Introduction To Environmental Studies - PDF

SMDC - Unit – 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SYNOPSIS:  Environment:  Meaning & Definitions.  Components of Environment.  Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental S...

SMDC - Unit – 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES SYNOPSIS:  Environment:  Meaning & Definitions.  Components of Environment.  Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies.  Scope and Importance.  Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.  Ecosystems:  What is an Ecosystem?  Structure and functions of ecosystem.  Energy flow in an ecosystem: food chains, food webs and ecological succession.  Case studies of the following ecosystems - a) Forest ecosystem b) Grassland ecosystem c) Desert ecosystem d) Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries). “The elements of environments are interconnected to each other in a complicated way (spider web): disturbance of one element will affect the other one”. Meaning & Definitions: The term environment is derived from a French word environner which means ‘surrounding’. It refers to an aggregate of all conditions that affect the existence, growth, and welfare of an organism or a group of organisms. Environment is the sum total of all social, economical, biological, physical, and chemical factors which constitute the surroundings of humans, who are both creators and moulders of the environment. Environment is the sum total of influences which modify and determine the development of life and its associated characteristics. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 “All the living and non living factors affecting an organism and ultimately determining its form and survival is known as Environment.” Environment is Define as “The Complex of Physical, Chemical & Biotic factors affecting an organism and ultimately determining its form and survival” is known as Environment. Environmental Studies: “The branch of Study concerned with environmental issues. It has a broader coverage than environment science and includes the social aspects of the environment”. Environmental Studies refers to the study of the environment. It is not restricted to the point of view of one particular discipline but involves all disciplines that may affect the environment in any possible way. Components of Environment: [Segments] Environment can be divided into following Components – From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Biological Components:  Biotic: It Includes all the living organisms. e.g. plants, animals, birds etc.  Abiotic: All the non living things are included in this category. e.g. Climatic conditions, soil, minerals etc.  Physical Components:  Atmosphere: The region surrounding the earth is known as atmosphere. Atmosphere is generally a mixture of gases surrounding the earth.  Hydrosphere: All the water bodies on the earth surface are included in hydrosphere. It includes Oceans, rivers, glaciers, lakes, ponds, etc.  Lithosphere: The uppermost part of the earth crust is known as Lithosphere. Lithosphere includes, soil and its particles, rocks, metal. etc.  Biosphere: The life supporting mantle of the earth extending from few kilometer into the atmosphere to the deep ocean is known as Biosphere. The region of the earth where life exist is known as Biosphere. Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies: The Environment studies is a multi-disciplinary science because it comprises various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical science, life science, agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in the environment. It studies about the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of physical and biological species in the air, water, soil and the effect of from human activity upon these. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 As the environment is complex and actually made up of many different environments like natural, constructed and cultural environments, environmental studies is inter disciplinary in nature including the study of biology, geology, politics, policy studies, law, religion engineering, chemistry and economics to understand the humanity’s effects on the natural world. This subject educates the students to appreciate the complexity of environmental issues and citizens and experts in many fields. By studying environmental science, students may develop a breadth of the interdisciplinary and methodological knowledge in the environmental fields that enables them to facilitate the definition and solution of environmental problems. Scope and Importance: Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It includes a large number of areas and aspects, which may be summarized as follows:  Natural resources- their conservation and management.  Ecology and Biodiversity.  Environmental pollution and control.  Human population and environment.  Social issues in relation to development and environment. These are the basic aspects of Environmental Studies which have a direct relevance to every section of the society. Environmental studies can be highly specialized also which may concentrate on more technical aspects like Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Biotechnology etc. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Importance:  Environmental Studies is useful in checking environmental pollution and related solutions.  It helps in maintaining ecological balance.  It helps to gain skills to assess the environmental impact of human activities. Environmental study will help to protect biodiversity.  It gives us basic knowledge of environment and associated problems.  It helps to achieve sustainable development.  It helps to educate people regarding their duties towards the protection of environment.  The knowledge of environmental science will be applied to the study of agriculture. Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons: 1. Environment Issues being of International Importance: It has been well recognized that environment issues like global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and loss of biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation. 