPTER: 6 - RENEWABLE ENERGY 40
CHAPTER: 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 45
CHAPTER: 8 - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 54
CHAPTER: 9 - BIODIVERSITY 57
CHAPTER: 10 - INDIAN BIODIVERSITY DIVERSE LANDSCAPE 59
CHAPTER: 11 - SCHEDULE ANIMALS OF WPA 1972 65
CHAPTER: 12 - ANIMAL DIVERSITY OF INDIA 66
CHAPTER: 13 - PLANT DIVERSITY OF INDIA 72
CHAPTER: 14 - MARINE ORGANISMS 76
CHAPTER: 15 - PROTECTED AREA NETWORK 77
CHAPTER: 16 - CONSERVATION EFFORTS 83
CHAPTER: 17 - CLIMATE CHANGE 89
CHAPTER: 18 - OCEAN ACIDIFICATION 93
CHAPTER: 19 - OZONE DEPLETION 95
CHAPTER: 20 - IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE 98
CHAPTER: 21 - MITIGATION STRATEGIESS 100
CHAPTER: 22 - INDIA AND CLIMATE CHANGE 102
CHAPTER: 23 - CLIMATE CHANGE ORGANIZATIONS 112
CHAPTER: 24 - AGRICULTURE 122
CHAPTER: 25 - ACT AND POLICIES 132
CHAPTER: 26 - INSTITUTIONS AND MEASURES 137
CHAPTER: 27 - ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 142
CHAPTER: 28 - INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONVENTION 145
CHAPTER: 29 - ENVIRONMENT ISSUES AND HEALTH EFFECTS 156
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS 166
APPENDIX 178

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CHAPTER: 1 - ECOLOGY
• Ecology is defined as a scientific study of
the relationship of the living organisms
with each other and with their
environment.
• It deals with the ways in which organisms
are moulded by their environment, how
they make use of environmental resources
including energy flow and mineral cycling.
HISTORY OF ECOLOGY UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM

• The classical texts of the Vedic period 1. Individual: - Individual-Organism is an

such as the Vedas, the Samhitas, the individual living being that has the ability
Brahmanas the Aranyakas - Upanishads to act or function independently.
contain many references to ecological 2. Population: - Population-Population is a
concepts group of organisms usually of the same
• The Indian treatise on medicine, the species, occupying a defined area during a
Caraka - Samhita and the surgical text specific time,
Susruta - Samhita. 3. Community: - Communities in most
• Contain classification of animals on the instances are named after the dominant
basis of habit and habitat, land in terms of plant form (species). A community is not
nature of soil, climate and vegetation; and fixed or rigid; communities may be large
description of plants typical to various or small.
localities. • Types of Community: On the
• Caraka - Samhita contains information basis of size and degree of relative
where air, land, water and seasons were independence communities may be
indispensable for life and that polluted air divided into two types-
and water were injurious for health. i. Major Community: -
These are large-sized, well
ENVIRONMENT AND ITS COMPONENTS
organized and relatively
The environment is defined as ‘the sum total of independent. They depend
living, non-living components; influences and only on the sun's energy
events, surrounding an organism. from outside and are
independent of the inputs
Components of Environment
and outputs from adjacent
Abiotic Biotic
Communities. E.g: tropical
Energy Radiation Green plants Non- ever green forest in the
Temperature & heat flow green plants North-East
Water Atmospheric gases and Decomposers ii. Minor Communities: -
wind Fire Gravity Parasites Symbionts
These are dependent on
Topography Soil Geologic
substratum. Animals Man. neighbouring communities
and are often called
LEVELS OFORGANISATIONS IN societies. They are
ECOLOGY secondary aggregations
within a major community
The main levels of organisation of ecology are six
and are not therefore
and are as follows.
completely independent
units as far as energy and
nutrient dynamics are
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 S. Name of Region Flora and Fauna
No Biome
1 Tundra Northern and Southern most region of Devoid of trees except stunted shrubs in the southern part of
world adjoining the ice bound poles tundra biome, ground flora includes lichen, mosses and
sedges. The typical animals are reindeer, arctic fox, polar
bear, snowy owl, lemming, arctic hare, ptarmigan.
Reptiles and amphibians are almost absent.
2 Taiga Northern Europe, Asia and North The dominating vegetation is coniferous evergreen mostly
America. Moderate temperature than spruce, with some pine and firs. The fauna consists of birds,
tundra. Also known as boreal forest. hawks, fur bearing carnivores, little mink, elks, puma,
Siberian tiger, wolverine, wolves etc.
3 Temperate Extends over Central and Southern The flora includes trees like beech, oak, maple and cherry.
Deciduous Europe, Eastern North America, Most animals are the familiar vertebrates and invertebrates.
Forest Western China, Japan, New Zealand etc. These are generally the most productive agricultural areas
Moderate average temperature and of the earth
abundant rainfall.
4 Tropical rain Tropical areas in the equatorial regions, Tropical rainforest covers about 7% of the earth’s surface
forest which is abound with life. Temperature & 40% of the world’s plant and animal species. Multiple
and rainfall high. storey of broad-leafed evergreen tree species are in
abundance. Most animals and epiphytic plants are
concentrated in the canopy or tree top zones.
5 Savannah Tropical region: Savannah is most Grasses with scattered trees and fire resisting thorny shrubs.
extensive in Africa. The fauna include a great diversity of grazers and browsers
such as antelopes, buffaloes, zebras, elephants and
rhinoceros; the carnivores include lion, cheetah, hyena; and
mongoose, and many rodents.
6 Grassland North America, Ukraine, etc. Temperate Grasses dominate the vegetation. The fauna include large
conditions with low rainfall. herbivores like bison, antelope, cattle, rodents, prairie dog,
wolves, and a rich and diverse array of ground nesting bird.
7 Desert Continental interiors with very low and The flora is drought resistance such as cactus, euphorbias,
sporadic rainfall with low humidity. The sagebrush. Fauna: Reptiles, Small Mammals and birds.
days are very hot but nights are cold.

