ENVIRONMENT and ECOLOGY

Do you believe?

Grassland covers more than half of Earth’s land surface, but most is used for farming.

Only 3 percent of the world’s water is fresh water and More than 65 percent of this is ice.

The Aral Sea has almost dried up because the rivers that supply it have been diverted.

Eighty percent of forests have been cut down by humans in the past 10,000 years.

Only simple organisms, such as algae, can survive in the Dead Sea since it is so salty.

Bacteria live in the mud of the Mariana Trench, 11 km under the sea.

Tropical rain forests get more than 180 cm of rain a year.

Antarc ca is the driest and coldest desert in the world.

The volume of water in the Paci c Ocean is the same size as the Moon.

The biggest hot desert is the Sahara. It covers one-third of the area of Africa.

Here in these en re facts one thing is very common and that is our Environment, One thing
that’s make environment unique is its Diversity. This range from water to air , cold to hot , dry
to wet and mountain to ocean. So here is the de ni on of Environment & Ecology.

So now the ques on is

What is the environment?

The environment is everything around us. All our surroundings including the air, soil, water,
plants, and animals make up the environment.

Now it is the me to understand other terms like Ecology, Ecosystem and Biome.

In a simple way Ecology is the study of the rela onships between animals and plants and the
environment they live in.

Plants and animals need a healthy environment to survive. Ecologists divide the world up into a
series of environmental regions called biomes, which are based on climate and inhabited by
similar types of animal and plant. Within these biomes are smaller areas called ecosystems,
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 which have their own groups of animal and plant that have adapted to the par cular
condi ons found there.

You can also say that A biome is a large group of similar ecosystems like the desert, savanna,
and rainforest. When ecosystems are damaged by man, then some living organisms may not be
able to survive.

Here in this level of Youngchamp Encyclopedia we have lot of new things to learn so explore it
one by one

Earth: A shared planet

Humans are not the only species on the planet. We share it with at least 1.6 million other types
of animal and plant. The way that living things interact is highly complex, but vital for survival.

Surviving strategies: Interes ngly Animals and plants have adopted di erent strategies to
survive in their environments. Some have specialized to live in one par cular habitat, others
can survive in many. O en, they have changed physically or adapted their lifestyles to suit the
condi ons. Few of surviving strategies are

Habitat : Thorny devils change the color of their skin when they are cold or alarmed

Migra on : Some birds and animals travel great distances every year to nd food or to breed.

Popula on: The number of rat changes according to food availability

Lifestyle: Pandas are only found in small areas of China where their main food, bamboo, grows.

Numbers: Small plants grow quickly and produce lots of seeds so they have more chance of
survival

Coopera on: Many plants need insects to pollinate them. The insect bene ts from their nectar.

Dominance: Trees put more e ort into growing tall so they can get more light and nutrients
than other plants
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 Food Chain:

Every living plant and animal must have energy to survive.

Plants rely on the soil, water, and the sun for energy. Animals rely on plants as well as other
animals for energy. In an ecosystem, plants and animals all rely on each other to live. Scien sts
some mes describe this dependence using a food chain or a food web. Food Chain A food
chain describes how di erent organisms eat each other, star ng out with a plant and ending
with an animal.

Just take a simple example of Food Chain

grass ---> zebra ---> lion The lion eats the zebra, which eats the grass.

One more examples is

The grass -> grasshopper-> frog-> snake -> eagle

The grasshopper eats grass, the frog eats the grasshopper, the snake eats the frog, and the
eagle eats the snake.

In aqua c life this could be

This energy starts with sunlight, which is used by plants and phytoplankton. This is the start of
a food chain, where energy is transferred from plants to a series of bigger and more predatory
animals.

Sun -> Krill -> COD Fish -> Killer Whale

SUN The energy that shines down from the Sun is absorbed by phytoplankton.

KRILL Billions of these shrimplike creatures feed on plankton in the cold polar seas.

COD Fish eat krill and plankton in the upper layers of the ocean.

SEAL Hungry seals chase schools of sh, such as herring and young cod.

KILLER WHALE These large predatory mammals eat seals..

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Carbon Cycle

One of the most important elements to life on planet Earth is carbon. All living organisms have
carbon as the basis for life. It is so important that animals are o en called "carbon-based" life
forms.

How much carbon is in the human body? Carbon makes up about 18% of the human body. So
if you weigh 100 pounds, your body contains around 18 pounds of carbon.

The Carbon Cycle: Some carbon atoms are constantly moving around. This is because carbon
atoms are used by all sorts of processes on our planet. Some of these processes put carbon
into the atmosphere (air) and some take it out. The carbon cycle is o en very ed in with the
oxygen cycle.

The carbon cycle is nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere
into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Most
carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, and
living organisms.

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 Habitats

All living things need a place where they can live and breed successfully. This place is called a
habitat. Habitats can be as big as an ocean or as small as a pond. There can be many di erent
habitats in a single area of land or sea.

A home of their own:

Every animal and plant needs par cular condi ons for it to thrive. Plants need the right
temperature, rainfall, and soil to grow in. Animals need shelter, food, and space to roam
around. An organism will o en adapt its lifestyle or even how it looks and behaves to suit its
surroundings. This process is called evolu on

Some Important Habitats are:-

Mountains: Near cold and rocky mountaintops animals need a warm coat and nimble feet to
survive

Forests: These are home to a wide variety of plants and animals that live at di erent levels
among the trees.

Coasts: Animals that live here have to cope with the sea coming in and out twice a day and
constant ba ering by waves

Mangroves: The roots of mangrove trees are surrounded by salty water, but they make good
hiding places for sh

Coral reefs: Reefs provide homes for hundreds of species. They are created by the skeletons of
small marine animals

What is accountable for Fragmenta on of habitat?