2. Problems Cropped in the Wake of Development: Development, in its wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed world. The North, to cleanse their own environment has fact fully, managed to move ‘dirty’ factories to South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither practicable nor desirable, even if developing world follows that. 3. Explosively Increase in Pollution: World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this plant lives in India. Evidently with 16 per cent of the world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural experts have recognized soils health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure. 4. Need for An Alternative Solution: It is essential, especially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as under: (1) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally sound and sustainable development. (2) A goal common to all citizens of our earth. (3) A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 5. Need to Save Humanity from Extinction: It is incumbent upon us to save the humanity from extinction. Consequences to our activities cause destructing the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development. 6. Need for Wise Planning of Development: Our survival and sustenance depend. Resources withdraw; processing and use of the product have all to be synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of development. Our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and development. Sustainable Development: The term sustainable development refers to the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core - is an approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as a society. Three Dimensions of SD:  Ecology,  Social &  Environment Sustainable development is based on the three pillars of From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 sustainability economic, environmental and social sustainability. It is only achieved when there is balance or a tradeoff between these three aspects. Sustainable Development Goals: At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice and tackling climate change by 2030. 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere. 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities. 5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. 6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. 7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. 8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. 9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster Innovation. 10 Reduce inequality within and among countries. 11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. 14 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable Development. Ecology & Ecosystem: What is Ecology? The term Ecology was coined by German zoologist Earnst Haeckel in 1869. Ecology is derived from the Greek words “Oikos + Logos”[Okologie; meaning: “place to live] Eco1ogy- Branch of science that deals with the scientific study of the interrelationships between living organisms with respect to each other and to their surroundings. In other words, Eco1ogy dea1s with the study of organisms in their natural home interacting with their surroundings. Eco1ogy is often defined as ― the study of ecosystems. Concept of an Ecosystem: The term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansley, an English botanist, in 1935. The ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of ecology where the living organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment. In other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interaction between organisms and their environment. An ‘Ecosystem’ is a region with a specific and recognizable landscape form such as forest, grassland, desert, wetland or coastal area. An ecosystem is an integrated unit consisting of interacting plants, animals and microorganisms whose survival depends upon the maintenance and regulation of their biotic and abiotic structures and functions. The ecosystem is thus, a unit or a system which is composed of a number of subunits that are all directly or indirectly linked with each other. Ecosystems are divided into terrestrial or land based ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems in water. These form the two major habitat conditions for the Earth’s living organisms. Definitions: The living community of plants and animals in any area together with the non-living components of the environment such as soil, air and water, constitute the ecosystem. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Ecosystem is Define as “Natural Functional Ecological Unit Comprising of living organisms & their non-living environment which interact to form a self-supporting system” is known as Ecosystem. Types of Ecosystem: An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands of miles. There are two types of ecosystem:  Terrestrial Ecosystem &  Aquatic Ecosystem. Terrestrial Ecosystems Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different types of terrestrial ecosystems distributed around various geological zones. They are as follows: 1. Forest Ecosystems 2. Grassland Ecosystems 3. Desert Ecosystem  Forest Ecosystem A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, animals and microorganisms that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment. Forests help in maintaining the temperature of the earth and are the major carbon sink. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Grassland Ecosystem In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs. Temperate grasslands, savanna grasslands are some of the examples of grassland ecosystems.  Desert Ecosystem Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with very little rainfall. The days are hot and the nights are cold. Aquatic Ecosystem Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can be further divided into two types, namely: 1. Freshwater Ecosystem 2. Marine Ecosystem  Freshwater Ecosystem The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the marine ecosystem.  