S. No Aquatic ecosystem Characteristics

1. Fresh Water Fresh water ecosystem are classified as lotic (moving water) or lentic (still or stagnant
Ecosystem water). Lotic water system includes freshwater streams, springs, rivulets, creeks, brooks,
and rivers. Lentic water bodies include pools, ponds, some swamps, bogs and lakes. They
vary considerably in physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
2. Marine Ecosystem Nearly three – quarter of earth’s surface is covered by ocean with an average depth of 3,750
m and with salinity 35 ppt, (parts per thousand), about 90 per cent of which is sodium
chloride.
3. Estuaries Coastal bays, river mouths and tidal marshes form the estuaries. In estuaries, fresh water
from rivers meet ocean water and the two are mixed by action of tides. Estuaries are highly
productive as compared to the adjacent river or sea.
4. Coral reef

5. Mangrove

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 CHAPTER: 2 – FUNCTIONS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
ENERGY FLOW
• Energy is the basic force responsible for
all metabolic activities. The flow of energy
from producer to top consumers is called
energy flow which is unidirectional.
Tropic Level Interaction
• Trophic level interaction deals with how
the members of an ecosystem are
connected based on nutritional needs.
• Energy flows through the trophic levels:
from producers to subsequent Trophic
levels.
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• There is a loss of some energy in the form
of unusable heat at each trophic level.
eaten by lizard and lizard is
Trophic levels (Trophe = nourishment) eaten by snake.
iii. In Aquatic ecosystem
I Autotrophs Green plants (producers)
II Heterotrophs Herbivore phytoplankton’s (primary
(primary consumers) producers) is eaten by zoo
III Heterotrophs Carnivores planktons which is eaten by
(secondary consumers) fishes and fishes are eaten
IV Heterotrophs
Carnivore by pelicans
V Heterotrophs (tertiary consumers) • Detritus food chain
Top carnivores
(Quaternary consumers)
The Trophic Level Interaction Involves Three
Concepts Namely
i. The food chain starts from
1. Food Chain dead organic matter of
2. Food Web decaying animals and plant
3. Ecological Pyramids bodies to the micro-
organisms and then to
FOOD CHAIN
detritus feeding organism
✓ A food chain starts with producers and called detrivores or
ends with top carnivores. The sequence of decomposer and to other
eaten and being eaten, produces transfer of predators. Litter -
food energy and it is known as food chain. Earthworms - Chicken -
• Grazing food chain Hawk
i. The consumers which start ii. The distinction between
the food chain, utilising the these two food chains is the
plant or plant part as their source of energy for the
food, constitute the grazing first level consumers.
food chain. This food chain FOOD WEB
begins from green plants at
the base and the primary
consumer is herbivore
ii. For example, In terrestrial
ecosystem, grass is eaten up
by caterpillar, which is

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 o If a pollutant is not active
biologically, it may bio magnify,
but we really don't worry about it
much, since it probably won’t
cause any problems Examples : UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM
DDT.