Fragmenta on happens when land is cleared for farming or other uses, so the original habitat
is broken up. The creatures that lived there are le with small islands of habitat that leave
them vulnerable to predators because there is less cover when they search for food.
Condi ons important to plants, such as light or wind levels, may also change signi cantly.
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 BIOMES OF THE WORLD

Ecologists group similar types of ecosystem into areas called biomes. Each type of biome, such
as a tropical rain forest, has the same sort of climate and habitat as other rain forests around
the world, but the species it contains may be di erent. Hot, wet, tropical biomes have many
more species than cold or dry ones.

Examples of Biomes are :

Boreal forest

Rain forest

Coral reef

Desert

Temperate

Forest

Mountain

Polar

Freshwater

Grassland

Oceans

Interes ngly the northern hemisphere has a wide range of biomes, but those lying on the
equator have a greater diversity of species.

Evolu on: every part of the world has species that do not live anywhere else. These are called
na ve species and have evolved to suit the local condi ons. These tree ferns only grow wild in
New Zealand
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 Invaders: When new species are introduced to an area they can have a devasta ng e ect on
the ecosystem. Cane toads were brought in to eat beetles in Australian sugar elds, but
became pests as they also eat other animals.

Biodiversity: Biodiversity is a measure of the variety of species in an ecosystem. All species

have a role to play in the ecosystem. To understand an ecosystem properly, scien sts have to
iden fy all the organisms living there and nd out how they interact. These researchers are
collec ng moths. Then they can protect any species or groups of species that are important to
that ecosystem.

Fun Facts: Nearly 1.65 million species of plant and animal are known to exist.

Almost 1 million of those species are insects.

More amphibians face ex nc on than any other animal group.

About 5,000 new species are discovered every year, mostly insects.

Rain forests are the most bio-diverse regions on Earth.

Let have a look of mul ple Biomes one by one, and we start with Deseart
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 Deserts

We think of deserts as being hot, but some of them are very cold. A desert is a place that has
very li le rainfall. Most deserts get less than 10 inches of rain per year.

The four main types of desert include hot and dry deserts, semi-arid deserts, coastal deserts,
and cold deserts

WARM DESERTS

The thing about hot deserts is that they’re hot all the me—cold deserts can be frosty in
winter and boiling in summer. There is not much moisture, so there are very few clouds. At
night, with no cloud “blanket,” the temperature can drop drama cally.

DESERT IN BLOOM

Once in a while, there is a rare and precious shower of rain, and the desert bursts into bloom.
Anza- Borrego State Park, California. This is because seeds lie dormant—some mes for years.
When water falls, they germinate, ower, and create new seeds.

CACTUS FIT FOR PURPOSE :

The “body” of a cactus plant is actually a swollen, water storing stem. The “prickles” are a kind
of leaf that allows very li le water to evaporate. In some desert plants, it’s the leaves that
swell and store water— these are called succulents.

Interes ng Fact :
The Saguaro cactus is one of the tallest in the world—it can grow as high as 40 (12 m) and
live for up to 200 years. Only found in Arizona, California, and northern Mexico, it needs more
water than some cac , but it’s fairly tolerant of frost.
LOOK CLOSER: DESERT FEATURES:

Deserts have formed in many di erent landscapes, wherever water is in short supply. Because
there aren’t many plants on the surface, deserts are vulnerable to weathering and erosion.
Also, the huge varia on in temperature can cause massive rocks to crack.

-DUNES form large “sand seas” called ergs. The wind sculpts their graceful shapes.
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-ARCHES Erosion and sandstorms can puncture a rocky ridge to form an arch.

-EARTH Natural salts can cement rocks together into “desert pavement.”.

-BUTTES form when a plateau has been eroded to leave a at hill with steep sides..

COLD DESERTS

The coldest and most northern of all the world’s deserts, the Gobi Desert (shown here)
stretches across China and Mongolia. Like many cold deserts, it sits on a high plateau, where
the temperature is naturally lower than at sea level

SANDSTORMS

Strong, dry winds blow across the desert, carrying clouds of sand that reduce visibility to
almost zero. Roads and wells are o en covered completely, and a violent storm can dehydrate
—or even su ocate— animals and people. Sandstorms last for hours, and some can even go on
for days.

DESERT ANIMALS

From insects and rep les to huge mammals, most desert animals have highly specialized
characteris cs that are precisely suited to their extreme condi ons. Some get their water from
the food they eat, for example, while others sleep during the hot days

FENNEC FOXES use their huge ears to help them locate prey. The large surface area also allows
heat to escape.

JERBOAS keep cool by sealing themselves in an underground den

THORNY DEVILS Lizard have skin that absorbs water like blo ng paper

Bonus Facts

1. The world’s largest desert is Antarc ca. That’s right, an area doesn’t have to be hot to
qualify — it just needs to lose more moisture than it gains.

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 2. There are parts of the Atacama Desert in Chile where no rain has ever been recorded.
Scien sts believe por ons of the region have been in an extreme desert state for 40 million
years — longer than any other place on Earth.

3. And yet more than 1 million people live in the Atacama today. Farmers extract enough water
from aquifers and snowmelt streams to grow crops and raise llamas and alpacas.

4. The world record for crossing the Sahara by bicycle was set in 2011 by Reza Pakravan, 36, a
market security analyst in London, who made the 1,084-mile journey in 13 days, 5 hours, 50
minutes, and 14 seconds. He started in Algeria, cycled south, then turned east through Niger
and Chad to reach Sudan.

5. About 1,000 square miles of Chinese land turns into desert every year, fueling deadly, globe-
circling dust storms.
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 Grasslands

Grasslands spring up in places that are too dry for forests to grow but get enough water to stop
them from becoming deserts. Almost half of the Earth’s land surface is covered by grasslands.
They support a wide variety of animals, but the wide open spaces o er li le protec on from
predators for larger animals.

