2017 QUESTION PAPER

SUBMITTED BY : PRIYANKA ROY

B.SC INTERIOR DESIGN
GUWAHATI COLLEGE OF
ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
A. 1 what is sustainable development?

Ans: Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while simultaneously
sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy
and society depend.

2.What are the effects of global warming?

Ans: Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate change are now occurring:
• loss of sea ice,
• accelerated sea level rise and longer,
• more intense heat waves.

3.What are non renewable resources? Give example

Ans: There are four major types of nonrenewable resources:
• oil,
• natural gas,
• coal, and
• nuclear energy.
• Oil, natural gas, and coal are collectively called fossil fuels. Fossil fuels were formed within the Earth from dead plants
and animals over millions of years—hence the name “fossil” fuels.
4.What are abiotic factors?

Ans : Abiotic factors inwater:

• water,
• sunlight,
• oxygen,
• soil and temperature
• Water (H2O) is a very important abiotic factor –

5 . What is diversity and what are the different types of diversity?

Ans: Diversity means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing their individual differences. These
differences can be along the dimensions of race, gender, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. ... Understanding that
diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing.
Different types of diversity are:
Cultural diversity. Racial diversity
Religious diversity. Age diversity.
Sex / Gender diversity. Sexual orientation.. Disability.

6.What is biosphere reserve?

Ans: Biosphere reserves are ‘learning places for sustainable development’. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary
approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including
conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
7.What are types of air pollution?

The six common air pollution are:

1. Particle Pollution (particulate matter)
2. Ground-level ozone.
3. Carbon monoxide.
4. Sulfur oxides.
5. Nitrogen oxides.
6. Lead.

8.What is watershed management?

Ans: Watershed management is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the sustainable distribution of
its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs and projects to sustain and enhance watershed
functions that affect the plant, animal, and human communities within the watershed boundary

9.What is green house effect?

Ans:
• Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.
• They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the
atmosphere.
• The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface.
• Greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and some artificial chemicals
such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth.

10.What is food chain. Explain briefly

.
Ans:
• A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web starting from producer organisms and ending at an apex
predator species, detritivores, or decomposer species.
• A food chain also shows how organisms are related to each other by the food they eat.
• Each level of a food chain represents a different trophic level.
• Food chain, in ecology, the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of food from organism to
organism. Food chains intertwine locally into a food web because most organisms consume more than one type of
animal or plant.
B. 1 ) what is meant by Homeostatis? Explain with diagram
Ans :
• The definition of homeostasis is the ability or tendency to maintain internal stability in an organism to compensate
for environmental changes.
• A property of cells, tissues, and organisms that allows the maintenance and regulation of the stability and constancy
needed to function properly.
• If homeostasis is successful, life continues; if unsuccessful, disaster or death ensues.
• The stability attained is actually a dynamic equilibrium, in which continuous change occurs yet relatively uniform
conditions prevail.
B. 2) what are the resources of Lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere that man can rely on.

Ans: lithosphere
• The lithosphere is the solid, outermost part of our planet and contains many important metal elements
such as gold and iron, as well as products that are needed to produce energy. These elements are seldom
found in their pure form, but rather as minerals in rocks. A mineral is formed through geological processes.
• The lithosphere is made up of rocks from two of the Earth’s major layers. It contains all of the outer, thin
shell of the planet, called the crust, and the uppermost part of the next-lower layer, the mantle

Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere is the component of the Earth that is composed of all liquid water found on the planet.
The hydrosphere includes water storage areas such as oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.
Overall, the hydrosphere is very large, with the oceans alone covering about 71% of the surface area of
Earth.
• On Earth, liquid water exists on the surface in the form of oceans, lakes and rivers. It also exists below
ground—as groundwater, in wells and aquifers. Water vapor is most visible as clouds and fog. The frozen
part of Earth’s hydrosphere is made of ice: glaciers, ice caps and icebergs.The hydrosphere includes water
that is on the surface of the planet, underground, and in the air.

Atmosphere
Atmospheric resources are resources found in the atmosphere which are of benefit to man, animals, and
plants. These resources include wind, water, sunlight, and gases.
B. 3) distinguish between food chain and food web .

