Environment and People - Unit 1

Environment and People

• The relationship between humans and the environment was established in early periods, with human beings living in the kingdom of nature and interacting with it constantly.
• The influence of nature is seen in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the flow of energy and information.
• Any change in the environment can result in devastating effects and pose a threat to the human race.
• World Environment Day is observed on June 5th every year to emphasize the importance of a green environment and promote worldwide awareness.

Definition of Environment

• The term "environment" has been derived from the French word "Environia," which means "to surround."
• Environment refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living) and biotic (living) environments.
• The environment can be defined as the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
• Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined "Environment" as the total of water, air, and land, their interrelationship among themselves and with human beings, other living beings, and property.

Human and Environment

• Human beings form an integral part of the environment and have the greatest environmental footprint, either positively or negatively.
• Human overpopulation has been disturbing the environment by restructuring and managing various ecosystems for hundreds of years.
• Modifying the environment to fit the requirements of society leads to the extermination and reduction of many species, changing the ecosystem structure and function.

Impact of Human Activities on the Environment

• Overpopulation, industrialization, genetic modification, deforestation, and pollution are some of the human activities responsible for the degradation of the environment.
• These activities lead to decreased water quality, increased pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and depletion of natural resources.

Objectives of Environmental Awareness

• Improving the quality of the environment.
• Creating awareness among people about environmental problems and conservation.
• Creating an atmosphere where people feel fit enough to participate in the decision-making process of environmental development programs.

Importance of Environmental Science

• The environment belongs to all living beings and is important for all.
• Environmental study deals with the analysis of the processes in water, air, land, soil, and organisms that lead to pollution or degradation of the environment.
• It helps establish standards for safe, clean, and healthy natural ecosystems.

Scope of Environmental Studies

• The study creates awareness among people about various renewable and non-renewable resources in the region.
• It provides knowledge about ecological systems and cause-and-effect relationships.
• It enables one to understand the causes and consequences of natural and man-induced disasters and pollution.

Resources and Environment

• A resource is a physical material that humans need and value, such as land, air, and water.
• Resources are characterized as renewable or non-renewable.
• Natural resources are naturally occurring materials that are useful to humans or could be useful under conceivable technological, economic, or social circumstances.

Types of Resources

• Renewable resources: resources that are available in infinite quantity and can be used repeatedly, such as forests, wind, and water.
• Non-renewable resources: resources that are limited in abundance due to their non-renewable nature and whose availability may run out in the future, such as fossil fuels and minerals.

Difference between Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

• Renewable resources are sustainable, low-cost, and environment-friendly, while non-renewable resources are exhaustible, high-cost, and less environment-friendly.
• Renewable resources replenish quickly, while non-renewable resources replenish slowly or do not replenish naturally at all.### Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources
• Importance of natural resources: forests, water, soil, food, minerals, and energy resources play a crucial role in the economy and development of a nation.
• Individual's role in conservation:
  • Water conservation: minimize evaporation losses, improve water efficiency, check for water leaks, and recycle water.
  • Energy conservation: turn off appliances when not in use, harvest energy from natural resources, use solar cookers, and design houses with sunspaces.
  • Soil conservation: use organic manure, avoid soil erosion, and design landscapes to bind soil.
  • Forest conservation: use non-timber products, plant more trees, and control grassing.
  • Food conservation: cook required amounts, avoid food waste, and store food grains properly.

Unsustainable Development

• Definition: degradation of the environment due to over-utilization of natural resources.
• Comparison of lifestyles in developed and developing countries:
  • Developed countries: 22% of the world's population, 88% of natural resources, 85% of global income, and high pollution levels.
  • Developing countries: 78% of the world's population, 12% of natural resources, 15% of global income, and moderate industrial growth.
• Causes of unsustainability: overpopulation in poor countries and overconsumption of resources by rich countries.
• Solution: equitable distribution of resources and income to achieve sustainable development.

Concept of an Ecosystem

• Definition: a structural and functional unit of ecology where living organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment.
• Structure of an ecosystem:
  • Biotic components: living organisms, including producers, consumers, and decomposers.
  • Abiotic components: non-living components, including air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight, temperature, and nutrients.
• Functions of an ecosystem:
  • Regulates ecological processes, supports life systems, and maintains stability.
  • Cycles nutrients between biotic and abiotic components.
  • Maintains a balance among trophic levels.
  • Cycles minerals through the biosphere.
  • Synthesizes organic components through energy exchange.