TROPICAL GRASSLANDS

Also called savannas, tropical grasslands have dis nct wet and dry seasons. Although it is warm
all year round, rain only falls for six to eight months of the year. During a drought the grass can
catch re, but this is good for regenera ng the savanna

SAVANNA TREES - The leaves and small branches of savanna trees provide important food for
browsing animals such as gira es

Grassland Animal like CHEETAHS are perfectly camou aged against the savanna grass.

TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS

Temperate grasslands (called prairies in North America) have hot summers and cold winters.
Although they get rain throughout the year, there is too li le for trees or shrubs to survive.
However, the rich soil is good for the hundreds of wild ower species that grow among the
grasses.

WILD BISON have been replaced by ca le as farmers have turned prairie into land for
agricultural grazing and cereal crops

Animal LIFE ON THE PLAIN or Grassland

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 The huge quan es of grass out on the prairie support some of the worlds biggest herbivores,
such as elephants, rhinos, and gira es. It also o ers a hiding place for smaller animals and
cover for predators to stalk their vic ms.

-Burrowers: Many small animals live in burrows. These protect them from the hot sun and cold
nights, and help them escape from predators. Some animals live in burrows dug by other
species Like Aardvark ,Prairie dogs

-Grazers: Most grazing animals live in large herds that o er protec on from predators. They
have long legs for running and strong teeth for chewing tough grass. O en they have to
migrate to nd fresh grass in the dry season. Examples are like Kangaroo, Bison

-Predators: These rely on stealth to obtain food. They frequently hunt in packs to isolate an
animal from a herd or to scare other predators from a kill. Some Examples are Hyena, Wolf,
Jackal, Lion

TURKEY VULTURES soar over the American prairies, sni ng the wind for dead animals to eat.

Grassland FACTFILE
Elephant grass can grow to 26 (8 m) high—tall enough to hide an elephant!
Cheetahs probably evolved in Asia. Un l about 20,000 years ago, their rela ves were
commonplace in Europe, India, China, and North America, not just in Africa. They disappeared
from many areas a er the last ice age.
The lack of trees mean that many birds have to build their nests in burrows.
Grasslands are found on every con nent except for Antarc ca.

LOOK CLOSER: AMAZING GRASS

Grasses are one of the biggest families of owering plant. They are well suited to dry
condi ons since they can store food in their roots. Because their leaves grow from below
ground, grasses can survive being nibbled by animals as long as their roots are not disturbed.
Their ny owers are pollinated by the wind rather than insects.

WHEAT Cereal crops were originally wild grasses cul vated for food by humans.

Bonus Facts

1. Grasslands account for up to 40% of the Earth’s land surface, Grasslands usually lie
between deserts and mountain climates
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 2. Fire is necessary for grassland health

3. Less than 10% of the world’s grassland is protected, Millions of acres have been lost to
human development

4. Grasslands are found on every con nent except Antarc ca

5. Grasslands act as carbon sinks

Forests

Trees are the biggest plants on the planet. Forests of them cover large areas of land and
provide shelter for other plants and animals. They will ourish anywhere that is warm and wet
enough during their growing season

RAIN FOREST

There are two types of rain forest—temperate and tropical. Both are found in areas of very
high rainfall, which helps the trees grow tall and fast. Rain forests are full of animals and plants.
In fact, about half of all species on the planet live in rain forests. Despite all the plant material,
the soils in these regions are thin and poor in nutrients

BOREAL FOREST

Boreal forests are found in northern countries that have long, snowy winters. Most of the trees
that grow here are conifers, such as pine, spruce, and larch. Instead of at leaves they have
thin needles that help them save water and resist strong winds. Their branches slope
downward so that snow slides o .

TEMPERATE FOREST

Mixed, mainly broadleaf woodlands grow in regions that have long, warm summers and cool,
frosty winters. They drop their leaves in winter, which allows owering plants such as bluebells
and aconites to grow in early spring before it gets too shady. The leaves break down to form a
deep, rich soil. Many of these forests have been cleared for farming.

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TELL ME MORE...

The Amazon rain forest in South America covers an area almost as big as Australia. An area of
2.5 acres (1 hectare) may contain more than 750 types of tree and 1,500 other plants. Almost a
sixth of all owering plants and one-seventh of all bird species live there. The trees keep their
leaves all year long.

UNDER THREAT: DEFORESTATION

Forests face a number of threats. Large areas of the Amazon rain forest are being cleared to
provide land for ca le ranching and soybean produc on. Other forests are logged for their
valuable mber or for fuel. This can have a devasta ng e ect on the forest ecosystem. Animals
lose their homes and food supply, and the changing condi ons a ect plant growth. Some
forests are planted to produce wood, but these lack much of the na ve wildlife of natural
forest.

RAIN FOREST LAYERSEMERGENTS-the tallest trees are home to bu er ies, eagles, and bats

CANOPY-this layer is full of animals, birds, climbing plants, and orchids.

UNDERSTORY-provides homes for snakes and lizards and cover for predators.

SHRUB LAYER-consists of saplings and broad-leaved shrubs.

FOREST FLOOR-receives li le light and is covered in decaying plant material.

Interes ng facts

-CONIFERS protect their seeds in cones

-SQUIRRELS are experts at breaking open cones. Their sharp teeth can gnaw through the
woody casing to expose the seeds.

-FUNGI are useful in forests. They break down ro ng trees and leaves and provide food for
animals and insects.

-BUTTERFLIES are important pollinators of rain forest owers high up in the canopy. The
caterpillars of this postman bu er y feed on passion ower vine leaves.