Ans:
• The food chain is a sequential pathway that shows that the flow of energy moves or transfers from one
organism to the other.
• In this pathway, energy is not created nor can it be destroyed but it flows from one level to the other level
through different organisms.
• Similarly, there are producers, consumers, and decomposers who are interconnected through many food
chains that create a food web.
• This shows the interactions between different organisms in an ecosystem.
• Both the food chain and food web represents the flow of energy and matter in trophic levels and efficiency
of energy transfer. I
• in these pathways, organisms are dependent on each other for food.
B. 4) what are the various causes for loss of biodiversity.
Ans:
• Biodiversity loss is caused by five primary drivers: habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation (extreme hunting and
fishing pressure), pollution, climate change associated with global warming.
• In each case, human beings and their activities play direct roles.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS CAUSED BY HABITAT LOSS.

Habitat loss is the thinning, fragmenting, or outright destruction of an ecosystem’s plant, soil, hydrologic, and nutrient
resources.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS CAUSED BY INVASIVE SPECIES.

An invasive species is any non-native species that significantly modifies or disrupts the ecosystems it colonizes. Invasive species
can disrupt ecosystems because they are better competitors than native species; they may consume food resources more
rapidly or more efficiently or take over habitats faster than native species can adapt to the new changes.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS CAUSED BY OVEREXPLOITATION.

Overexploitation (overhunting and overfishing) is the process of harvesting too many aquatic or terrestrial animals, which
depletes the stocks of some species while driving others to extinction.

BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS CAUSED BY POLLUTION.

ollution is the addition of unneeded or harmful nutrients or substances to an ecosystem. In a polluted area the quality of food,
water, or other habitat resources declines, sometimes to the point where some species must move away or perish if the
pressure is too great.
BIODIVERSITY LOSS IS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH GLOBAL WARMING.
B. (5 what are the effects of water pollution

Ans: Effects of water pollution are:

1. Destruction of biodiversity. Water pollution depletes aquatic ecosystems and triggers unbridled proliferation of
phytoplankton in lakes —eutrophication —.
2. Contamination of the food chain. Fishing in polluted waters and the use of waste water for livestock farming and
agriculture can introduce toxins into foods which are harmful to our health when eaten.
3. Lack of potable water. The UN says that billions of people around the world have no access to clean water to drink
or sanitation, particularly in rural areas.
4. Disease. The WHO estimates that about 2 billion people have no option but to drink water contaminated by
excrement, exposing them to diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A and dysentery.
5. Infant mortality. According to the UN, diarrhoeal diseases linked to lack of hygiene cause the death of about 1,000
children a day worldwide.
C. (1) what are the advantages of Hydro eengry over other resourecs.

Ans:
• Hydropower is a renewable source of energy. The energy generated through hydropower relies on the water
cycle, which is driven by the sun, making it renewable.
• Hydropower is fueled by water,  making it a clean source of energy.  Hydroelectric power won't pollute the
air like power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. Hydroelectric power is a domestic
source of energy, allowing each state to produce its own energy without being reliant on international fuel
sources.
• Hydroelectric power is flexible. Some hydropower facilities can quickly go from zero power to maximum
output. Because hydropower plants can generate power to the grid immediately, they provide essential
backup power during major electricity outages or disruptions.
• Hydropower provides benefits beyond electricity generation by providing flood control, irrigation support,
and clean drinking water.
• Hydropower is affordable. Hydropower provides low-cost electricity and durability over time compared to
other sources of energy. Construction costs can even be mitigated by using preexisting structures such as
bridges, tunnels, and dams.
• Hydropower compliments other renewable energy sources. Technologies like pumped storage hydropower
(PSH) store energy to use in tandem with renewables such as wind and solar power when demand is high.
(2) Mention two methods of solid water treatment

Ans:
• produced or fresh water being treated may have suspended solids, such as formation sand, rust from piping and
vessels, and scale particles, or dissolved solids (various chemical ions). For most uses or disposal methods, these solids
may need to be removed. It may be necessary to remove these solids to prevent wear in high-velocity areas, prevent
solids from filling up vessels and piping and interfering with instruments, and comply with discharge restrictions on oil-
coated solids. Two methods are:
• Filtration : to avoid plugging the injection formation, it may be necessary to separate small-diameter suspended
particles by filtration. Filters cannot handle the volume of solids that can be handled by sedimentation and desanders,
but they are the only practical method for separating very fine particles (< 10 μm). By properly choosing the filter
element, filters can remove fine solids in the 0.5- to 50-μm range and are used as a form of secondary treatment
• Centrifuges : Centrifuges are used on drilling rigs to separate low-gravity drill solids and to reclaim high percentages of
heavy solids. They have not found wide use in producing operations because of the high maintenance associated with
their use. Normally, if it is desirable to separate solid particles with a diameter less than that resulting from
sedimentation or desanders, filters are used.
(3) Give a brief account on chipko movement