the same food, and there isn’t enough for

both. both may have access to less food
than they would if alone. They both suffer
a shortage of food
UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM 3. Predation and parasitism - one species
benefits, the other is harmed. Example:
predation-one fish kills and eats.
BIOTIC INTERACTION Parasitism: tick gains benefit by sucking
blood; host is harmed by losing blood
The interaction between the organisms is
4. Amensalism - One species is harmed, the
fundamental for its survival and functioning of
other is unaffected Eg-A large tree shades
ecosystem as a whole.
a small plant, retarding the growth of the
Biotic Interaction small plant. The small plant has no effect
S.No Type Spices 1 Species on the large tree.
2 5. Neutralism - There is no net benefit or
1. Mutualism (+) (+) harm to either species. Perhaps in some
2. Commensalism (+) (0) interspecific interactions, the costs and
3. Amensalism (–) (0) benefits experienced by each partner are
4. Competition (–) (–) exactly the same so that they Sum to zero.
5. Predation (+) (–)
BIO-GEO-CHEMICAL CYCLE
6. Parasitism (+) (–)
The elements or mineral nutrients are always in
(+) Benefited (–) Harmed
circulation moving from non-living to living and
(0) Neither Benefited nor harmed. then back to the non-living components of the
ecosystem in a more or less circular fashion. This
Type of Biotic Interaction
circular fashion is known as biogeochemical
Mutualism - both species benefit. Example: in
cycling (bio for living; geo for atmosphere).
pollination mutualisms, the pollinator gets food
(pollen, nectar), and the plant has its pollen 1. Nutrient Cycling:
transferred to other flowers for cross-fertilization • The nutrient cycle is a concept that
(reproduction). describes how nutrients move from
1. Commensalism - one species benefits, the the physical environment to the
other is unaffected. Example: cow dung living organisms, and subsequently
provides food and shelter to dung beetles. recycled back to the physical
The beetles have no effect on the cows environment.
2. Competition - both species are harmed by • It is essential for life and it is the
the interaction. Example: if two species eat vital function of the ecology of any

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CHAPTER: 5 - ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION
• Defined as 'an addition or excessive addition of certain materials to the physical environment (water,
air and land), making it less fit or unfit for life'
POLLUTANTS • Rapid industrialization
• Pollutants are the materials or factors, • Urbanization
which cause adverse effect on the natural • Uncontrolled exploitation of nature.
quality of any component of the
• Forest fires, radioactivity, volcanic
environment.
eruptions, strong winds etc.,
Classifications
AIR POLLUTION
• According to the form in which they Major air pollutants and their sources
persist after release into the 1. Carbon monoxide (co)
environment.
• It is a colourless, odourless gas that
o Primary pollutants: These persist
is produced by the incomplete
in the form in which they are added
burning of carbon - based fuels
to the environment e.g. DDT,
including petrol, diesel, and wood.
plastic.
• It is also produced from the
o Secondary Pollutants: These are
combustion of natural and
formed by interaction among the
synthetic products such as
primary pollutants. For example,
cigarettes.
peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) is
• It lowers the amount of oxygen that
formed by the interaction of
enters our blood. It can slow our
nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.
reflexes and make us confused and
• According to their existence in nature.
sleepy.
o Quantitative Pollutants: These
2. Carbon dioxide (CO2 - Principe
occur in nature and become
greenhouse gas
pollutant when their concentration
3. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
reaches beyond a threshold level.
• Gases that are released mainly
E.g. carbon dioxide, nitrogen
from air-conditioning systems and
oxide.
refrigeration.
o Qualitative Pollutants: These do
• When released into the air, CFCs
not occur in nature and are man-
rise to the stratosphere, where they
made. E.g. fungicides, herbicides,
come in contact with few other
DDT etc.
gases, which lead to a reduction of
• According to their nature of disposal.
the ozone layer that protects the
o Biodegradable Pollutants: Waste
earth from the harmful ultraviolet
products, which are degraded by
rays of the sun
microbial action. E.g. sewage.
4. Lead
o Non-biodegradable Pollutants:
• Present in petrol, diesel, lead
Pollutants, which are not
batteries, paints, hair dye products,
decomposed by microbial action.
etc.
E.g plastics, glass, DDT, salts of
heavy metals, radioactive • Affects children in particular.
substances etc • Cause nervous system damage and
• According to origin digestive problems and, in some
o Natural cases, cause cancer.
o Anthropogenic 5. Ozone
Causes of pollution • Occurs naturally in the upper layers
of the atmosphere.
• Uncontrolled growth in human population