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 Bonus Facts
1. HOME TO OVER 80% OF BIODIVERSITY

2. ONLY COVER ABOUT 31% OF GLOBAL LAND

3. ONLY ABOUT 1/5TH OF EARTH'S FORESTS REMAIN

4. 121+ NATURAL REMEDIES CAN BE FOUND IN THE RAINFOREST

5. EVERY YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 18.7 MILLION ACRES OF FOREST ARE LOST

6. 1.6 BILLION PEOPLE DEPEND ON FORESTS

Mountains

No other place on Earth shows such a drama c varia on in habitats as you can nd on the
slopes of a mountain. The warm, sheltered valleys abound with animal and plant life, but
freezing winds ba er the exposed peaks. Only the hardiest of species can survive in this
extreme environment.

RICH RESOURCES

Almost 25 percent of the Earth’s land surface area is covered by mountains. They feed most of
the world’s river systems and are rich in mineral resources. Few people live high up in the
mountains, but many use them for ac vi es such as climbing and skiing

MOUNTAIN HIGHS AND LOWS

Standing at a height of 29,029 (8,848 m), Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on the land.
It is part of the enormous range called the Himalayas in Central Asia.

Mauna Kea, in Hawaii, is the world’s highest mountain, rising up 33,474 (10,203 m) from
the ocean oor. Only 13,796 (4,205 m) is visible above sea level.
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 Oxygen levels drop sharply with increasing al tude. Many animals produce more red blood
cells, or have larger hearts, to carry more oxygen around their bodies.

A “dead zone” occurs above 20,000 (6,000 m). Few animals can survive in the dead zone
due to the high winds and freezing temperatures.

The Himalayan pika lives at an al tude of 16,800 (5,250 m)—the highest of any known
mammal in the world.

-THE HIGH LIFE: Hardy birds, such as the colorful ptarmigan, can withstand the harsh
environment on the upper slopes of the mountain.

-FLOWER SLOPES: Highland vegeta on such as bell heather supports a range of herbivores,
which, in turn, are food for predators such as the gray wolf.

-RIVER VALLEY: Mountain streams trickle down through the valley oor, forming a rich habitat
for bank voles and other animals.

MOUNTAIN MAMMALS

Despite the rugged terrain and cold air, many mammals make their homes in the mountains.
They must adapt to survive, so many grow thick winter coats to keep warm. Others migrate up
and down the slopes through the year to avoid the worst weather.

MOUNTAIN GOAT Thick winter coats protect these agile, muscular herbivores as they scramble
up steep mountain slopes

SNOW LEOPARD The predatory snow leopard has thick fur and small, rounded ears to conserve
body heat.

BUILDING MOUNTAINS

Mountains form when vast sheets of rock, called tectonic plates, collide beneath the Earth’s
surface. Depending on which plates collide, the land is either pushed up to form mountains or
molten rock rises to the surface to form volcanoes Volcanoes are more regularly shaped than
mountains that have been folded and bent. Mountains tend to have poor, rocky soils and li le
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 grows near their peaks. Despite the danger of volcanoes, their ash turns into fer le soil for
growing crops.

TELL ME MORE…

Mountains contain a rich range of habitats. Lush alpine meadows give way to conifer forests,
while the snow-capped peaks dominate above. The main reason for the varia on is the sharp
drop in temperature with al tude—about 11°F (6°C) for every 3⁄5 mile (1 km) in winter.

Bonus Facts

1. Mountains make up about one- h of the world's landscape.

2. Mountain provide homes to at least one-tenth of the world's people.

3. Heights of mountains are generally given as heights above sea level.

4. The world's highest peak on land is Mount Everest in the Himalayas. It is 8,850.1728 m
(29,036 ) tall.

5. Any land mass that rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding area is considered a
mountain.

6. Some mountains are caused by volcanoes spewing lava over and over again. The lava
cools and hardens and builds up to form a mountain. The islands of Hawaii are actually
volcanoes.

Polar regions

Imagine living in a place where for six months of the year, there is no day, and the other six
months, there is no night. Add to this freezing cold temperatures and you have two of the most
inhospitable places on Earth—the North and South poles. Surprisingly, they are teeming with
life.

Do you know?

-The Arc c Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the ve major oceans.

-Antarc ca is covered by 90 percent of the world’s ice to an average depth of 1.6 km.

-There are more than 70 lakes under the Antarc c ice sheet.

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 -The coldest recorded polar temperatures are −68°C in the Arc c and −89°C in the Antarc c.

THE ARCTIC

The Arc c is a huge ra of oa ng ice surrounded by land. At the North Pole the ice remains
frozen all year, but farther south the ice breaks up and melts in the summer. There are
concerns that climate change may melt the sea ice permanently

ICE looks blue because it absorbs red light and re ects back the blue.

Walking on top of the world More animals live in the Arc c than Antarc ca. This is because the
winter ice provides a bridge to Russia and North America and more varied food sources. Land
predators, including polar bears and humans, also take advantage of the seals and sh that live
beneath the ice.

HUMAN INFLUENCES

People have lived in the Arc c for thousands of years. Na ve peoples, such as the Inuit and
Yupik, have learned to survive the cold and live on a diet of mainly sh and meat. However,
there is oil beneath the surface of the Arc c and Antarc ca, which makes them a target for
prospectors. Antarc ca is protected from exploita on by treaty, but the shrinking ice of the
Arc c is opening it up for explora on. Oil and gas pipelines already cross Alaska and Siberia,
which has led to oil spills and environmental damage

THE ANTARCTIC

The Antarc c di ers from the Arc c because there is land beneath the ice. Nothing lives in the
interior, and it is classed as a cold desert because it is so dry. Freezing winds help make it the
coldest place on Earth.

A safe refuge
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 There are no predatory land mammals on Antarc ca, which makes it an ideal place for colonies
of seals, penguins, and seabirds to breed. Despite it being so cold, the water is full of plankton,
krill, and sh to feed their young.

THE TUNDRA

Tundra is the name given to cold, windy regions where the soil is frozen most of the year. The
plants that grow here are low and stunted, but mosses, lichens, and small shrubs can survive
the freezing condi ons

-CARIBOU scrape away snow in search of lichen and moss.