Ans:
• The Chipko movement or chipko andolan, was a forest conservation movement in India.
• It began in 1973 in Uttarakhand, then a part of Uttar Pradesh and went on to become a rallying point for many future
environmental movements all over the world.
• It created a precedent for starting nonviolent protest in India.
• Chipko movement, also called Chipko andolan, nonviolent social and ecological movement by rural villagers, particularly
women, in India in the 1970s, aimed at protecting trees and forests slated for government-backed logging.
• The Chipko movement’s main influence was that it encouraged the government of the Union to amend the Indian Forest
Act, 1927, and adopted the 1980 Forest Protection Act, which specifies that forest land should not be used for non-forest
purposes
(4) Explain in details how bio diversity can be conserved

Ans:
Biodiversity refers to the variability of life on earth. It can be conserved in the following ways:
• In-situ Conservation
• Ex-situ Conservation

In-situ Conservation
In-situ conservation of biodiversity is the conservation of species within their natural habitat. In this method, the natural
ecosystem is maintained and protected.
The in-situ conservation has several advantages. Following are the important advantages of in-situ conservation:
1. It is a cost-effective and convenient method of conserving biodiversity.
2. A large number of living organisms can be conserved simultaneously.
3. Since the organisms are in a natural ecosystem, they can evolve better and can easily adjust to different environmental
conditions.
Certain protected areas where in-situ conservation takes place include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere
reserves.
National Parks
These are small reserves maintained by the government. Its boundaries are well demarcated and human activities such as
grazing, forestry, habitat and cultivation are prohibited. For eg., Kanha National Park, Bandipur National Park.
Wildlife Sanctuaries
These are the regions where only wild animals are found. Human activities such as timber harvesting, cultivation,
collection of woods and other forest products are allowed here as long as they do not interfere with the conservation
project. Also, tourists visit these places for recreation.
Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas where the wildlife, traditional lifestyle of the inhabitants and
domesticated plants and animals are protected. Tourist and research activities are permitted here.

Ex-situ Conservation
Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity involves the breeding and maintenance of endangered species in artificial ecosystems such
as zoos, nurseries, botanical gardens, gene banks, etc. There is less competition for food, water and space among the
organisms.
Ex-situ conservation has the following advantages:
1. The animals are provided with a longer time and breeding activity.
2. The species bred in captivity can be reintroduced in the wild.
3. Genetic techniques can be used for the preservation of endangered species.

Following are the important strategies for biodiversity conservation:

4. All the varieties of food, timber plants, livestock, microbes and agricultural animals should be conserved.
5. All the economically important organisms should be identified and conserved.
6. Unique ecosystems should be preserved first.
7. The resources should be utilized efficiently.
8. Poaching and hunting of wild animals should be prevented.
9. Deforestation should be prohibited environmental laws should be strictly followed
10. Public awareness should be created
(5) Write in brief the scope and importance of environmental studies

Ans:
• Environment studies is all about learning the way we should live and how we can develop sustainable strategies to protect
the environment.
• It helps individuals to develop an understanding of living and physical environment and how to resolve challenging
environmental issues affecting nature.
The scope of environmental studies is very wide and it deals with many areas like
i) Conservation of natural resources,
ii) ecological aspects,
iii) pollution of the surrounding natural resources,
iv) controlling the pollution,
v) social issues connected to it, and
vi) impacts of human population on the environment.

Importance
1.Developing an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related problems.
2. Motivating people for active participation in environmental protection and improvement.
3. Developing skills for active identification and development of solutions to environmental
problems.
4. Imbibe and inculcate the necessity for conservation of natural resources.
5. Evaluation of environmental programmes in terms of social, economic, ecological and aesthetic factors.
D. (1)what are the causes and effects of deforestation? What are th conservation methods you suggest

Ans:
Causes of Deforestation :