Marine Ecosystem The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more substantial salt content and greater biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Structure of the Ecosystem: The structure of an ecosystem is characterized by the organization of both biotic and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in our environment. It also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment. The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two main components, namely:  Biotic Components  Abiotic Components The biotic and abiotic components are interrelated in an ecosystem. It is an open system where the energy and components can flow throughout the boundaries. Biotic Components Biotic components refer to all life in an ecosystem. Based on nutrition, biotic components can be categorized into autotrophs, heterotrophs and saprotrophs (or decomposers).  Producers include all autotrophs such as plants. They are called autotrophs as they can produce food through the process of photosynthesis. Consequently, all other organisms higher up on the food chain rely on producers for food.  Consumers or heterotrophs are organisms that depend on other organisms for food. Consumers are further classified into primary consumers, secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.  Primary consumers are always herbivores that they rely on producers for food.  Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers for energy. They can either be a carnivore or an omnivore. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Tertiary consumers are organisms that depend on secondary consumers for food. Tertiary consumers can also be an omnivore.  Quaternary consumers are present in some food chains. These organisms prey on tertiary consumers for energy. Furthermore, they are usually at the top of a food chain as they have no natural predators.  Decomposers include saprophytes such as fungi and bacteria. They directly thrive on the dead and decaying organic matter. Decomposers are essential for the ecosystem as they help in recycling nutrients to be reused by plants. Abiotic Components Abiotic components are the non-living component of an ecosystem. It includes air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude, turbidity, etc. Functions of Ecosystem: The functions of the ecosystem are as follows: 1. 1. It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders stability. 2. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components. 3. It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem. 4. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere. 5. The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involves the exchange of energy. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Energy Flow in Ecosystem: The energy flow in the ecosystem is one of the major factors that support the survival of such a great number of organisms. For almost all organisms on earth, the primary source of energy is solar energy. It is amusing to find that we receive less than 50 per cent of the sun’s effective radiation on earth. When we say effective radiation, we mean the radiation, which can be used by plants to carry out photosynthesis. The energy flow takes place via the food chain and food web. During the process of energy flow in the ecosystem, plants being the producers absorb sunlight with the help of the chloroplasts and a part of it is transformed into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Food Chain The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It provides the energy required for all plant life. The plants utilize this energy for the process of photosynthesis, which is used to synthesise their food. During this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and is passed on through successive levels. The flow of energy from a producer, to a consumer and eventually, to an apex predator or a detritivore is called the food chain. Dead and decaying matter, along with organic debris, is broken down into its constituents by scavengers. The reducers then absorb these constituents. After gaining the energy, the reducers liberate molecules to the environment, which can be utilized again by the producers. A classic example of a food chain in an ecosystem From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  In food chain, the plants or producers are consumed by only the primary consumers, primary consumers are fed by only the secondary consumers and so on.  The producers that are capable to produce their own food are called autotrophs.  Any food chain consists of three main tropic levels, viz., producers, consumers and decomposers.  The energy efficiency of each tropic level is very low. Hence, shorter the food chain greater will be the accessibility of food.  The typical food chain in a ground ecosystem proceeds as grass mouse—————-> snake ————> hawk. Food Web  Charles Elton presented the food web concept in year 1927, which he termed as food cycle. Charles Elton described the concept of food web as:  The carnivore animals prey on the herbivores.  These herbivores obtain the energy from sunlight.  The later carnivores may also be preyed upon by other carnivores.  Until a reach where an animal has no enemies it forms a terminus on this food cycle.  There are chains of animals that are related together by food, and all are dependent on plants in the long run.  This is termed as a food chain and all the food chains in a community is known as the food web.  A food web is a graphical depiction of feeding connections among species of an ecological community.  Food web includes food chains of a particular ecosystem.  The food web is an illustration of various techniques of feeding that links the ecosystem.  The food web also explains the energy flow through species of a community as a result of their feeding relationships.  All the food chains are interconnected and overlapping within an ecosystem and they constitute a food web.  In natural environment or an ecosystem, the relationships between the food chains are interrelated.  These relationships are very complex, as one organism may be a part of multiple food chains.  Hence, a web like structure is formed in place of a linear food chain.  The web like structure if formed with the interlinked food chain and such matrix that is interconnected is known as a food web. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Food webs are an inseparable part of an ecosystem; these food webs permit an organism to obtain food from more than one type of organism of the lower trophic level.  