WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT?

Derived from French word Environ meaning encircle

It is ones surroundings i.e., Biosphere Biosphere encapsulates earth and includes:

1. Abiotic environment
2. Biotic environment

Definition: In real world everything that affects an

organism during its life time is collectively known as Environment

INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPLE COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT

BIOSPHERE

Biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It refers to our environmental

surroundings which is the zone of life on earth. It includes: 1. Atmosphere 2. Hydrosphere 3. Lithosphere

atmosphere

HYDROSPHERE

LITHOSPHERE

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
It is a field of study that systematically

studies human interaction with the environment. It is understanding the functions of various components of environment.

It deals with the analysis of the processes in

water, air, land, soil & organisms which lead to pollution or environmental degradation. Thus, help us understand the scientific basis for establishing standards acceptably safe, clean & healthy for man & natural ecosystem (animals, birds, aquatic life, vegetation, etc.)

MAJOR GOALS OF EVS

To improve the quality of Environment To create an awareness among the people

on environmental problems and conservation To create an atmosphere so that people participate in decision making and develop the capabilities to evaluate the developmental programmes

 Day- to- day interaction with the surroundings

SCOPE OF EVS

with which human being is closely associated Related to many branches of science Concerned with the importance of wild life & its protection Explains the significant role of biodiversity in establishing ecological balance Deals with the different types of ecosystems, biotic and abiotic factors and their role in the

significance and sustenance of ecosystems Concerned with different types of food chains, food webs, productivity, biomass, carrying capacity of ecosystems Gives information relating to population explosion, growth and development, impact of population growth on the resource consumption and national economy Explains the coexistence of both living and non living organisms and their contribution to the

nature for its sustenance Deals in relation to ethos and the impact of ethical principles in the conservation of wild life, biodiversity and environment Explains the significance of forests and their products in the human routine and to countrys economy Gives information about water conservation, watershed management and the importance of water

IMPORTANCE OF EVS
Environment issues being of international

importance Problems cropped in the wake of development Explosively increase in population Need for an alternative solution Need to save humanity from extinction Need for wise planning of development

NATURAL RESOURCES
Natural resources are the component of environment that can be utilized by man to promote his well being. These are the component of environment which are inherently created by environment for supporting life

Forest is an area with a high density of trees . Forest is a biotic community comprising vegetation of trees, shrubs, herbs, etc. forests vary a great deal in composition & density

FOREST RESOURCES

Functions of forests
1. Productive functions
2. Protective functions

3. Regulative functions

 Wood (for cooking & heating)

USES/IMPORTANCE

Timber (for furniture etc., paper, rayon,

cardboard etc.) Bamboo (for scaffoldings in buildings, mats, temporary structure for tents, baskets, floorings etc.) Minor forest products (canes, resins, gums, dyes, oils, spices,

fruits, medicinal plants. Honey, silk, wax, lac from insects) Vital role in the life & economy of tribal people & forest dwellers Ecological significance Aesthetic & other values

Over- exploitation of forests

Effects :

1. Ecological imbalance
2. Endangered tribal life 3. Bad effects on dwellers economy 4. Lack of aesthetic look 5. Loss of cultural values

DEFORESTATION

The reckless demolition of

plants and trees. It is the cutting down of forests for commercial use without planting new one in lieu their of.

ENERGY RESOURCES
Energy is a key input for domestic

needs, industrial & economic development. It is also a pre-requisite for sustaining industrial growth. With industrialization & urbanization, the need for energy has continuously grown,

In power plants

USES/ IMPORTANCE

In transportation sector
In space technology

In military uses
In industrial sector

For domestic purposes

TIMBER EXTRACTION

Timber extraction is obtaining logs

from the forests. It becomes undesirable when it falls in the category of deforestation

MINING

Mining refers to the process of

digging the earth to extract minerals, coal, fossil fuels, etc.

DAMS

Dams are huge and giant structures

constructed across a river to obstruct its natural flow. Consequently an enormously large artificial lake is created to store water. The water thus stored is utilized for multipurpose services.