1. Agriculture is the Number 1 Cause of Deforestation (~80%) : According to the FAO, agriculture causes around 80% of
deforestation. And how does agriculture cause so much deforestation? According to the same report, 33% of agriculture-
caused deforestation is a consequence of subsistence agriculture – such as local peasant agriculture in developing
countries.
2. Deforestation Caused By New Constructions (~15%): The construction of human infrastructures has also been driving
deforestation. More specifically, 10% of deforestation can be attributed to new infrastructures that serve the current
human lifestyle in four main ways: transportation, transformation and energy generation.On one hand, roads, rails, ports or
airports have been built to move all sorts of goods – from cereals and fruits to spices, minerals or fossil fuels – either
directly to trade centers or to transformation sites.
3. How Urbanization Is Causing Deforestation (~5%) : The populational shift that is leading people to move from rural areas to
urban areas is also contributing to deforestation (5%, according to FAO). This urban growth – in which
68% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050 – is leading to an exponential growth of housing and
consumption sites. And as cities become larger so they can host more people, they challenge the natural boundaries
surrounding them, often leading to deforestation. This is one of the reasons why deforestation is happening.
Effects of deforestation

The Effects of Deforestation on Biodiversity: The most known consequence of deforestation is its threat to biodiversity. In
fact, forests represent some of the most veritable hubs of biodiversity. From mammals to birds, insects, amphibians or
plants, the forest is home to many rare and fragile species.
80% of the Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests.

The Effects of Deforestation on Local People and Their Livelihoods:

Healthy forests support the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people globally, one billion of whom are among the world’s poorest.
This means there are many people depending on forests for survival and using them to hunt and gather raw products for
their small-scale agriculture processes. But in developing countries such as Borneo, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, or Mexico,
land tenure systems are weak. This allows big businesses to get these lands and use them for other ends, disrupting local
people’s lives.

Deforestation for Food May Lead to Food Insecurity in the Future : Today, 52% of all the land used for food production is
moderately or severely impacted by soil erosion. In the long term, the lack of healthy, nutritious soil can lead to low yields
and food insecurity..

Soil Erosion is One of the Consequences of Deforestation:Deforestation weakens and degrades the soil. Forested soils are
usually not only richer on organic matter, but also more resistant to erosion, bad weather, and extreme weather events. This
happens mainly because roots help fix trees in the ground and the sun-blocking tree cover helps the soil to slowly dry out.
As a result, deforestation will probably mean the soil will become increasingly fragile, leaving the area more vulnerable to
natural disasters such as landslides and floods.
Conservation methods

1. Regulated and Planned Cutting of Trees: One of the main reasons of deforestation is commercial felling of trees. According
to an estimate, about 1,600 million cubic metres of wood have been used for various purposes in the world. Although trees
are considered as perennial resource, when exploited on a very large scale, their revival cannot be possible.
Therefore, cutting should be regulated by adopting methods like:
(i) Clear cutting,
(ii) Selective cutting, and
(iii) Shelter wood cutting.

2. Control over Forest Fire: Destruction or loss of forest by fire is fairly common; because trees are highly exposed to fire and
once started it becomes difficult to control. Sometimes, the fire starts by natural process, i.e., by lightning or by friction
between trees during speedy winds, while in most cases it is started by man either intentionally or unintentionally.

3. Reforestation and Afforestation: The sustained yield concept dictates that whenever timber is removed, either by block
cutting or by selective cutting, the denuded area must be reforested. This may be done by natural or artificial methods.
Similarly, any forested land which has been destroyed by fire or mining activities should be reforested. In rugged terrain aerial
seeding is the method of choice.
Besides all this, fresh afforestation programmes should be started. New plantations will not only increase the forest cover but
also help in making up the eco-balance. For afforestation, selection of trees should be done according to local geographical
conditions and care must be taken during initial growth of the trees.
4. Check over Forest Clearance for Agricultural and Flabitation Purposes:
Most of the present-day agricultural land was once forested and then cleared for the use of agriculture. But now it has
reached the stage where further clearance will be dangerous for the entire ecosystem. There are tribals in some parts of
Asia, Africa and South America, where shifting cultivation is still a part of their system of land procurement. According to an
estimate, about 40 million sq km of land is used for this purpose by 200 million tribals of the world.

5. Protection of Forest:
The existing forests should be protected. Apart from commercial cutting, unorganised grazing is also one of the reasons.
There are several forest diseases resulting from parasitic fungi, rusts, mistletoes, viruses and nematodes which cause the
destruction of trees. The forests should be protected either by use of chemical spray, antibiotics or by development of
disease resistant strains of trees.