-Migra on Every summer huge herds of elk and caribou cross the tundra in search of food.
Arc c foxes and hares stay all year.

-Winter coats Some animals that live on the tundra change their coat from brown to white to
hide them when it snows

Bonus Facts

1. The Arc c is located at the northernmost part of our planet. Scien sts usually de ne the
Arc c as the area above the ‘Arc c Circle’ — an imaginary line that circles around the top of
the globe.

2. The Arc c consists of the Arc c Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, the USA, Greenland,
Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland.
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3. Because of the Earth’s lt, for at least one day a year there’s an en re day of darkness in this
freezing region — and also a full day of sunshine. Imagine that!

4. Temperatures as low as –70°C have been recorded in northern Greenland. Brrrrr!

5. Despite the freezing-cold temperatures, approximately four million people call this wintery
wonderland home! Amongst these are the indigenous people of the Arc c, called the ‘Inuits‘.
They’ve found ingenious ways to survive in one of the harshest environments on our planet.

6. In 1958, a submarine called the USS Nau lus sailed beneath the frozen ice of the Arc c
Ocean. This was proof that the enormous ice sheet rests on water and not land.

7. One fascina ng species found only in the Arc c is the narwhal, o en referred to as the
‘unicorn of the sea’. Why? Well, male narwhals have a straight tusk projec ng from the front of
their head that can grow to over 3m in length!

8. The word ‘Arc c’ comes from the Greek word for bear, Arktos. But this isn’t because of the
polar bears! It’s believed the name refers to two constella ons that can be seen in the
northern sky — ‘Ursa Minor’ (Li le Bear) and ‘Ursa Major’ (Great Bear).

Fresh water

Fresh water covers less than one percent of the Earth’s surface. Falling rain ows back to the
ocean in streams and rivers, or gathers to form ponds, lakes, and wetlands.

Freshwater habitats

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The creatures that live in freshwater habitats face many challenges. There might be ooding or
the water can shrink to almost nothing, silt up with mud, or be choked by pollutants. Many
animals have adapta ons that help them cope. Salmon (right) spend part of their lives at sea
and have a special mechanism that allows them to change from fresh to salt water and back
again when they return to their home river to breed.

Food chains

Food chains in rivers depend on inputs from the land around. This can be nutrients from
farmland or fallen leaves, which provide food for algae and bacteria. These are eaten by insect
larvae and snails, which are then eaten by sh and frogs

POND LIFE

A sample of water from a pond shows how many species live there, such as insects, snails,
tadpoles, and pond weed

FISH HAVENS

Nearly 40 percent of sh species live in fresh water. Many fresh waters contain

unique species, such as this African cichlid, because rivers and lakes rarely connect for species
to colonize new areas.

TAKE A LOOK: LIFE OF A RIVER

Rivers start out as fast- owing streams. When they reach the sea, rivers are slow and wide.

The ecology of a river changes as it runs from the hills to the sea. At its source, the water is too
fast for plants to take root, but invertebrates and sh thrive in the well oxygenated condi ons.
As it slows, a wider variety of plants take root in mud brought down from the hills. Animals
make homes and hunt along its banks.

Bonus Facts

1. Alligators can smell blood several miles away.

2. Freshwater turtles can live for well over forty years.
3. Water snakes can stay underwater for up to 90 minutes.

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 4. The diving bell spider, also commonly known as the water spider, is the only species of
spider that spends the majority of its me underwater and when in the water it carries
an air bubble on its back.
5. When the Amazon river oods, the river dolphins can be seen swimming amongst the
trees.

Wetlands

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 Wetlands are among the richest habitats on Earth. They include permanently wet swamps and
marshes, and bogs and fens that have waterlogged soils. The water can be fresh or salty.

WATERY ROOTS

Wetland plants have adapted to cope with the wet condi ons. Many can oat, or have waxy
leaves that resist water. Their leaves also transport oxygen to submerged roots to keep them
alive. Some roots can survive being exposed to the air or changes from fresh to salt water.

WOW!

Archer sh (below) live in mangrove swamps around Indonesia. They prey on insects that land
on the leaves and roots of mangrove trees. A er selec ng a target from under the water, the
sh s cks its snout out and blasts the insect with a jet of water. The insect falls into the water
and is gobbled up by the sh.

TAKE A LOOK: WETLAND LIFE

Wetlands are home to many species of insect, amphibian, and rep le that need water to feed
or reproduce in. This in turn a racts hungry birds and larger animals that prey on them. Many
mammals have also adapted to wetland life, including beavers, hippos, and water bu alo.

PITCHER PLANTS - These trap insects to obtain nutrients they can’t get from the soil.

MAMMALS - The Okavango Delta in Africa is an ideal home for water-loving hippos

REPTILES - Caimans and alligators are the chief predators in many swamps

BIRDS - S ll, wetland waters make ideal shing grounds for waterbirds.

Bonus Facts

1. Wetlands mostly occur where water meets land.

2. Africa’s wetland ecosystem approximately covers 131 million hectares

3. Llanos de Moxos is the world’s largest protected wetland.

4. More than 19,500 animal and plant species depend on wetlands for survival globally

5. Wetlands can be used for wastewater treatment by municipali es

6. Wetlands can store up to y mes more carbon compared to rain forests

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Oceans and sea life

Not only do oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, but they’re also
incredibly deep—easily the biggest habitat on the planet. What’s more, they o er their
residents a fairly stable temperature—and plenty of water

WOW!

The biggest sh in the ocean is the whale shark. This monster can grow up to 60 feet (18 m)
long— bigger than a bus!

TAKE A LOOK: INGENIOUS FEEDERS

Earth’s oceans accommodate a wide variety of exo c creatures. Many of these have developed
unique adapta ons that allow them to search for food and devour prey in their watery
environment.

SQUID grab prey using the suckers at the ends of their two long tentacles.