Types of Ecosystems

• Terrestrial ecosystems: land-based ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, tundras, and deserts.
• Aquatic ecosystems: water-based ecosystems, including freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Forest Ecosystems

• Definition: an ecosystem of forests and resources, with soil, animals, insects, microorganisms, and birds as interacting units.
• Characteristics:
  • Abiotic components: inorganic and organic components, temperature, rainfall, and light.
  • Biotic components: producers, consumers, and decomposers.
• Types of forest ecosystems:
  • Tropical evergreen rainforest
  • Tropical deciduous rainforest
  • Temperate evergreen forest
  • Temperate deciduous forest
  • Taiga/Boreal forest### Characteristics of Living Organisms
• Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen constitute about 95% of the mass of living organisms.
• 15 to 20 other elements are also needed in relatively small amounts.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Energy flow is the process of eating and being eaten in a food chain, where nutrients are passed from one step to the next.
• The pyramid of energy represents the total quantity of energy at each trophic level of a food chain.
• Energy flow is always unidirectional.

Forest Ecosystem

• Characteristics:
  • Warm temperatures and sufficient rainfall
  • Formation of numerous ponds, lakes, etc.
  • Maintenance of climate and rainfall
  • Support of many wild animals and protection of biodiversity
  • Rich soil with organic matter and nutrients
• Functions:
  • Goods obtained from forests (e.g. food products, timber, fuel)
  • Ecological functions (e.g. climate, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, rainfall)
  • Cultural and social benefits (e.g. recreation, spiritual significance)

Grassland Ecosystem

• Dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants
• Found in both tropical and temperate regions with limited rainfall (15-75 cm per year)
• Also known as transitional landscapes
• Components:
  • Abiotic (non-living) components (e.g. carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus)
  • Biotic (living) components:
    • Producers (e.g. grasses, herbs, shrubs)
    • Consumers (e.g. herbivores, carnivores, omnivores)
    • Decomposers (e.g. microorganisms, fungi, bacteria)
• Functions:
  • Productivity (e.g. food production, soil conservation, wildlife habitat)
  • Food chain and nutrient cycling

Desert Ecosystem

• Characteristics:
  • Low rainfall (less than 25 cm per year)
  • Aridity
  • High wind velocity
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Low humidity
  • Low population density
  • Scarcity of water
  • Biodiversity
  • Soil quality (e.g. rocky, dry, sandy, thin)
• Types:
  • Hot and dry
  • Semi-arid
  • Coastal
  • Cold
• Functions:
  • Habitat for unique species
  • Carbon sink
  • Natural resource extraction (e.g. oil, gas, minerals)
  • Salt production
  • Archaeological significance
  • Tourism

Tundra Ecosystem

• Characteristics:
  • Treeless
  • Covered with snow for most of the year
  • Cold climate
  • Limited rainfall
  • Frozen soil
  • Short growing season
• Features:
  • Low temperatures
  • High humidity
  • Limited vegetation
  • Presence of phosphorus and nitrogen
• Animals:
  • Herbivores (e.g. reindeer, muskox)
  • Carnivores (e.g. wolf, fox)
  • Omnivores (e.g. marmots, mountain goats)
• Plants:
  • Herbs
  • Mosses
  • Lichens
  • Sedges
  • Rushes
  • Birches
  • Crustose
  • Cotton grass
  • Dwarf heath
  • Heath shrubs
  • Dwarf willows
  • Dryland sedges
  • Sphagnum moss

Aquatic Ecosystem

• Characteristics:
  • Water-based environment
  • Interaction between living organisms and physical and chemical features
  • Unique physicochemical properties
• Features:
  • Sediments (equivalent to soil in terrestrial ecosystems)
  • Physicochemical properties (e.g. temperature, pH, salinity)
  • Biological diversity
  • Productivity
• Types:
  • Freshwater
  • Marine
• Examples:
  • Lakes
  • Oceans
  • Ponds
  • Rivers
  • Swamps
  • Coral reefs
  • Wetlands

This quiz covers the relationship between humans and the environment, how humans interact with nature, and the effects of environmental changes on human life.