MEV-011: FUNDAMENTALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

AND ECOLOGY

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Course Code : MEV-011

Course Title : Fundamentals of Environnemental Science and Ecology

Assignment Code : MEV-012/TMA-01/January 2023 to July 2024 session

Coverage : All Blocks

Maximum Marks 100

5x20=100

Note: This assignment is based on the entire course.

Answer any five questions. All question carries equal marks.

Please write all answers in your own words.

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1. Give Definition, principles and scope of Environmental Science?

ANS Definition: Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the interactions
between living and nonliving components of the environment, including physical, chemical, and
biological aspects, as well as the social, economic, and political factors that affect them.
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and
geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography,
limnology, soil science, geology and physical geography, and atmospheric science) to the study of
the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science emerged from
the fields of natural history and medicine during the Enlightenment.[1] Today it provides an
integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.[2]

Environmental studies incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human
relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. Environmental engineering focuses
on design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect. Environmental
scientists seek to understand the earth’s physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes, and
to use that knowledge to understand how issues such as alternative energy systems, pollution
control and mitigation, natural resource management, and the effects of global warming and climate
change influence and affect the natural systems and processes of earth. Environmental issues almost
always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental
scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an
effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space, and time relationships as well as
quantitative analysis.

Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s
and 1970s driven by (a) the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental
problems, (b) the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental
protocols of investigation and (c) the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing
environmental problems. Events that spurred this development included the publication of Rachel
Carson's landmark environmental book Silent Spring[3] along with major environmental issues
becoming very public, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland,
Ohio, "catching fire" (also in 1969), and helped increase the visibility of environmental issues and
create this new field of study.

Principles: Environmental science is guided by several core principles, including the precautionary
principle (which holds that if an action or policy has the potential to cause harm to the public or the
environment, in the absence of scientific consensus, the burden of proof falls on those who would
advocate for the action or policy); the polluter pays principle (which holds that those who cause
pollution should bear the costs of remedying it); and the sustainability principle (which holds that
human activities should be designed to meet the needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs).

Scope: Environmental science encompasses a wide range of topics, including ecology, geology,
atmospheric science, oceanography, geography, economics, and sociology. Some of the specific
areas of study within environmental science include climate change, air and water pollution, natural
resource management, conservation biology, environmental policy, and sustainable development.
Environmental science is also concerned with understanding how human activities, such as
agriculture, industry, and urbanization, impact the environment and developing strategies to
mitigate these impacts.
2. Describe various environmental issues at global, regional and local levels.

ANS Environmental issues are concerns that arise due to the impact of human activities on the
natural environment, which can cause harm to the planet and its inhabitants. These issues can be
categorized into three levels: global, regional, and local.

Global Environmental Issues:

Global environmental issues are those that affect the planet as a whole, irrespective of geographic
boundaries. Some of the significant global environmental issues are:

Climate Change: Climate change is one of the most pressing global environmental issues that the
world is facing today. The increase in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide has resulted in the warming of the planet, leading to a rise in sea levels, extreme
weather conditions, and the extinction of plant and animal species.

Deforestation: Deforestation is the clearing of trees in forests, resulting in the loss of habitats for
animals, depletion of oxygen, and an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
Deforestation also leads to soil erosion, which can negatively impact agricultural productivity.

Biodiversity Loss: Biodiversity loss is the extinction of plant and animal species that play a vital role in
maintaining the ecosystem. This loss can result in a chain reaction of ecological imbalances, leading
to the depletion of resources and the decline of entire ecosystems.

Regional Environmental Issues:

Regional environmental issues are those that affect specific regions or areas. Some of the significant
regional environmental issues are:
Water Pollution: Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and
oceans, due to human activities such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge.
Water pollution can cause the death of aquatic life and pose a significant threat to human health.
Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of
human activities, so that it negatively affects its uses.[1]: 6 Water bodies include lakes, rivers,
oceans, aquifers, reservoirs and groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants mix with
these water bodies. Contaminants can come from one of four main sources: sewage discharges,
industrial activities, agricultural activities, and urban runoff including stormwater.[2] Water pollution
is either surface water pollution or groundwater pollution. This form of pollution can lead to many
problems, such as the degradation of aquatic ecosystems or spreading water-borne diseases when
people use polluted water for drinking or irrigation.[3] Another problem is that water pollution
reduces the ecosystem services (such as providing drinking water) that the water resource would
otherwise provide. Sources of water pollution are either point sources or non-point sources. Point
sources have one identifiable cause, such as a storm drain, a wastewater treatment plant or an oil
spill. Non-point sources are more diffuse, such as agricultural runoff.[4] Pollution is the result of the
cumulative effect over time. Pollution may take the form of toxic substances (e.g., oil, metals,
plastics, pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, industrial waste products), stressful conditions
(e.g., changes of pH, hypoxia or anoxia, increased temperatures, excessive turbidity, changes of
salinity), or the introduction of pathogenic organisms. Contaminants may include organic and
inorganic substances. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by
power plants and industrial manufacturers.

Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans as well as
legislation. Technology solutions can include improving sanitation, sewage treatment, industrial
wastewater treatment, agricultural wastewater treatment, erosion control, sediment control and
control of urban runoff (including stormwater management).
Air Pollution: Air pollution is the release of harmful substances such as gases, chemicals, and
particles into the air. Air pollution can cause respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, and even
cancer. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to high levels of vehicular traffic
and industrial activities.

Land Degradation: Land degradation is the deterioration of land quality due to human activities such
as deforestation, mining, and urbanization. This degradation can lead to soil erosion, desertification,
and a decline in agricultural productivity.

Local Environmental Issues:

Local environmental issues are those that affect specific communities or areas. Some of the
significant local environmental issues are:

Noise Pollution: Noise pollution is the excessive noise that can cause irritation, discomfort, and even
hearing loss. It is prevalent in urban areas due to traffic, construction, and industrial activities.

Waste Disposal: Improper waste disposal can result in the accumulation of waste in landfills, leading
to groundwater contamination and the release of toxic substances into the environment. Improper
disposal of hazardous waste can pose a significant threat to human health.

Urban Sprawl: Urban sprawl is the expansion of urban areas into rural or undeveloped land, resulting
in the loss of wildlife habitats, increased traffic, and the loss of open spaces. Urban sprawl can also
increase the risk of pollution and environmental degradation.

3. Define ecology and describe various environmental factors with suitable examples.

ANS Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms and their
environment, including the interactions between organisms and the physical, chemical, and
biological factors that shape their habitats. Ecology is the study of the relationships among living
organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the
individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps with the
closely related sciences of biogeography, evolutionary biology, genetics, ethology, and natural
history. Ecology is a branch of biology, and it is not synonymous with environmentalism.

Among other things, ecology is the study of:

The abundance, biomass, and distribution of organisms in the context of the environment

Life processes, antifragility, interactions, and adaptations

The movement of materials and energy through living communities

The successional development of ecosystems

Cooperation, competition, and predation within and between species

Patterns of biodiversity and its effect on ecosystem processes

Environmental factors can be broadly classified into two categories: abiotic and biotic.

Abiotic factors are non-living factors that can affect the environment and the organisms living in it.
Some examples of abiotic factors are:

Temperature: This is the measure of how hot or cold a particular environment is. Organisms have a
range of temperatures they can tolerate, and changes in temperature can affect their physiology and
behavior. For example, the body temperature of a mammal can have a significant effect on its
metabolic rate.

Water: Water is essential for the survival of all living organisms. It is required for processes such as
photosynthesis, digestion, and cellular respiration. The availability of water can affect the
distribution and abundance of different species. For example, desert plants have adapted to
conserve water and survive in an arid environment.

Light: Light is required for photosynthesis, which is the process by which green plants produce food.
The intensity, duration, and quality of light can affect the growth and development of plants. For
example, some plants require full sunlight, while others thrive in partial shade.

Soil: Soil is the medium in which plants grow. It contains nutrients, water, and other factors that
affect plant growth. The composition of the soil can affect the types of plants that can grow in a
particular area. For example, acidic soil may favor the growth of blueberries.

Biotic factors are living factors that can affect the environment and the organisms living in it. Some
examples of biotic factors are:
Predation: Predators can affect the distribution and abundance of prey species. For example, the
reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the United States led to changes in the
behavior and distribution of elk, which in turn affected the vegetation.

Competition: Organisms may compete for resources such as food, water, and shelter. Competition
can affect the survival and reproduction of individuals and the distribution and abundance of
populations. For example, two species of birds may compete for the same food source.

Symbiosis: Symbiotic relationships involve two or more species that interact in a mutually beneficial
or dependent way. For example, plants and pollinators have a symbiotic relationship in which the
plant provides nectar or pollen, and the pollinator helps the plant reproduce by transferring pollen
between flowers.

Disease: Diseases can affect the survival and reproduction of individuals and populations. For
example, the spread of a disease among a population of animals can reduce the number of
individuals that survive to reproduce.

4. Write short notes on any two of the followings

a. Ecological Succession,

ANS Ecological succession refers to the gradual process of change in the species composition and
structure of an ecosystem over time. It is driven by natural disturbances, such as fires, floods, and
windstorms, as well as human disturbances, such as deforestation, mining, and urbanization.

There are two main types of ecological succession: primary and secondary. Primary succession
occurs in areas that were previously devoid of life, such as bare rock, sand dunes, or newly formed
volcanic islands. Secondary succession occurs in areas that were previously occupied by a
community of organisms but have been disturbed or destroyed, such as after a fire or clear-cutting
of a forest. Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological
community over time. The time scale can be decades (for example, after a wildfire) or more or less.

Bacteria allows for the cycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and sulphur.