SEA ANEMONES cling to rocks, and shoot at their prey with poison barbs.

SEA SLUGS scrape algae o hard surfaces using small sharp teeth called den cles.

ANGLER FISH use the dorsal spine on their heads like a shing rod

OCEAN LAYERS: ZONES AND HABITATS

In fact, the ocean is not just one habitat, but many. The rst few feet (1 m) from the top—the
surface layer—is the richest in both nutrients and vital gases from the atmosphere. But the
surface layer is also vulnerable to pollu on and oa ng li er, which can damage ocean life.
Below this lie ve more layers:

THE SUNLIT ZONE- gets enough sunlight for photosynthesis to take place. If the water is clear, it
can extend to 650 (200 m ), but it’s o en much shallower. The base of all food chains is here.

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 THE TWILIGHT ZONE- gets just enough light so that ocean creatures can hunt, but not enough
for photosynthesis

THE DARK ZONE- gets virtually no light, and the only food is fallout or “snow” from above.
Temperatures are low (35–39°F / 2–4°C), and pressure is high.

THE ABYSSAL ZONE- contains the vast, muddy, seabed plains (abyssal plains) a er which it’s
named, but very li le life of any kind.

THE HADAL ZONE- extends below the abyssal zone over less than two percent of the ocean
oor. Only two human beings have ever been there, and we know li le about it.

COASTS

Coastlines provide many di erent habitats. High up on rocky shores, tough creatures such as
barnacles survive crashing waves and exposure at low de. In coastal mud, buried bivalves like
clams lter food from the water.

MAN THE DESTROYER

Modern, intensive shing boats can in ict serious harm on ocean ecosystems. O en, they take
too many of one popular sh or scoop up endangered species uninten onally with their catch.

BLACK SMOKERS

At hydrothermal vents, water heated under the sea dissolves minerals from the rocks. When it
erupts through the ocean oor, it forms crusty “chimneys” that can reach several yards
(meters) in height.

Bonus Facts

1. The oceans provide 99% of the living space on the planet containing 50-80% of all life

2. Many sh are sequen al hermaphrodites which are born as females and become male later
on. Clown sh are all male except the largest one which becomes a female

3. Parrot sh produce 85% of the sand that builds up reef islands like in the Maledives

4. Seahorses are the only animal where the male gives birth

5. Sponges are older than dinosaurs

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 Coral reefs

Some mes called “rain forests of the sea,” coral reefs are spectacular marine ecosystems that
thrive in warm, clear, shallow waters. Ecotourists love to visit the reefs to see the colorful and
amazing variety of animals that live and hunt here.

Ocean predators such as dolphin and sharks lurk in coral reefs. They feed on the small
creatures who live there.

FAST FACTS

Corals are actually simple animals with ny plantlike cells living inside them.

■ The Great Barrier Reef, o northeastern Australia, is about 1,430 miles (2,300 km) long.

■ Excess CO2 in the atmosphere is making the ocean more acidic, which could damage coral.

■ Fossil reefs have been discovered da ng from more than 500 million years ago.

THREATS TO CORAL

The reef is damaged by anchors scraping its surface and explosives thrown into the water to kill
sh. Coastal developments release harmful sediment into the water, and stress, such as higher
temperature, can cause coral to expel the algae in their body, so they turn white.

TAKE A LOOK

The main reef-forming organisms are known as hard or stony corals. Each one, called a coral
polyp (right), secretes limestone from its gut cavity, and this builds up on the rock underneath.
Some corals exist as single, large polyps, but most live in large colonies.

BRAIN CORAL is arranged in wiggly lines that look like the surface of a brain.

FAN CORAL feathers into delicate shapes and provides a home for ny creatures

STAGHORN coral grows in the shape of branches, which look like ny antlers.
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SOFT CORALS have ny, individual polyps and can look like branching bushes.

ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

Coral reefs come in di erent forms. The most common is the fringing reef (such as this one in
the Indo-Paci c Ocean), which grows o many tropical coasts. Corals can’t grow above water,
so the reef ’s at top usually lies just below the surface. Barrier reefs grow parallel to a
coastline, but farther out, while atolls (see right) form coral rings in the middle of the sea.

CROWN OF THORNS

The world’s largest star sh (it has a leg span of 12–16 in/ 30–40 cm), the crown of thorns feeds
mainly on corals. Because of this, it can cause serious harm to coral reefs. The Great Barrier
Reef o the coast of Australia, for example, has been severely damaged by hungry crown of
thorns. These prickly creatures hurt people, too—their spines are poisonous, so stepping on
one can cause severe pain and sickness

Bonus Facts

1. Coral Reefs Are Animals, Not Plants

2. They Are One Of The Slowest Growing Creatures On Earth

3. Coral Reefs Only Grow Up To A Certain Water Depth

4. They Are Home To Millions Of Species Of Marine Flora And Fauna

5. Coral Reefs Are Colorful Because Of The Algae That Grows On Them
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Climate change

One of the biggest concerns facing our planet is the possibility of climate change. Although
Earth has swung between extreme heat and cold throughout its existence, human ac vity,
especially the burning of fossil fuels, may be interfering with the natural cycle and hea ng up
the atmosphere

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Trying to predict what will happen as our planet warms up is not easy. We know that ice at the
poles is mel ng and this is making sea levels rise. Warmer temperatures are likely to change
other aspects of the weather.

Some countries, such as those in North Africa, may become ho er and drier, while other areas
such as Northern Europe, may become colder and we er. There will probably be more intense
storms, droughts, and ooding.

If global warming makes the glaciers melt, all the water locked in them will enter the sea. Sea
levels will rise, and many areas will be submerged.