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 Carbon Burning of Impairs reflexes, • Cement can be replaced by fly ash upto
Dioxide fossil fuels judgment and vision,
severe headaches and 35%, thus reducing the cost of
heart strain. construction, making roads, etc.
Smog Industries and Respiratory problems
vehicular and intense irritation to
• Fly ash bricks are light in weight and offer
pollution the eyes. high strength and durability.
Ozone Automobile
emissions
Breathlessness, asthma,
wheezing, chest pain,
• Fly ash is a better fill material for road
emphysema and chronic embankments and in concrete roads.
bronchitis. • Fly ash can be used in reclamation of
Chloroflu Refrigerators, Depletion of
oro sprays, stratospheric ozone wastelands.
carbons emissions from layer, global warming. • Abandoned mines can be filled up with fly
jets
Hydrocar Burning of Carcinogenic effect on
ash.
bons fossil fuels lungs, kidney damage, • Fly ash can increase the crop yield and it
hypertension, respiratory
also enhances water holding capacity of
distress, irritation of
eyes, nose and throat, the land.
asthma, bronchitis and Policy measures of MoEF:
impairs enzyme function
in respiratory system. • The Ministry of Environment and Forests
Tobacco Cigarettes, Chronic bronchitis, vide its notification in 2009, has made it
Smoke cigars etc. asthma and lung cancer, mandatory to use Fly Ash based products
irritation of eyes, nose
and throat. in all construction projects, road
Mercury Industries Nervous disorders, embankment works and low lying land
insomnia, memory loss,
excitability, irritation,
filling works within 100 kms radius of
tremor, gingivitis and Thermal Power Station.
minamata disease. • To use Fly Ash in mine filling activities
Lead Leaded petrol Damage to brain and
emissions central nervous system, within 50 kms radius of Thermal Power
kidneys and brains, Stations.
impaired intelligence and
interference with
• Arresters: These are used to separate
development of RBCs. particulate matters from contaminated air.
Cadmium Industries Affects the heart • Scrubbers: These are used to clean air for
Silica dust Silicon quarries Silicosis affects the lungs both dusts and gases by passing it through
Cotton Cotton textile Byssinosis involves a dry or wet packing material.
dust factories destruction of lung
tissues, chronic cough, Government Initiatives
bronchitis and National Air Quality Monitoring Programme
emphysema.
Asbestos Asbestos Asbestosis which • In India, the Central Pollution Control
dust mining, asbestos involves severe Board (CPCB) has been executing a
sheet respiratory problems and nationwide programme of ambient air
manufacturing may lead to cancer.
Radioacti Cosmic rays, x- Destroy living tissues quality monitoring known as National Air
ve rays, beta rays, and blood cells; affect Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
pollutants radon and cell membrane and cell
radium enzyme functions,
• The National Air Quality Monitoring
leukemia, and permanent Programme (NAMP) is undertaken in
genetic changes. India
Coal dust Coal mines Black lung cancer,
and pulmonary fibrosis o To determine status and trends of
particles which lead to respiratory ambient air quality;
failure. o to ascertain the compliance of
• Fly ash in the air slowly settles on leaves NAAQS;
and crops in fields in areas near to thermal o to identify non-attainment cities;
power plants and lowers the plant yield. o to understand the natural process of
Advantages: cleaning in the atmosphere; and

