Topics to be learn :

  • Introduction
  • Ecosystem - A review
  • Environment and Ecosystem.
  • Environmental Conservation.
  • Environmental management.
  • Biodiversity hotspots
Ecosystems
  • An ecosystem is a community formed by the interactions between biotic and abiotic components in an environment.

Components of Ecosystem

  • Abiotic components: Non-living elements like air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature, humidity, etc.
  • Biotic components: Living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.

Types of Consumers

Consumers are classified based on their position in the trophic level:
  • Primary consumers: Herbivores that eat producers (plants).
  • Secondary consumers: Carnivores that eat primary consumers.
  • Tertiary consumers: Carnivores that eat secondary consumers.
  • Apex consumers: Top predators with no natural enemies.

Food Chain

  • A food chain represents the feeding interactions in an ecosystem.
  • It consists of producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, etc.
  • The food chain is arranged in a linear sequence with 4-5 trophic levels.

Food Web and Trophic Levels

Food Web

  • A food web is a complex network formed by the interlinking of multiple food chains.
  • It represents the various feeding relationships in an ecosystem, showing how different organisms are interconnected.

Trophic Levels in Food Chain

  • Producers (First trophic level): Green plants that perform photosynthesis to produce food.
  • Primary consumers (Second trophic level): Herbivores that consume producers, e.g., grasshopper.
  • Secondary consumers (Third trophic level): Carnivores that eat primary consumers, e.g., frog.
  • Tertiary consumers (Fourth trophic level): Higher-level carnivores, e.g., snake.
  • Apex consumers: Top predators with no natural enemies, e.g., hawk.
  • Decomposers: Organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead matter and recycle nutrients.

Example Food Chain

  1. Sunlight → Green plants (producers)
  2. Green plants → Grasshopper (primary consumer)
  3. Grasshopper → Frog (secondary consumer)
  4. Frog → Snake (tertiary consumer)
  5. Snake → Hawk (apex consumer)
  6. Fungi and Bacteria decompose all levels

Conversion of Food Chain into Food Web

  • In a food web, interactions occur between different trophic levels:
  • A frog can eat various insects.
  • The same frog can be eaten by a snake or a hawk.
  • These multiple predator-prey relationships create a more intricate and interconnected system compared to a linear food chain.
Ecosystem — A Review
  • Ecosystem: Formed by the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors. Every element plays a vital role in the ecosystem's functioning.
  • Producers: Mainly plants, which form the base of the food chain.
  • Herbivores: Animals like deer, goats, sheep, cattle, horses, camels, etc., that feed on plants.
  • Carnivorous predators: Lions and tigers that control herbivore populations.
  • Decomposers and scavengers: Organisms like caterpillars, termites, and insects in dung that carry out decomposition and clean the environment.
  • Humans: Depend on a balanced ecosystem for survival.

Know This: Decomposition

  • Decomposition: The process where bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms into simple compounds.
  • Essential for recycling nutrients back to nature.
  • Prevents accumulation of dead matter and waste, maintaining ecological balance.
  • Example: Lion, deer, and grass: Lion eats deer, deer eats grass, and lion's body decomposes into soil nutrients after death.

Disturbance in the Food Chain and Ecosystem

  • Example Food Chain: 'Paddy > Grasshoppers > Frogs > Snakes'
  • Decrease in frogs leads to fewer secondary consumers (frogs), affecting snakes (tertiary consumers).
  • Grasshoppers (primary consumers) proliferate, reducing paddy production.
  • Fewer snakes may lead to an increase in rodents (secondary consumers from neighboring areas).
  • Overall, a decline in frog population causes an imbalance, altering prey and predator populations, and potentially disrupting the food chain.

Energy Pyramid and Environment-Ecosystem Relationship

Energy Pyramid

  • Energy pyramid: A diagram that shows energy levels at various trophic levels in a food chain.
  • Depicts energy transfer through different levels: Energy decreases as it moves up the pyramid, from producers to apex consumers.

Ecosystem Chart

  • Ecosystem: A community of biotic and abiotic components interacting in a specific geographical area.
  • Interactions in ecosystems involve energy transfer between organisms at different trophic levels.

Relationship Between Environment and Ecosystem

  • Environment: Everything around a living organism, including physical, chemical, and natural factors.
  • Natural environment: Includes air, atmosphere, water, land, and living organisms.
  • Anthropogenic/Manmade/Artificial environment: Human-made factors that can affect the natural environment.

Main Factors in Environment:

  1. Biotic factors: Living components like plants, animals, bacteria, etc.
  2. Abiotic factors: Non-living components like air, water, soil, etc.

  • Ecology: The science that studies the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors.

  • Ecosystem: The basic unit in ecology, consisting of biotic and abiotic factors in a specific area and their interactions. Multiple ecosystems together form the broader environment.