6. Proper Utilisation of Forest Products and Forests:

Generally, forests have been cut for logs and rest of the tree – stump, limbs, branches and foliage, etc., are left out in the
forest as worthless debris. Further waste occurs at the sawmill. There is a need to use all this waste material. Now several
uses have been developed and products like waterproof glues, board, etc., can be obtained.
Similarly, forests can easily be used or developed as tourist centres. By using them as tourist centres the country can earn
substantial foreign exchange. This practice has been adopted by many countries, both developed and developing.
The concepts of ‘national park’ and ‘game sanctuary’ have now become popular and every country has developed its
unique forest area as a ‘national park’. In India alone, there are as many as 21 national parks. This scheme is a good method
of forest conservation.
(2) What are the values of bio diversity.

Ans:
The six major values are:
(a) Total Environmental Value (Tenv) :
UNEP (1995) defined this as a function of primary value and total economic value.Scientists and economists working together
arrived at a surrogate evaluation of all environmental goods and services. It amounts to $33 trillion worldwide per year and
thus is larger than the global economy of $29 trillion (1997 figures). In other words, global natural resources are more valuable
than global national products.

(b) Primary Value (PV) :

This is defined as the value of the system characteristics upon which all ecosystem functions depend (UNEP, 1995). It is called
primary value because the structured ecosystem produces functions that have secondary value. The secondary value will exist
as long as the ecosystem retains its health, existence, homeostasis, operation and maintenance.

(c) Total Economic Value (TEV):

Also called Total Value (TV) or simply Value (V). TEV denotes the sum total of all kinds of values attached to biodiversity minus
the primary value. It is the function of use and non-use values. Total economic value by itself will underestimate the true value
of ecosystems. It has to be considered along with the primary value.

(d) Use Value (UV):

This represents the value arising from an actual use made of a given component of biodiversity. It is often a function of Direct
and Indirect Use Values.
(e) Direct Use Value (DUV):
This is also known as direct value. It is defined as actual uses especially in consumption. It represents the economic values
derived from direct use or interaction with a biological resource or resource system, DUV is relatively easily measured by
assigning market prices.

(f) Indirect Use Value (IUV) :

It is defined as benefits arising from an ecosystem function. It represents the economic value derived from the role of
resources and system in supporting or protecting activities whose outputs have direct value in production on
consumption (UNEP, 1995). Indirect contributions of biodiversity to human welfare are said to have this value.
Biogeochemical cycles, photosynthesis, climate regulation, prevention of soil erosion, pollutant degradation are the
phenomena which contribute indirectly to biodiversity.

(g) Ethical and Aesthetic Values :

People with good cultural background have deep concern for biodiversity. They derive ethical benefit from biodiversity.
Biodiversity is considered to have great value on cultural and religious grounds specially in India and East Asian countries.
Ethical values differ from place to place, culture to culture, time to time and differ between different components of
biodiversity. For example, the ethical value attached to sacred basil is not accorded to cactus in India. Most people value
certain species more than others subconsciously.
(3) What are green house gases and their impact on global temperatures.

Ans:
A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse
effect. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and
ozone.

On Earth, human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels like coal and
oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric CO2. This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines
carbon (C) with oxygen (O2) in the air to make CO2. To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other
human activities have increased the concentrations of other greenhouse gases like methane (CH4), and further increased
(CO2).
The consequences of changing the natural atmospheric greenhouse are difficult to predict, but certain effects seem likely:
- On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not.
- Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but individual regions will vary, some
becoming wetter and others dryer.
- A stronger greenhouse effect will probably warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers and other ice, increasing sea level.
Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing to further sea level rise.
- Meanwhile, some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increased atmospheric CO2, growing more vigorously and
using water more efficiently. At the same time, higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the areas where
crops grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant communities.
(4) Give a detail account on climate region of india . How do rainfall and temperature determine the flora and fauna of a
region .

Ans:
Tropical Rain Forest (Am):
It is found in west Coastal Plains, Sahyadris and parts of Assam. The temperature is high, not falling below 18.2°C and rising to
29°C in April or May. Crops like tea, coffee and spices are characteristic vegetation.

Tropical Savanna (Aw):

It is found in peninsular areas except the semi-arid zone in leeside of Western Ghats. The mean temperature is above 18.2°C
and rising as high as 32°C. The natural vegetation all over the area consists of savanna.