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CHAPTER: 9 - BIODIVERSITY
• The variability among living organisms
from all sources, including terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystems and
the ecological complexes of which they
are a part; Includes diversity within
species, between species and of
ecosystems.
Levels of Biodiversity
• Biodiversity is considered to exist at three
levels: genetics, species, and ecosystems
• Genetic diversity
o Variation in genes within a
particular species.
o It is the total number of genetic
characteristics in the genetic
makeup of a species.
o The genetic diversity gives us
beautiful butterflies, roses,
parakeets or coral in a myriad hues,
shapes and sizes
• Species diversity:
o It refers to the variety of living
organisms on earth.
o Species differ from one another,
markedly in their genetic makeup,
do not inter-breed in nature.
o It is the ratio of one species
population over total number of
organisms across all species in the
given biome.
o Zero' would be infinite diversity,
and 'one' represents only one
species present.
• Ecosystem/ Community diversity:
o This refers to the different types of
habitats. A habitat is the
cumulative factor of the climate,
vegetation and geography of a
region. Thus, the variety or
diversity of species in the
ecosystem is influenced by the
nature of the ecosystem
Biodiversity is measured by two major
components:
• Species richness - It is the measure of
number of species found in a community
o Alpha diversity - It refers to the
diversity within a particular area or
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ecosystem, and is usually
expressed by the number of species
(1.e., species richness) in that
ecosystem
o Beta diversity - It is a comparison
of diversity between ecosystems,
usually measured as the change in
amount of species between the
ecosystems.
o Gamma diversity - It is a measure
of the overall diversity for the
different ecosystems Within a
region
• Species evenness
o It measures the proportion of
species at a given site, e.g. low
evenness indicates that a few
species dominate the site.
Biodiversity and Food Web
• The building blocks of plants, animals and
humans are identical, and are made of the
four elements - carbon, oxygen, nitrogen
and hydrogen
• The chain that links consumers to
producers is called the food chain or web
of life.
Services provided by Biodiversity:
• Ecosystem services:
o Protection of water resources, Soils
formation and protection, Nutrient
storage and recycling
o Pollution breakdown and
absorption Contribution to climate
stability Maintenance of
ecosystems
o Recovery from unpredictable
events
• Biological services:
o Food, Medicinal resources and
pharmaceutical drugs
o Wood products, Ornamental plants
Diversity in genes, species and
ecosystems. Etc.
• Social services:
o Research, education and
monitoring
o Recreation and tourism Cultural
values
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 Causes for Biodiversity Loss • Low priority for conservation of living
natural resources.
• Loss of biodiversity occurs when either a
• Values and knowledge about the species
particular species is destroyed or the
and ecosystem inadequately known.
habitat essential for its survival is
• Unplanned urbanization and uncontrolled
damaged.
industrialization.
• The extinction of species takes place when
Botanical garden
they are exploited for economic gain or
• Botanical garden refers to the scientifically
hunted as sport or for food. Extinction of
planned collection of living trees, shrubs,
species may also occur due to
herbs, climbers and other plants from
environmental reasons like ecological
various parts of the globe.
substitutions, biological factors and
ZOO
pathological causes which can be caused
either by nature or man. • An establishment, whether stationary or
Biodiversity conservation- mobile, where captive animals are kept for
exhibition, to the public and includes a
• Conservation of biological diversity leads
circus and rescue centers but does not
to conservation of essential ecological
include an establishment of a licensed
diversity to preserve the continuity of food
dealer in captive animals – CZA.
chains.
Modes of Conservation
1. Ex-situ conservation: Conserving
biodiversity outside the areas where they
naturally occur is known as ex- situ
conservation. For example, the gangetic

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gharial has been reintroduced in the rivers

of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan where it had become extinct.
2. In-Situ Conservation: Conserving the
animals and plants in their natural habitats
is known as in-situ conservation. The
established natural habitats are: National
parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves and
Reserved forests, Protected forests, Nature
reserves
Constraints in biodiversity conservation:

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CHAPTER: 10 - INDIAN BIODIVERSITY DIVERSE LANDSCAPE
• India is a recognised as one of the mega- ▪ the rest of the sub-continent
diverse countries, rich in biodiversity and represented by Malayan
associated traditional knowledge. With just Realm.
2.4% of the land area, India accounts for ▪ In world eight terrestrial
nearly 7% of the recorded species even biogeographic realms are
while supporting almost 18% of human typically recognized. They
population. are
• In terms of species richness, India ranks • Nearctic realm,
seventh in mammals, ninth in birds and Palaearctic realm,
fifth in reptiles. • Africotropical
• The varied Edaphic, Climatic and realm,
Topographic conditions have resulted in a • Indo-Malayan realm
wide range of ecosystems and habitats • Oceania realm
such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, • Australian realm,
coastal and marine ecosystems, and deserts • Antarctic realm,
in India with greater biodiversity. • Neotropical realm
INDIA REPRESENTS • Biomes of India
• Two Realms o The term biome means the main
o Biogeographic realms are large groups of plants and animals living
spatial regions within which in areas of certain climate patterns.
ecosystems share a broadly Similar o The five biomes of India are:
biota. Realm is a continent or sub- ▪ Tropical Humid Forests
continent sized area with unifying ▪ Tropical Dry or Deciduous
features of geography and fauna & Forests (including Monsoon
flora. Forests)
▪ the Himalayan region ▪ Warm deserts and semi-
represented by Palearctic deserts
Realm and ▪ Coniferous forests and
▪ Alpine meadows.

UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM

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CHAPTER: 17 - CLIMATE CHANGE
• “Climate change” means a change of
climate which is attributed directly or
indirectly to human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere and
which is in addition to natural climate
variability observed over comparable time
periods.
• However, when today people talk about
‘climate change’, they mean the changes in
climate over the last 100 years which is
caused predominantly by human activity.
GLOBAL WARMING
• “Global warming is an average increase in
the temperature of the atmosphere near the
Earth’s surface and in the troposphere,
which can contribute to changes in global
climate patterns.
• Global warming can occur from a variety
of causes, both natural and human induced.
In common usage, “global warming” often
refers to the warming that can occur as a
result of increased emissions of
greenhouse gases from human activities.”
Global Warming - Impacts
• Rise in Sea level
• Changes in rainfall patterns.
• Melting of the ice caps.
• Melting of glaciers.
• Spread of disease (like malaria, etc).
• Bleaching of Coral Reefs.
• Loss of Plankton due to warming of seas.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM
• The greenhouse effect is a naturally
occurring phenomenon that blankets the
earth lower atmosphere and warms it
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maintaining the temperature suitable for
living things to survive.
• Water vapour and greenhouse gases warms
the Earth.
Incoming Energy
• The Sun emits energy that is transmitted to
Earth.
• Because the Sun is very hot, the energy is
emitted in high-energy short wavelengths
that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere.
Absorption
• About 30% of the Sun's energy is reflected
directly back into space by the atmosphere,
clouds, and surface of the Earth. The rest
of the Sun's energy is absorbed into the
Earth's system (70%)
Emission
• The Earth re-emits energy back into the
atmosphere. Because the Earth is cooler
than the Sun, the energy is emitted in the
form of infrared radiation, at wavelengths
longer than the incoming solar energy.
Role of Greenhouse Gases
• Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
absorb much of the long-wave energy
(infrared radiation) emitted from the
Earth's surface, The greenhouse gases then
re-emit this energy in all directions,
warming the Earth's surface and lower
atmosphere.
GREEN HOUSE GASES
• Greenhouse gases" means those gaseous
constituents of the atmosphere, both
natural and anthropogenic, those absorbs
and re-emit infrared radiation.
1. WATER VAPOUR
• The biggest overall contributor to
the greenhouse effect and humans
are not directly responsible for
emitting this gas in quantities
sufficient to change its
concentration in the atmosphere.
• CO2 and other greenhouse gases is
increasing the amount of water
vapour in the air by boosting the
rate of evaporation.
2. CARBON DIOXIDE - The main sources
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CHAPTER: 18 - OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
• Oceans are an important reservoir for CO2,
absorbing a significant quantity of it (one-
third) produced by anthropogenic activities
and effectively buffering climate change.
• Ocean acidification is the change in ocean
chemistry - lowering of ocean pH (i.e.
increase in concentration of hydrogen
ions) driven by the uptake of carbon
compounds by the ocean from the
atmosphere.
CO2 Effect of ocean acidification
• Seawater absorbs CO2 to produce carbonic
acid (H2CO3), bicarbonate (HCO3--) and
carbonate ions (CO32-).
• These carbonate ions are essential to the
calcification process that allows certain
marine organisms to build their calcium
carbonate shells and skeletons (e.g. hard
tropical corals, cold water corals,
molluscs, crustaceans, sea urchins, certain
types of plankton, lobsters, etc).
• However, increases in atmospheric CO2
levels lead to decrease in pH level,
increase in the concentration of carbonic
acid and bicarbonate ions, causing a
decrease in the concentration of carbonate
ions.
• Thus, carbonate ions are less available and
calcification is therefore harder to achieve,
and may be prevented altogether. Imagine