The community begins with relatively few pioneering plants and animals and develops through
increasing complexity until it becomes stable or self-perpetuating as a climax community. The
"engine" of succession, the cause of ecosystem change, is the impact of established organisms upon
their own environments. A consequence of living is the sometimes subtle and sometimes overt
alteration of one's own environment.[

The process of ecological succession typically begins with the colonization of a site by pioneer
species, which are typically small, fast-growing, and able to tolerate harsh environmental conditions.
These species modify the physical environment, making it more suitable for other species to
colonize. Over time, the pioneer species are replaced by a succession of other plant and animal
species that are better adapted to the changing environmental conditions.

Eventually, the community of species reaches a relatively stable state known as a climax community,
which is in equilibrium with the prevailing environmental conditions. The specific composition of the
climax community depends on factors such as climate, soil type, and the history of disturbances that
have occurred in the area.

b. Population Growth

ANS Population growth refers to the increase in the number of individuals in a particular population
over time. This growth can occur due to various factors such as births, immigration, and decreased
mortality rates. Population growth can have both positive and negative effects on a society.

On one hand, population growth can lead to an increase in economic productivity and innovation as
more people contribute to the workforce. It can also lead to a larger consumer base, which can help
spur economic growth. However, population growth can also strain resources such as food, water,
and energy, leading to increased competition and potentially social unrest. Additionally, increased
population can also lead to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity.

It's important to note that population growth rates vary significantly across different regions and
countries. Some countries may experience rapid population growth, while others may experience
population decline or stabilization. Understanding population growth trends and their implications is
crucial for policymakers, businesses, and individuals alike. Population growth is the increase in the
number of people in a population or dispersed group. Actual global human population growth
amounts to around 83 million annually, or 1.1% per year.[2] The global population has grown from 1
billion in 1800 to 7.9 billion in 2020.[3] The UN projected population to keep growing, and estimates
have put the total population at 8.6 billion by mid-2030, 9.8 billion by mid-2050 and 11.2 billion by
2100.[4] However, some academics outside the UN have increasingly developed human population
models that account for additional downward pressures on population growth; in such a scenario
population would peak before 2100.[5]

World human population has been growing since the end of the Black Death, around the year
1350.[6] A mix of technological advancement that improved agricultural productivity and sanitation
and medical advancement that reduced mortality increased population growth. In some
geographies, this has slowed through the process called the demographic transition, where many
nations with high standards of living have seen a significant slowing of population growth. This is in
direct contrast with less developed contexts, where population growth is still happening.[7] Globally,
the rate of population growth has declined from a peak of 2.2% per year in 1963.[8] The global
human population is projected to peak during the mid-21st century and decline by 2100.[

5. Explain the structure and function of Ecosystem with suitable examples.

ANS An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical

environment. It encompasses all living organisms and their non-living physical and chemical
environment within a defined geographic area. The components of an ecosystem are classified into
two broad categories, biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors. An ecosystem (or ecological
system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact.[2]: 458
These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
Energy enters the system through photosynthesis and is incorporated into plant tissue. By feeding
on plants and on one another, animals play an important role in the movement of matter and energy
through the system. They also influence the quantity of plant and microbial biomass present. By
breaking down dead organic matter, decomposers release carbon back to the atmosphere and
facilitate nutrient cycling by converting nutrients stored in dead biomass back to a form that can be
readily used by plants and microbes.

Ecosystems are controlled by external and internal factors. External factors such as climate, parent
material which forms the soil and topography, control the overall structure of an ecosystem but are
not themselves influenced by the ecosystem. Internal factors are controlled, for example, by
decomposition, root competition, shading, disturbance, succession, and the types of species present.
While the resource inputs are generally controlled by external processes, the availability of these
resources within the ecosystem is controlled by internal factors. Therefore, internal factors not only
control ecosystem processes but are also controlled by them.

The biotic components of an ecosystem include all the living organisms within an ecosystem, such as
plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. These organisms interact with each other and with the
abiotic components of the ecosystem to form complex food webs and nutrient cycles.

The abiotic components of an ecosystem include all non-living physical and chemical factors, such as
water, air, soil, temperature, light, and nutrients. These factors determine the physical structure and
environmental conditions within an ecosystem and provide the foundation for the biotic interactions
that occur within it.

One example of an ecosystem is a coral reef. The biotic components of a coral reef ecosystem
include the corals themselves, as well as a diverse array of fish, invertebrates, and microorganisms
that inhabit the reef. The abiotic components of the ecosystem include the warm, clear waters of
the tropical ocean, the sunlight that provides energy for photosynthesis, and the nutrient-rich
sediments that support the growth of the reef-building corals.

Another example of an ecosystem is a temperate forest. The biotic components of a temperate

forest ecosystem include a wide variety of tree and plant species, as well as a diverse array of animal
species, such as birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles. The abiotic components of the ecosystem
include the soil, water, air, and temperature regimes that support the growth and survival of these
organisms.

In both of these examples, the interactions between biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem
are critical for the health and sustainability of the ecosystem as a whole. Biotic interactions, such as
predation, competition, and mutualism, shape the structure and function of the ecosystem, while
abiotic factors set the stage for these interactions by determining the availability of resources and
the physical conditions within the ecosystem.
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