Earth's Systems Food Resources

-Geosphere -Atmosphere • Potable water, sugar, or animal

-Hydrosphere -Biosphere • Agricultural commodity or product

MISRA’s Report
Motor Industry Software Reliability World Food Problems
Association Food Security
- ability of all people at all times to access
Natural Resources enough food for an active and healthy life.
-Renewable -Non Renewable
Energy Resources
Forest Resources
• Provides Clean Water
• Provides Clean Air
• Provides home to plants and animals
• Protect us from natural disasters

Water Resources
Earth’s Surface = 71% water
Ocean = 97.5%
Freshwater = 2.5% (2.1% ice , 0.4%
usable freshwater)

Land Resources
- land units that are of direct economic use
for the human population living in the area.
• Near-surface climatic conditions
• Soil and terrain conditions
• Freshwater conditions
• Vegetation and animal conditions

Environmental Resources
- land that has an intrinsic value of their
own or longer term sustainability.
Ecosystem = “Oikos” + “Systema”
- "the complex of a community of
organisms and its environment functioning as
an ecological unit" - Merriam-Webster
Dictionary
- "An ecosystem is a geographic area where
plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as
weather and landscape, work together to form a
bubble of life." - National Geographic Society
Structures of Ecosystems
Biotic Component
- refers to all living components in an
ecosystem. Based on nutrition, biotic
components can be categorized into:
Autotrophs
- an organism that is able to form
nutritional organic substances from simple
inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
Heterotrophs
- an organism deriving its nutritional
requirements from complex organic substances.
Saprotrophs
- an organism that feeds on or derives
nourishment from decaying organic matter.
Abiotic Component
- are the non-living component of an
ecosystem. It includes air, water, soil, minerals,
sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude,
turbidity, etc.
Types of Ecosystems:
Terrestrial
• Forest Ecosystem
• Grassland Ecosystem
• Tundra Ecosystem
• Desert Ecosystem
Aquatic
• Freshwater Ecosystem
• Marine Ecosystem
Functional Units
Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass
production.
Energy flow – It is the sequential process
through which energy flows from one
trophic level to another. The energy captured
from the sun flows from producers to
consumers and then to decomposers and finally
back to the environment.
Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown
of dead organic material. The top-soil is the
major site for decomposition.
Nutrient cycling – In an ecosystem nutrients
are consumed and recycled back in
various forms for the utilization by various
organisms.
Functions of Ecosystem
- It regulates the essential ecological
processes, supports life systems and renders
stability.
- It is also responsible for the cycling of
nutrients between biotic and abiotic
components.
- It maintains a balance among the various
trophic levels in the ecosystem.
- It cycles the minerals through the
biosphere.
- The abiotic components help in the
synthesis of organic components that involve
the exchange of energy.
 Ecological Diversity
- diverse array of ecosystems being seen in
a huge geographical location.

Threats to Biodiversity:
• habitat loss
• fragmentation
• unsustainable resource use
• invasive species
• pollution
• global climate change

Conservation
- protection, upliftment and scientific
management of biodiversity so as to maintain it
at its threshold level and derive sustainable
benefits for the present and future generation.

Types of Conservation:
In-situ Conservation
- conservation of species within their
natural habitat. In this method, the natural
ecosystem is maintained and protected.

Advantages of in-situ conservation:

• a cost-effective and convenient method of
conserving biodiversity
• living organisms can be conserved
Biodiversity and Conservation simultaneously
Biodiversity • they can evolve better and can easily
- describes the richness and variety of life adjust to different environmental conditions
on earth
Ex-situ Conservation
Types of Biodiversity: - biodiversity involves the breeding and
Species Diversity maintenance of endangered species in artificial
- variety of different types of species ecosystems such as zoos, nurseries, botanical
found in a particular area. gardens, gene banks, etc. There is less
Genetic Diversity competition for food, water and space among
- differences in DNA among the organisms.
individuals.
 • Advantages of ex-situ conservation:
• The animals are provided with a longer
time and breeding activity.
• The species bred in captivity can be
reintroduced in the wild.
• Genetic techniques can be used for the
preservation of endangered species.

Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation:

• All the varieties of food, timber plants,
livestock, microbes and agricultural animals
should be conserved.
• Deforestation should be strictly
prohibited.
• The levels of pollutants should be
reduced in the environment.
• Environmental laws should be followed
strictly.
• The resources should be utilized
efficiently.

How can we conserve biodiversity?

• Preventing the cutting of trees.
• Protected areas should be developed for
animals.
• Where no human activities are allowed.
• Putting a ban on hunting of animals.
• Efficient utilization of natural resources.