trying to build a house while someone
keeps stealing your bricks.
• This impact of ocean acidification may
therefore have potentially catastrophic
consequences for ocean life and many
marine species of economic importance.
Influence of other factors
Various factors can locally influence the chemical
reactions of CO2 with sea water and add to the
effects to ocean acidification. For example,
i. Acid rain
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a. Acid rain can have a pH between 1
and 6 and has impact on surface
ocean chemistry. It has major effect
on ocean acidification locally and
regionally but very small globally.
ii. Eutrophication
a. Coastal waters are also affected by
excess nutrient inputs, mostly
nitrogen, from agriculture,
fertilizers and sewage. The
resulting eutrophication leads to
large plankton blooms, and when
these blooms collapse and sink to
the sea bed the subsequent
respiration of bacteria
decomposing the algae leads to a
decrease in sea water oxygen and
an increase in CO2 (a decline in
pH).
iii. How it reacts?
• The term ‘ocean acidification’ summarizes
several processes that occur when CO2
reacts with sea water.
• Two reactions are particularly important.
Firstly, the formation of carbonic acid with
subsequent release of hydrogen ions:
• The above reaction and release of
hydrogen ions increases acidity and thus
pH level is reduced.
UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM
Mitigation
• Reducing CO2
• promoting government policies to cap CO2
emissions,
• eliminate offshore drilling,
• by advocating for energy efficiency and
Website: http://upscsummarynotes.com 93
CHAPTER: 19 - OZONE DEPLETION
• It is found in two different layers of the sprays, foaming agents in plastic
atmosphere. Ozone in the troposphere is manufacturing (30%), fire extinguishing
"bad" because it dirties the air and helps to agents, solvents for cleaning electronic and
form smog, which is not good to breathe. metallic components, for freezing foods
• Ozone in the stratosphere is "good" etc
because it protects life on Earth by • CFCs has a wide and varied application
absorbing some of the sun's harmful Ultra due to its properties like non-
Violet (UV) rays decrease in the corrosiveness, non-in flammability, low
concentration of ozone in a particular toxicity and chemical stability, etc. the
region of the atmosphere of ozone hole residence time of CFCs in the atmosphere
• The best example of such an ozone hole is estimated to be between 40 and 150 years
the atmosphere over the Antarctic which The chemical reaction
has only about 50 percent of the ozone that
originally occurred there. • The molecules of CFCs when exposed to
UV radiation break up, thus freeing
OZONE DEPLETION
chlorine atoms. A free chlorine atom reacts
• Ozone is a natural gas; it is an allotrope of with an ozone molecule to form chlorine
oxygen consisting of three atoms of monoxide (ClO).
oxygen bound together in a non-linear
• The molecules of chlorine monoxide
fashion. The chemical symbol of ozone is
further combine with an atom of oxygen.
O3.
This reaction results in the formation of an
• It is found in two different layers of the oxygen molecule (O2) and reformation of
atmosphere. Ozone in the troposphere is the free chlorine atom (CI).
“bad” because it dirties the air and helps to
form smog, which is not good to breathe.
Ozone in the stratosphere is “good”
because it protects life on Earth by
absorbing some of the sun’s harmful Ultra
Violet
• (UV) rays.
• The ozone layer is very important because
the configuration of the ozone molecule
and its chemical properties are such that
ozone efficiently absorbs ultraviolet light,
thus acting like a sun-screen. UPSCSUMMARYNOTES.COM
• The UV rays cause direct damage to the
genetic material or DNA of animal and
plant cells. Exposure of mammals to UV
light has been shown to act on the immune
system, thereby making the body more
susceptible to diseases. Nitrogen Oxides:
Sources
• The sources of nitrogen oxides are mainly
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): explosions of thermonuclear weapons,
industrial emissions and agricultural
• CFCs molecules are made up of chlorine,
fertilizers.
fluorine and carbon. They are used as
refrigerants (66%): Propellants in aerosol • The chemical reaction