WATER RESOURCES

97.5 % is in the oceans 2 % is locked up in glaciers & ice caps Only about 1% is available as fresh

surface water- rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used for human consumption and other uses

USABLE CATEGORIES OF WATER

Consumptive nature

Non- consumptive nature

Partially- consumptive nature

USES/ IMPORTANCE
For domestic use

For industrial use

For other purposes

VARIOUS FORMS OF WATER

MINERAL RESOURCES

Classification of minerals

Metallic Minerals (a) ferrous & (b) non-ferrous Non Metallic Minerals (a) Ceramic & (b) refractory Energy producing Minerals (a) Nuclear & (b) thermal

Uses of Minerals
Minerals are used for vivid purposes. They are used in agriculture, defence, transport, aviation, industries, medicines etc.

FOOD RESOURCES
For survival of all living beings on the Earth food is a necessity. Hence the food resources are very much important.

World Food Problem Under nourishment-due to lack of food. Mal-nourishment-due to lack of specific ingredients.

Causes of World Food Problem

Over population Geographical conditions Natural disaster Dependence on monsoons for irrigation in

many countries. Environmental degradation- soil erosion & inadequate water resources Inadequate food storage facilities.

Changes caused by Agriculture on Environment Deforestation

Soil erosion Pollution caused due to increased

use of fertilizers, pesticide etc

Changes caused by Overgrazing on Environment

Soil erosion Loss of useful plant species Desertification Reduction in growth of vegetation

Effect of Modern Agriculture

Positive effects Increased food production High economic profit Negative Effects Fertilizer-pesticide problems Reduction in fertility of land/soil Water become unfit for drinking purpose

LAND- is a major constituent of Lithosphere. It is the source of many minerals, materials & water.

SOIL- it is the top surface layer of land. It is the most vital pert where vegetation grows.

LAND DEGRADATION
It refers to deterioration or loss of fertility or productivity of soil. Various factors responsible for it are Soil erosion Soil pollution Landslides Water logging Salination Desertification Shifting cultivation Urbanization

Desertification

LANDSLIDE

WATERLOGGING

SALINATION

Organisms + their environment

Biotic components Abiotic components

TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM

STRUCTURE OF ECOSYSTEM

THE LIVING AND NON- LIVING COMPONENTS OF NATURE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER TO FORM INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM

MOVEMENT OF MATERIALS IN CYCLIC MANNER, AND THAT OF ENERGY IN NONCYCLIC MANNER IN AN ECOSYSTEM

ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEM

 The process of ecological development which involves

gradual and successive replacement of one population (community) by the other. It is of two types: -primary -secondary There are two kinds: - Hydrarch - Xerarch

STAGES
Pioneer Seral Climax

CAUSES
Stabilising causes

Initial or initiating causes Ecesis or continuing causes

FOOD CHAIN
The sequence

in which one organism consumes another to transfer food energy is called food chain

Grazing food chain(starts from

TYPES OF FOOD CHAIN

green plants) Saprophytic food chain(starts from dead organic matter)

FOOD WEB
The inter-connected food chains

operating in an ecosystem which establish a network of relationships between various species, is called a food web

SIMPLE GRASSLAND FOOD WEB

COMPLEX POND FOOD WEB

The various links or steps in a food

chain at which the transfer of food or energy takes place are called trophic levels In a food chain, each link representing an organism is a trophic level

FIRST TROPHIC LEVEL

plants which are producers SECOND TROPHIC LEVEL herbivores THIRD TROPHIC LEVEL carnivores FOURTH TROPHIC LEVEL Large or top carnivores

 Ecological pyramids are the diagrammatic

representation of trophic structures in which the trophic levels are depicted in successive stages Different stages are: 1 Base depicts producer which is 1st trophic level 2 Lower tier depicts primary consumer 2nd level 3 Higher tier depicts secondary consumer 3 rd level 4 Apex depicts tertiary consumer which is 4th trophic level

TYPES OF PYRAMIDS
PYRAMID OF NUMBERS

PYRAMID OF BIOMASS

PYRAMID OF ENERGY