GLOBAL WARMING

Earth is ge ng warmer. Scien sts have been measuring the temperature and have no ced that
the global average is slowly increasing. This coincides with the increase of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere over the last 200 years. It is set to keep climbing

GREENHOUSE GASES

The atmosphere helps keep the Earth warm. Gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and
methane trap heat from the Sun and keep the surface warm enough to support life. However,
if these gases increase, Earth could turn into a giant greenhouse.
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 -Heat from the Sun enters the atmosphere. Some is re ected back from the surface, but most
of it is trapped by the gases in the atmosphere

-Burning fossil fuels is adding more “greenhouse” gases to the atmosphere. If we add too much
it could have a huge impact on the climate.

UNDER THREAT

Climate change is not just a threat to humans. Many animals and plants will also su er through
changes to their environment. Reduced rainfall can be serious for trees, for example, or
wetland habitats. The most vulnerable species are those that only live in one small area or are
unable to move quickly. This includes some of the world’s rarest species.

-The Costa Rican golden toad is thought to have been driven to ex nc on by climate change,
even though it lived on a nature reserve

SAVING ENERGY

Almost everything humans do in everyday life requires energy. Most of our energy comes from
burning coal, gas, or oil, but these produce greenhouse gases. To prevent this from happening,
scien sts are looking at new ways to save energy and cleaner ways of making it.

Preventa ve measures - We can all do our bit to prevent global warming by using energy
saving devices, switching o lights, and turning the hea ng down a few degrees.

Alterna ve fuels - Transporta on is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases. Scien sts
are trying to develop new vehicles that use hydrogen, biofuels, and electricity instead of
pollu ng gasoline

Eco living - Houses can be built that need less energy to run them. This one is kept warm by the
soil around it and is lit by special tubes that re ect and magnify sunlight. Solar panels and
windmills can be used to provide electricity.

Bonus Facts

1. The last decade was the ho est in 125,000 years

2. The ocean absorbs most of the heat we produce

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 3. CO2 is at its highest in 2 million years

4. We are losing 1.2 trillion tons of ice each year

5. Global warming is (par ally) reversible

6. It could become to hot to live in many places by the end of the century Amazon Forest is
turning into a desert

7. Rising Sea Level can ood a large part of US East Coast

8. The Arc c Mosquitoes are Growing Bigger in Size

9. Global Warming Has Turned the Jungle Foliage into Junk Food

10. The Arc c would be ice-free by 2040

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 Looking to the future

Humans are the dominant species on the planet. We make use of all of the Earth’s resources,
but there I a limit to how long these will last if we con nue using them up at our current rate.
It is in our own best interest to nd ways of living that do not harm the environment and
protect the animals and plants that live here, too.

POLLUTION PREVENTION

For years, humans have been dumping the waste products of industrial processes on the
ground, in rivers, or into the air. By using new and cleaner technologies we can reduce the
amount of toxic substances produced and nd ways to make them less damaging to the
environment.

Recycling

Humans use and waste an enormous amount of the Earth’s resources. Most trash is put in
large holes in the ground, but we are rapidly running out of space. A be er way to save
resources is recycling. Paper, plas cs, metal, glass, and tex les can all be recycled and used
again.

TELL ME MORE

Human popula on

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 Changes The number of people on Earth has been growing rapidly. There are currently around
6.7 billion, but there could be more than 9 billion by 2050. All these people will need food,
water, and places to live, which could put a huge strain on resources.

WOW!

An increasing number of people live in ci es. Since 2008, at least half of the world’s popula on
has been living in ci es rather than in the countryside. By 2030, it is expected that two-thirds
will be city dwellers.

Earth is ge ng warmer.

Scien sts have been measuring the temperature and have no ced that the global average is
slowly increasing. This coincides with the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over
the last 200 years. It is set to keep climbing

UNDER THREAT: PROTECTING SEEDS

More than one-third of all owering plants are vulnerable to ex nc on. Many of these species
could be valuable to humans, but are being wiped out before their uses can be discovered.
Scien sts are now going around the world looking for plants and taking their seeds for storage
in seed banks. This way, they can grow new plants if their original habitat is destroyed.

CONSERVATION:

Wild areas are important, but many are being destroyed or raided for their resources.
Organiza ons around the world are trying to protect wildlife and habitats by building
sanctuaries for endangered species, such as the orangutan, and preserving key areas, including
wetlands and forest.

Ecotourism:
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 Traveling to a new place is fun, but tourism has an impact on the people, animals, and plants
that live there. Ecotourism helps protect the future of na onal parks and other protected areas
by encouraging operators to plan resorts in a way that looks a er the local wildlife and
environment.

Reforesta on: Many of the world’s original forests have been cut down. Forests are a vital
ecosystem, so in some areas new woodlands are being developed using na ve trees. If
managed sustainably, they will provide an income for local people and a safe home for wildlife.

25 Interes ng Facts About the Environment

Fact 1: Cows ‘destroy’ the environment. Each cow can release between 200 and 400 pounds of
methane gas through burps and farts each year. These levels are very high and are twenty-
mes more powerful than carbon dioxide gas.

Fact 2: The earth has a lot of water. About 71% of the planet’s surface cons tutes water. The
interes ng this is that the amount of water is constant and is recycled throughout. It,
therefore, means some of the water you drink today, at one point in the past may have passed
through some of the ex nct species or even a dinosaur!

Fact 3: Humans use only 1% of all available water. As already men oned, about 71% of the
earth is water. The oceans hold approximately 96.5% of all the water on earth, and the ice caps
hold about 2%. The remaining exists in rivers, ponds, glaciers, ice caps, lakes, as water vapor
and our taps, among other water bodies. Interes ngly, only 1% of all that water can be used by
human beings

Fact 4: About 10 million trees are cut down every year to make toilet paper. There were over
3.04 trillion trees in the world in 2015. Unfortunately, 27,000 of them are felled daily, for toilet
paper, meaning about 9.8 million trees are cut every year for us to have toilet paper

Fact 5: Paper from trees can be recycled 6 mes. Paper comes from trees and can be recycled a
maximum of six mes, a er which, its bres become too weak to hold together. It means if the
daily run of any country’s popular magazine or newspaper was to be recycled, it could save
about 75,000 trees.
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 Fact 6: Aluminium can be recycled forever! Unlike paper which has a limit as to the mes, it
can be recycled, aluminum can be recycled forever. Recycling a can made of aluminum
produces energy enough to run a television for three hours. How many hours and televisions
can be run given that we use 80 trillion cans per year?