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PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS
2011 QUESTION PAPER
1. Consider the following statements: Correct
1. Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower
latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes.
2. Along the mountain gradients, biodiversity
is normally greater in the lower altitudes as
compared to the higher altitudes.
Ans. Both 1 and 2
2. Three of the following criteria have contributed
to the recognition of Western Ghats – Sri
Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of
bio-diversity: - Species richness, Endemism,
Threat perception.
3. Biodiversity forms the basis for human
existence in the following ways:
• Soil formation
• Prevention of soil erosion
• Recycling of waste
• Pollination of crops
4. Which one of the following is not a site for in-
situ method of conservation of flora: -
Botanical Garden
5. Among the following States, which one has the
most suitable climatic conditions for the
cultivation of a large variety of orchids with
minimum cost of production, and can develop
an export-oriented industry in this field: -
Arunachal Pradesh
6. A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of
an Indian animal species The animal has no
predators in that area but its existence is
threatened due to the destruction of its habitat
Which one of the following could be that
animal: - Indian wild ass
7. The “Red Data Books’ published by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature
and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists
of:- Threatened plant and animal species.
8. In the context of eco-system productivity,
marine upwelling zones are important as they
increase the marine productivity by bringing
the:- Nutrients to the surface.
9. The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that
mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge
against coastal calamities How do mangroves
function as a safety hedge:- The mangroves
trees do not get uprooted by storms and
tides because of their extensive roots.
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10. There is a concern over the increase in
harmful algal blooms in the seawaters of
India What could be the causative factors
for this phenomenon?
• Discharge of nutrients from the estuaries.
• Run-off from the land during the
monsoon.
• Upwelling in the seas.
11. The Himalayan Range is very rich in species
diversity Which one among the following is
the most appropriate reason for this
phenomenon: - It is a confluence of different
bio geographical zones.
12. If a tropical rain forest is removed, it does not
regenerate quickly as compared to a tropical
deciduous forest This is because:- the soil of
rain forest is deficient in nutrients
13. When the bark of a tree is removed in a
circular fashion all around near its base, it
generally dries up and dies because: - Water
from soil cannot rise to aerial parts.
14. Which of the above add carbon dioxide to the
carbon cycle on Earth?
• Respiration
• Decay of organic matter
• Volcanic action
15. Which of the above is/are the emission /
emissions from coal combustion at thermal power
plants?
• Carbon dioxide
• Oxides of Nitrogen
• Oxides of Sulphur
16. The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic
region has been a cause of concern What could
be the reason for the formation of this hole: -
Presence of prominent polar front and
stratospheric clouds; and inflow of choro
fluorocarbons
17. Regarding “carbon credits”, which one of the
following statements is not correct: - Carbon
credits are traded at a price fixed from time
to time by the United Nations Environment
Programme.
18. Which of above Acts have relevance to /
bearing on the biodiversity conservation in the
country
• Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947.
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APPENDIX 32 Keoladeo Ghana NP Rajasthan
RAMSAR WETLANDS SITES IN 33 Sambhar Lake Rajasthan
34 Point Calimere Tamil Nadu
Sl. Name of Site State Location Wildlife and Bird
No. Sanctuary
1 Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh 35 Rudrasagar Lake Tripura
2 Deepor Beel Assam 36 Nawabganj Bird Uttar Pradesh
3 Kabartal Wetland Bihar Sanctuary
4 Nalsarovar Bird Gujarat 37 Parvati Agra Bird Uttar Pradesh
Sanctuary Sanctuary
5 Thol Lake Wildlife Gujarat 38 Saman Bird Uttar Pradesh
Sanctuary Sanctuary
6 Wadhvana Wetland Gujarat 39 Samaspur Bird Uttar Pradesh
7 Sultanpur National Haryana Sanctuary
Park 40 Sandi Bird Uttar Pradesh
8 Bhindawas Wildlife Haryana Sanctuary
Sanctuary 41 Sarsai Nawar Jheel Uttar Pradesh
9 Chandertal Wetland Himachal Pradesh 42 Sur Sarovar Uttar Pradesh
10 Pong Dam Lake Himachal Pradesh 43 Upper Ganga River Uttar Pradesh
11 Renuka Wetland Himachal Pradesh (Brijghat to Narora
12 Wular Lake Jammu & Stretch)
Kashmir 44 Asan Conservation Uttarakhand
13 Hokera Wetland Jammu and Reserve
Kashmir 45 East Kolkata West Bengal
14 Surinsar-Mansar Jammu and Wetlands
Lakes Kashmir 46 Sunderbans West Bengal
15 Tsomoriri Lake Jammu and Wetland
Kashmir
16 Asthamudi Wetland Kerala
17 Sasthamkotta Lake Kerala INDIA TIGER RESERVE OF INDIA
18 Vembanad Kol Kerala Sl. Name of Tiger State
Wetland No. Reserve
19 Tso Kar Wetland Ladakh 1 Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Andhra
Complex (part) Pradesh
20 Bhoj Wetlands Madhya Pradesh
21 Lonar Lake Maharashtra 2 Namdapha Arunachal
Pradesh
22 Nandur Maharashtra
Madhameshwar 3 Kamlang Arunachal
23 Loktak Lake Manipur Tiger Reserve Pradesh
24 Bhitarkanika Orissa
4 Pakke Arunachal
Mangroves
Pradesh
25 Chilka Lake Orissa
26 Beas Conservation Punjab 5 Manas Assam
Reserve
6 Nameri Assam
27 Harike Lake Punjab
28 Kanjli Lake Punjab 7 Orang Assam
29 Keshopur-Miani Punjab Tiger Reserve
Community Reserve
30 Nangal Wildlife Punjab 8 Kaziranga Assam
Sanctuary 9 Valmiki Bihar
31 Ropar Lake Punjab

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