Bio-Geochemical Cycles and Environmental Conservation

Bio-Geochemical Cycles

Types:
  • Gaseous cycles: Include cycles like the nitrogen cycle and oxygen cycle.
  • Sedimentary cycles: Include cycles like the phosphorus cycle.
Importance:
  • Nutrients: Plants need water, CO2, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, etc., while animals require carbohydrates, proteins, fats, etc.
  • Decomposition: Decomposing producers and consumers release elements into the soil.
  • Cyclic movement: Continuous recycling of elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.
  • Environmental balance: Maintained through these cycles.

Remember: Environmental Responsibility: Human existence depends on a balanced environment. We must preserve nature for future generations, as Earth is not an ancestral property but a lease from the future.

Environmental Conservation

  • Environmental Problems: Caused by natural and man-made factors, affecting the survival of various organisms.
  • Conservation: Sensible use of natural resources to maintain environmental balance.

Factors Affecting the Environment

1. Natural Factors:

  • Natural disasters: Sudden weather changes and disasters affect the environment and disrupt food chains and food webs.
  • Example: A gradual increase in consumers can lead to a scarcity of prey, causing a subsequent decline in consumer numbers.

2. Man-Made Factors:

  • Industrialization, pollution, urbanization, hunting, and construction (dams, roads, bridges) cause environmental damage.
  • Example: Industries on riverbanks can release hazardous effluents into water, causing water pollution, killing aquatic organisms, disrupting food chains, and making water unsafe for consumption.

Pollution
  • Environmental Pollution: Degradation caused by contaminants, leading to harmful changes in air, water, and soil.
  • Causes: 1. Natural factors: Environmental changes like natural disasters.2. Man-made factors: Population explosion, industrialization, deforestation, unplanned urbanization, and overuse of natural resources.
  • Impact: Affects the health and existence of all living organisms.
Types of Pollution:
  • Air pollution: Contamination of the atmosphere.
  • Water pollution: Contamination of water bodies.
  • Soil pollution: Degradation of land and soil quality.
  • Light pollution: Excessive artificial light disrupting ecosystems.
  • Plastic pollution: Accumulation of plastic products in the environment.
  • Noise pollution: Harmful or excessive noise levels.
  • Radioactive pollution: Release of radioactive substances into the environment.

Types of Pollution

  • Natural Pollution: Pollution caused by natural events, e.g., earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
  • Artificial Pollution: Pollution resulting from human activities.

Radioactive Pollution

Causes:
  • Natural radiations: UV and IR radiations.
  • Artificial radiations: X-rays and emissions from atomic energy plants.
  • Notable Incidents: Chernobyl, Windscale, and Three Mile Island mishaps, leading to long-term health impacts on thousands.

Effects of Radiations

  • Cancerous ulcerations due to X-rays.
  • Destruction of body tissues.
  • Genetic mutations.
  • Adverse effects on vision.

Environmental Conservation

Need for Environmental Conservation

  • Environmental Problems: Caused by natural and man-made factors, affecting the existence of living organisms.
  • Importance: Essential to maintain environmental balance and ensure quality of life for humans.

Steps Taken for Environmental Conservation

International Efforts:
  • 1972 Stockholm Conference on human and environment by the UNO.
  • Establishment of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
National Efforts in India:
  • Environmental issues discussed in the IVth Planning Commission.
  • Creation of a separate environmental department.
  • Ministry of Environment and Forests initiated various programs since 1985 for planning, awareness, and conservation.

People’s Participation in Environmental Conservation

  • Awareness: Educating common people about environmental conservation rules and laws.
  • Participation: Engaging the public in conservation efforts for effective protection.
  • Education: Instilling values, knowledge, and a quest for conservation from school days.
  • National Plans: Each nation has its own laws and future plans for environmental protection.

Know This

  • Jadav Molai Payeng: Transformed barren land in Assam into a 1360-acre forest known as Molai Jungle. His dedication exemplifies how one person can make a significant impact on environmental conservation.

Environmental Conservation and Social Responsibility

Human-Environment Interrelationship

  • Historical Context: Human interaction with the environment dates back to the origin of humanity.
  • Human Impact: Intelligence, creativity, and development have led to the exploitation of natural resources.
  • Responsibility: Humans must maintain environmental balance and focus on protecting and conserving nature due to the damage caused.

Laws Enacted for Environmental Conservation

1. Forest Conservation Act, 1980:

  • Purpose: Prohibits using forest land for non-forest purposes without central government permission.
  • Penalty: Disobedience can result in 15 days of imprisonment.

2. Environmental Conservation Act, 1986:

  • Purpose: Controls pollution and penalizes those harming the environment.
  • Regulation: Prohibits releasing pollutants beyond permissible limits.
  • Penalty: Violation can lead to up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh.

National Green Tribunal (NGT), 2010: Establishment: Created for the effective implementation of environmental laws.

3. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:

  • Purpose: Protects wildlife and prohibits trading in rare animals.
  • Key Clauses:
  • Clause 49A: Complete ban on trading rare animals.
  • Clause 49B: Ban on using articles made from wild animal skin or organs.
  • Clause 49C: Compulsory disclosure of artefacts made from rare wild animals.
  • Penalties: Various punishments for violating these regulations.

