Lecture2: Introduction and natural resources

(Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies)

 Learning outcomes
After completing this lecture, you will be able to
understand the following:
•Student will get knowledge about environment
and their components.

•Student will understand the multidisciplinary

nature of Environmental Studies.
Environment
Surrounding
Environment

Everything around us
Surrounding
Environment (French word: Environner ) is the surrounding things.
It includes living things and natural forces. The environment of
living things provides conditions for development and growth, also
causes danger and damage.

Environment consists of the interactions among plants, animals, soil,

water, temperature, light, and other living and non-living things.
Environment

Environment is what surrounds us !!

It is the sum total of all social, economical , biological , physical and
chemical factors which constitute the surroundings of humans, who
are both the creators and moulders of the environment.
 The basic requirements of
human beings are provided by

a. Industrialisation
b. Agriculture
c. Nature
d. Urbanisation
Environment is of two types:

Natural Environment
Components such as air, water, soil, land, forest, wildlife, flora ,
fauna, etc. constitute the Natural Environment

Man - Made Environment

Alteration of the natural environment to serve specific uses by
the human beings is termed as Anthropogenic Environment.
For eg agricultural field is an anthropogenic environment and so
are the gardens and aquaculture farms.
Realms of the earth :There are four realms of the Earth :
Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere

Fig. Concept of Environment: air, water, land, living organisms

and materials surrounding us and their interactions
together constitute our environment
Types of Environment (Realms of the Earth)

Natural Environment Anthropogenic Environment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Lithosphere v=JaSe85Mcwp0
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
The earth surrounded by a layer of gases is
called

(a) The lithosphere

(b) The atmosphere
(c) The hydrosphere
(d) All of these
Why do humans not use the ocean water?

(a) Too sour

(b) Too salty
(c) Too sweet
(d) All of these
Which is the earth consisting of solid
portion?

(a) The Atmosphere

(b) Hydrosphere
(c) The Lithosphere
(d) All of these
Physical Environment: rain, humidity, temperature etc.

Chemical Organic, inorganic compounds, water

acid, etc.
Environment:

Biological Microbes, flora, fauna, etc.

Environment:
Components of Environment

There are two main components of Environment

Biotic Components(all living things)

Abiotic Components(Non living things)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX31EymLQZQ
 Biotic Components of Environment
• Producers (or autotrophs)

Green plants and some bacteria which manufacture their own food.

• Consumers (or heterotrophs)

Animals which obtain their food from producers
•Primary consumers
•Secondary consumers
•Tertiary consumers

• Decomposers

Bacteria and fungi that decompose dead

organic matter and convert it into
simpler parts
Biotic Components
Abiotic Components(All non living things)
Environmental Science
It is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and
biological sciences to address the environmental problems.
Environmental Engineering
It is the application of science and engineering principles to improve
the quality of environment to provide healthy living conditions.
Environmental Studies
It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study which studies the
interaction of human beings with the environment.
Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies is a multidisciplinary subject that includes all
other disciplines such as Arts, commerce, climatology, geography and
other disciplines.
Fig. Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental studies
 Importance of Environmental Studies
 To understand current environmental problems
 Helps to maintain ecological balance
 Provides basic knowledge of environment and related issues
 Helps to achieve sustainable development & understand the
relationship between development & environment
 Educate people regarding our duties
 Environmental management
 Relates environment with economy
 Aims to protect biodiversity
 Agriculture and design of sustainable products
 information related to population explosion, growth & development
 Scope of Environmental Studies

Environmental Management

Research and Ecosystem

Development Structure and
Function

Environmental Pollution Control Natural resource

conservation
Scope of Environmental Studies
 Ecosystem Structure & Function
 Ecology and biodiversity
 Natural Resource Conservation
 Environmental Pollution Control
 Environmental Management: CPCB, SPCB
 Industry
 Research & Development
 Social development: NGOs
 Environmental Journalism
 Environmentalist
 Green Advocacy
 Green Marketing
ECOLOGY

How does “Environment” differ from “Ecology”

Ecology

(Greek word: Okologie; meaning: “place to live”)

“Physical, biological and socio cultural adaptations”

Branch of science that deals with the scientific study of the

interrelationships between living organisms with respect to
each other and to their surroundings.
The study of living organisms with the
environment is known as ____________

a) Ecosystem
b) Environment
c) Community
d) Ecology
 Important Web Links
http://www.newagepublishers.com/
samplechapter/000964.pdf

http://www.newagepublishers.com/
samplechapter/001426.pdf
Acknowledgment
Some images, animation, and material have been taken
from the following sources:

Textbooks: PERSPECTIVE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES by

ANUBHA KAUSHIK, C P KAUSHIK, NEW AGE
INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS

References Book: TEXTBOOK OF ENVIRONMENTAL

STUDIES by D. DAVE AND S. S. KATEWA, CENGAGE
LEARNING
3 All slides can be used for reading purpose only