Fact 7: The earth is killing humans. Humans are responsible for the toxic air, water, and soil,
among other levels of pollu on. In turn, over nine million people die every year as a direct or
indirect result of the pollu on. The gures are three mes the total deaths from AIDs, malaria,
and tuberculosis combined.

Fact 8: American companies use a lot of paper. Paper is used all over the world. However,
American companies lead the chart. The amount of paper used by American companies alone
can encircle the earth three mes. It is actually be er we are moving paperless.

Fact 9: The earth is about 1 million years old, with more than 1 million species going ex nct.
The earth is a million years old, meaning some species have come up with others vanishing in
that me. Mainly due to human ac vity, like destroying animal habitats, human development,
illegal poaching and hun ng, over 1 million species have gone ex nct with thousands more on
the verge of ex nc on.

Fact 10: Earthquakes and tremors are a natural part of the geography of the planet. Although it
is possible to measure them, predic ng them is a bit hard.

Fact 11: Fungi play a highly vital role in the environment. Fungi do almost everything in
managing the environment. They digest minerals out of rocks forma ons, consume fossil fuel
spills, and even de-radiate an environment, for instance, the de-radia on of the Chernobyl
nuclear accident disaster.

Fact 12: A Sperm whale’s poop o sets carbon in the environment. A whale’s poop is very
bene cial to the environment as it o sets carbon in the atmosphere. Each whale’s poop
releases about 50 Tones of iron annually that promote the growth of phytoplankton, which
take in carbon dioxide.

Fact 13: Elephants has similarity with humans. This is so because they are the only animals that
have chins, have a sense of self, are empathe c, are curious, develop behavior through
learning and mimicry, understand teamwork, grieve their loved ones, and are smart.
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 Fact 14: Bats are not blind! Contrary to what is known by many, bats are in fact not blind. There
are over 1,200 bat species in the world, but none is recognized as blind. They just use
echoloca on in the dark to hunt, and at mes, prefer using eyesight to sound when hun ng.

Fact 15: The combined weight of ants on the planet makes them heavier than all human
beings. The world boasts of over 7 billion people, while the number of ants is 100 trillion.
Interes ngly, the total combined weights of the 100 trillion ants, is greater than that of human
beings.

Fact 16: Glass does not decompose easily and is categorized as one of the human-made
longest-las ng materials. Glasses are everywhere, and we use them in our everyday lives just
like plas cs. However, a glass bo le may take up to 1 million years to decompose in the
environment. This means that a glass manufactured and used 5000 years ago may s ll be
present in the environment.

Fact 17: Plas c does not decompose easily either. Styrofoam and plas c bags take up to one
thousand years to decompose. When they are thrown into the water, they contribute to the
deaths of thousands of marine animals, let alone plas c pollu on and contamina ng the water
and soil.

Fact 18: Greenhouse gases are good…sort of. The most common greenhouse gases are
methane, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. Too much of them contribute to global warming –
resul ng in the mel ng of the ice caps, and a subsequent rise in sea levels among other
damaging e ects such as deser ca on, droughts, oods, forest res, and heat waves.

However, in adequate amounts, greenhouse gases trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere keeping
it warm to support the survival of humans, animals, and plants. It means that without these
gases, the planet would be too cold to support life.

Fact 19: Americans are the world’s number one trash-producing na on, accoun ng for 30% of
the world’s waste. America is the world’s number one trash-producing na on, accoun ng for
30% of the world’s waste, despite only having 5% of the world’s popula on.

The US also burns 10,000 gallons of gasoline per second, equal to 220,000 pounds of carbon
dioxide. If the world lived like an average American, we would need ve planets to acquire all
the resources needed.
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 Fact 20: Only less than 4% of American forests remain today. The majority have been cut down
for building and fuel. Despite this, the world’s oldest trees are 4,600 years old and grow in the
country.

Fact 21: About 40% of all bo led water is tap water. About 40% of all bo led water in the
market globally is, in fact, tap water.

Fact 22: Monte Kali and Kilimanjaro are actually named for a salt dumping tower over the town
of Heringen, in Hesse, Germany. It is a salt dumping ground that has formed an actual
mountain, poisoning the surrounding environment. The neighboring Werra River is sal er than
the Bal c Sea.

Fact 23: The new rock is like a mountain heap made from melted plas c in Kamilo Beach,
Hawaii. The e ects of plas c will take long to be eradicated, a new ‘stone’ formed a er the
intermingling of melted plas c, beach sediment, basal c lava fragments and organic debris
from the Kamilo Beach in Hawaii.

Fact 24: Recycling one glass bo le saves enough energy to power a normal light bulb for about
four hours. Although glass, as already men oned, does not decompose easily, recycling it
might be more bene cial to the environment. The recycling of one glass bo le not only saves
energy but the energy saved can also power a normal light bulb for about four hours.

Fact 25: There are about 27 oil spills daily, somewhere in the world. The sad part about this is
that about 5 million tons of all the oil produced every year, end up in the oceans, killing
millions of marine animals.

Conclusion:

A healthy environment plays a key role in sustaining and rewarding amazing life to ora and
fauna on this mother Earth. The world needs to pick up the pace and put greater e orts in
nding be er solu ons to pollu on, climate change and biodiversity loss in order to truly
transform socie es and economies.

Let make our planet green & pollu on free.

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