Levels of Environmental Conservation Efforts

1. Conservation: Goal: Conserving available resources.

2. Control:

  • Preventing harm: Avoiding damage to the environment.
  • Stopping harmful activities: Ceasing actions that degrade the environment.
  • Changing mindset: Promoting eco-friendly attitudes.

3. Production:

  • Revival: Restoring damaged environmental factors.
  • Innovation: Developing new, sustainable practices.

4. Preservation:

  • Preserve remnants: Protecting what remains of the natural environment.
  • Remedies: Implementing solutions to prevent further loss.
  • Unknown regions: Safeguarding unexplored areas.

5. Awareness:

  • Education: Informing the public about environmental issues.
  • Guidance: Providing direction on sustainable practices.
  • Awareness: Raising awareness about environmental conservation.
  • Imitation: Modeling sustainable behavior.
  • Organization: Coordinating efforts for environmental protection.
  • Participation: Encouraging community involvement.

6. Prevention:

  • Preventing possible harms: Anticipating and mitigating environmental risks.
  • Designing new plans: Creating strategies for sustainable development.
  • Addressing harmful factors: Identifying and mitigating environmental threats.

Environmental Management: Conservation and Biodiversity

  • Impact of Pollution: Reduces biodiversity and negatively affects living organisms.
  • Biodiversity: The variety of life forms in an environment, encompassing genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

Levels of Biodiversity

1. Genetic Diversity:

  • Definition: Variability among individuals of the same species due to genetic differences.
  • Example: No two humans, animals, or plants are identical.

2. Species Diversity:

  • Definition: Differences among species in a given environment.
  • Example: The variety of plants, animals, and microbes in nature.

3. Ecosystem Diversity:

  • Definition: Variety of ecosystems within a region, whether natural or artificial.
  • Types of Ecosystems: Aquatic, terrestrial, desert, forest, etc., each with unique habitats and resident flora and fauna.

Sacred Groves

  • Definition: Green patches of forest protected by locals, believed to be inhabited by deities.
  • Ownership: Not under the Forest Service; protected by local communities and tribes.
  • Biodiversity: Rich in biodiversity due to strict protection measures.
  • Cultural Significance: Known as Deorai in the local language, Trees are not cut, and hunting is prohibited due to religious beliefs.
  • Prevalence: Over 13,000 sacred groves reported in India, Mainly found in the Western Ghats (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala) and other parts of India.
  • Conservation Role: Crucial in preserving biodiversity.

Hotspots of Biodiversity

  • Global Hotspots: 34 highly sensitive biodiversity areas worldwide.
  • Original Area: Hotspots originally covered 15.7% of Earth's land area.
Current Status:
  • 86% of sensitive areas have been destroyed.
  • Only 2.3% of these areas remain intact.
Biodiversity:
  • Home to 150,000 plant species, representing 50% of the world's total.
  • Eastern India jungles host 85 out of 135 animal species.
  • Western Ghats contain about 1,500 endemic plant species.
  • 50,000 plant species are endemic worldwide.

Endangered Heritage Places

1. Western Ghats

  • Location: Spans Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
  • Threats: Mining industry and search for natural gas.
  • Impact: Threatens habitats of Asiatic lion and wild bison.

2. Manas Sanctuary

  • Location: Assam, India.
  • Threats: Dams and indiscriminate use of water.
  • Impact: Threatens tiger and rhino populations.

3. Sunderban Sanctuary

  • Location: West Bengal, India.
  • Purpose: Reserved for tiger conservation.
  • Threats: Dams, deforestation, excessive fishing, and trenching.
  • Impact: Challenges tiger population and local environment.

Classification of Threatened Species

1. Endangered Species:

  • Definition: Declining number of organisms with shrinking habitat leading to potential extinction.
  • Examples: Lion-tailed macaque, Lesser florican.

2. Rare Species:

  • Definition: Significantly declined numbers; endemic species may face rapid extinction.
  • Examples: Red panda, Musk deer.

3. Vulnerable Species:

  • Definition: Critically low numbers with continuous decline posing a threat.
  • Examples: Tiger, Lion.

4. Indeterminate Species:

  • Definition: Species suspected to be endangered, but data is insufficient due to elusive behavior.
  • Examples: Giant squirrel (State animal: Shekharw).

Know This

  • World Biodiversity Day: Observed on May 22.
  • IUCN Red List:
  • Purpose: Lists endangered species from various countries.
  • Pink Pages: Names of endangered species.
  • Green Pages: Names of previously endangered but currently safe species.

Slogans for Environmental Wisdom

  • Destroying a plant is to destroy everything.
  • Practice afforestation to conserve the environment.
  • Forest is wealth.
  • Environmental protection is value education.
  • Provident use of paper is prevention of deforestation.
  • To practice environmental protection is to develop human society.
  • Pure air, pure water is key to a healthy life.

Know This

  • WWF Report: 30% of animal species faced extinction over the past 30 years.
  • Alarm: If the current rate of extinction continues, all non-human species may disappear, leaving humans as the predominant species due to lack of concern for nature.