Tropical Semi-Arid Steppe Climate (Bs):

It runs southwards from Central Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu in the leeside of Western Ghats and Cardamom Hills. The
temperature varies from 20°C to 23.8°C (December) and 32.8°C (May). The climate is suitable for dry climate and livestock
rearing.

Tropical and Sub-Tropical steppe Climate (BSn):

This type of climate occurs over a broad crescent from Punjab to Kutch between the Thar Desert to its west and the more
humid climate of the Ganga Plain and the peninsula to its east and south, respectively. The temperature varies from 12°C
(January) to 35°C (June) and maximum it is up to 49°C.
Tropical Desert (BWn):
It is found in western parts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner district of Rajasthan and a good part of Kutch. The mean monthly
temperature is uniformly high (34.5°C).

Humid Sub-Tropical Climate with Dry Winters (CWa):

It comprises of the foothills of Himalayas, Punjab, Haryana plains, and plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and east of Aravalli
Range. Winters are dry except for a little rain received from westerly depressions.

Mountain Climate:
It is seen in mountainous regions which rise above 600 m such as Himalaya and Karakoram ranges. There is a sharp contrast
between temperatures of sunny and shady slopes, high variability of rainfall. The Trans-Himalayan region, i.e., Ladakh, where
the south west monsoon fails to reach has a dry and cold climate and sparse and stunted vegetation.

Climatic factors like temperature, photoperiod and precipitation highly affect climate of a place.
In India, all the major physical features of the Earth i.e. mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus and islands are there in which
climatic factors vary.
The given points state how climatic factors affect climate which determines distribution of flora andfauna
(i) Temperature The character and extent of vegetation and distribution of fauna are mainly determined by temperature along
with humidity in the air, precipitation and soil.
On the slopes of the Himalayas and the hills of the Peninsula above the height of 915 m, the fall in the temperature
affects the types of vegetation, its growth, and changes it from tropical to subtropical, temperate and alpine
vegetation. Thus, affect the distribution of wildlife too.

(ii) Photoperiod (sunlight) The variation in duration of sunlight at different places is due to differences in altitude,
latitudes, season and duration of the day.
Due to longer duration of sunlight, trees grow faster in summers. As forests are shelter for fauna, thus, more trees
mean a rich and diverse fauna.

(iii) Precipitation In India, almost the entire rainfall is brought in by the advancing of South-West monsoon (June to
September) and retreating North-East monsoons. Areas of heavy rainfall have more dense vegetation and fauna as
compared to other areas of less rainfall.
(5) What are producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem. What do you mean by energy flow

Ans:
• Producers are any kind of green plant. Green plants make their food by taking sunlight and using the energy to make sugar.
The plant uses this sugar, also called glucose to make many things, such as wood, leaves, roots, and bark. Trees, such as
they mighty Oak, and the grand American Beech, are examples of producers.
• Consumers have to feed on producers or other consumers to survive. Deer are herbivores, which means that they only eat
plants (Producers). Bears are another example of consumers. Black bears are omnivores and scavengers, like skunks and
raccoons, which means that they will eat just about anything. In a forest community, Black Bears will eat blueberries, bugs,
acorns, and many kinds of nuts.
• Decomposers are the garbage men of the animal kingdom; they take all the dead animals and plants (consumers and
decomposers) and break them down into their nutrient components so that plants can use them to make more food.
Decomposers in the forest come in many different shapes and sizes. Shelf fungus is a fungus that grows on the sides of
trees. It grows into the tree and decomposes it slowly. Have you ever been walking through the woods and come across a
dead log that falls apart and is full of dirt? That is because decomposers have been eating and digesting that log for several
years, turning it into dirt that is wonderful for plants.

Energy flow is the flow of energy through living things within an ecosystem. All living organisms can be organized into
producers and consumers, and those producers and consumers can further be organized into a food chain. Each of the levels
within the food chain is a trophic level. The energy flow in the ecosystem is important to maintain an ecological balance. ... A
part of the energy is stored within the plants. The remaining energy is utilised by the plants in their growth and development.
This stored energy is transferred to the primary consumers when they feed on the producers.
An example of energy flow in an ecosystem would begin with the autotrophs that take energy from the sun. Herbivores then
feed on the autotrophs and change the energy from the plant into energy that they can use.
(6) Sustainable development is the only hope for humanity to perpetuate life on this planet. Do you agree ?

Ans:
THANK YOU