Every living being is responsible and is a part of multiple food chains in the given ecosystem.  From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Ecological Succession: Succession is the order of colonization of species in an ecosystem from a barren or destroyed area of land. Mosses and lichens are the first species that inhabit an area. They make the area suitable for the growth of larger species such as grasses, shrubs and finally trees. Ecological Succession - Definition: “Ecological succession is a series of changes that occur in an ecological community over time.” What is Ecological Succession? Ecological succession is the steady and gradual change in a species of a given area with respect to the changing environment. It is a predictable change and is an inevitable process of nature as all the biotic components have to keep up with the changes in our environment. The ultimate aim of this process is to reach equilibrium in the ecosystem. Types of Ecological Succession: These are the following types of ecological succession:  Primary Succession Primary succession is the succession that starts in lifeless areas such as the regions devoid of soil or the areas where the soil is unable to sustain life. When the planet was first formed there was no soil on earth. The earth was only made up of rocks. These rocks were broken down by microorganisms and eroded to form soil. The soil then becomes the foundation of plant life. These plants help in the survival of different animals and progress from primary succession to the climax community. If this primary ecosystem is destroyed, secondary succession takes place. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Secondary Succession Secondary succession occurs when the primary ecosystem gets destroyed. For eg, a climax community gets destroyed by fire. It gets recolonized after the destruction. This is known as secondary ecological succession. Small plants emerge first, followed by larger plants. The tall trees block the sunlight and change the structure of the organisms below the canopy. Finally, the climax community arrives. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 NATURAL RESOURCES Synopsis:  Introduction.  Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources.  Land Resources and land-use change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.  Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations.  Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts, conflicts over water (International & Inter-state).  Energy Resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies. Introduction: Nature has provided bountiful resources surrounding us for sustenance of a better life. Thus, any part of our natural environment such as land, water, air, minerals, forest, grassland, wildlife, fish or even human population that man can utilize to promote his welfare, may be considered as Natural Resources. These resources, along with human resources and capital, play acrucial role for expansion to national output which ultimately drives towards economic development. Hence, the existence or the absence of favorable natural resources can facilitate or retar Naturalresources include land, forests, wildlife resources, fisheries, water resources, energy resources, marine resources, and mineral resources. These resources are usually known toman. But nature possesses more in its bosom which is still undiscovered. For example, the vast resources of solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy are yet to be fully discovered and utilized. Man is required to develop scientific techniques for their proper utilization and the process of economic development. Out of all those natural resources, some are exhaustible or nonrenewable type such as minerals and oils which can be used only onetime. Once exhausted, they are depleted completely. But some others, like land, water, fisheries and forests are renewable or non-exhaustible in nature. If proper care is taken, they can be utilized endlessly. Hence for sustainable development, careful use of the exhaustible resources and maintenance of the quality of renewable resources are needed. For that, certain objectives should be followed. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Objectives for NR Development: (i) Conversation of renewable resources and economic use of exhaustible resources for sustainable development. (ii) Multipurpose use for resources. (iii) Much emphasis should be given on development of non-conventional energy resources. (iv) Economic use of resources to achieve minimum waste. (v) Environmental impact assessment for new projects. (vi) Nature of balance should not be disturbed through exploitation of natural resources. Meaning: What is called Resource? A resource is a physical material that humans need and value such as land, air, and water. Resources are characterized as renewable or nonrenewable; a renewable resource can replenish itself at the rate it is used, while a nonrenewable resource has a limited supply. The natural resources may be defined as any material given to us by nature which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and useful. Natural resources include air, water, forests, animals, fishes, marine life, biomass, fossil fuels, like coal, petroleum and natural gases, wildlife, renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy etc. Prosperity of a nation is dependent on the natural resources available in the nation. Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources: There are nine important areas of energy resources and they come into two categories which are as follows:  Renewable Resources.  Non-Renewable Resources. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Renewable Resource  Renewable energy is energy which is generated from natural sources i.e. sun, wind, rain, tides and can be generated again and again as and when required.  They are available in plenty and by far most the cleanest sources of energy available on this planet.  Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Geothermal Energy, Biomass Energy from Plants, Tidal Energy is the examples of Renewable resources. In other words - renewable resources are the energy resources which come under them are geothermal energy, wind energy, solar energy, biomass, and hydro energy. These resources are provided by nature and it doesn’t take much time in their production. Non Renewable Resource From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 A non renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be re-made or regrown at a scale comparable to its consumption. Non-renewable sources are not environmental friendly and can have serious effect on our health. They are called non-renewable because they cannot be re-generated within a short span of time. Non-renewable sources exist in the form of fossil fuels, natural gas, oil and coal. The energy sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear and oil fall into nonrenewable resources as they are available in a finite quantity. This is because it takes much in furnishing a new supply of these resources. Types of Natural Resources: LAND RESOURCES Land may refer to: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  The part of the Earth that is not covered by water – Terrestrial ecoregion, an ecoregion based on soil instead of water.  Land (economics), a factor of production comprising all naturally occurring resources.  Real estate, a legal term for land, used in regard to ownership.  Real property, a legal term similar to real estate. As a synonym for a region belonging to a people:  Country  Nation  Motherland  Fatherland  Homeland. Land As a Resource- Uses of Land:  Agriculture & Horticulture  Housing  Roads & Railway Lines  Industries  Mining of Minerals  Holding Water  For Fodder, Cattle Grazing, Forest etc. Land Degradation: Farmland is under threat due to more and more intensive utilization. Every year, between 5 to 7 million hectares of land worldwide is added to the existing degraded farmland. The use of more and more chemical fertilizers poisons to the soil so that eventually the land becomes unproductive. As urban centers grow and industrial expansion occurs, the agricultural land and forest shrinks. This is a serious loss and long-term ill effect on the human civilization. Soil Erosion and Desertification:  Soil erosion: The characteristics of natural ecosystems such as forests and grasslands depend on the type of soil. Soils of various types support a wide variety of crops. The misuse of an ecosystem leads to loss of valuable soil through erosion by the monsoon rains and, to a smaller extent, by wind. The roots of the trees in the forest hold the soil. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Soil erosion is also considered as one kind of land degradation. DEFORESTATION It is process of removal of forest resources due to natural or manmade activities (i.e.) destruction of forests. Causes of Deforestation: 1. Developmental projects: Developmental projects causes deforestation through two ways.  Through submergence of forest area.  Destruction of forest area. Ex: big dams, hydroelectric projects, road construction etc. 2. Mining operations: It reduces forest areas. Ex: Mica, coal, Manganese and lime stone. 3. Raw materials for industries: Wood is an important raw material for various purposes. Ex: Making boxes, furniture and paper etc. 4. Fuel requirement: Wood is the important fuel for rural and tribal population. 5. Shifting cultivation: Replacement of natural forest ecosystem for mono specific tree plantation. Ex: Teak. 6. Forest fires: Forest fire destructs thousands of acres of forest. 7. Over grazing: Over grazing by cattle reduces the cultivation land. Consequences of Deforestation (or) Impacts of Deforestation: 1. Economic loss. 2. Loss of biodiversity. 3. Destructs the habitats of various species. 4. Reduction in stream flow. 5. Increases the rate of global warming. 6. Disruption of weather patterns and global climate. 7. Degradation of soil and acceleration of the rate of soil erosion. 8. Induces and accelerates mass movement / landslides. 9. Increases flood frequency, magnitude / severity. 10. Breaks the water cycle. 11. Breaks the nutrient cycle. MINING From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 The process of extracting mineral resources and fossil fuels like coal from the earth is called as mining. Types of mining: 1. Surface mining: Mining of minerals from shallow deposits. 2. Underground mining: Mining of minerals from deep deposits. Steps involved in mining: 1. Exploration. 2. Development. 3. Exploitation. 4. Ore processing. 5. Extraction and purification of minerals. The extent of damage by underground mining is more than that of surface mining, which needs enormous amount of land area for its operation and management. Effects of mining: 1. Pollute soil, water and air. 2. Destruction of natural habitat. 3. Continuous removal of minerals leads to the formation of trench where water is logged which contaminates the ground water. 4. Vibrations cause earth quakes. 5. Produces noise pollution 6. Reduces shape and size of the forest. 7. Increased risk of landslides. 8. Spoils the aesthetic beauty. DAMS Today there are more than 45,000 large dams around the world, which play an important role in communities and economies that harness these water resources for their economic development. Current estimates suggest some 30-40% of irrigated land worldwide relies on dams. Hydropower, another important the use of stored water, currently supplies 19% of the world’s total electric power supply and is used in over 150 countries. The world’s two most populous countries – China and India –have built around 57% of the world’s large dams. Dams Problems: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Dams are the massive artificial structures built across the rivers to store water for much beneficial purpose. Dams are considered a “Temples of modern India”. Dams destruct vast area of forest area. India has more than 1600 large dams. Effects of Dams on Forest: 1. Thousands of hectares of forest will be cleared. 2. Killing of wild animals and destruction of aquatic life. 3. Spreading of water borne diseases. 4. Water logging increases the salinity of the soil. Ex: Narmadha Sagar project it has submerged 3.5 lakhs hectares of forest. Effects of Dam on Tribal People: 1. Construction of big dams lead to the displacement of tribal people. 2. Displacement and cultural change affects the tribal people both mentally and physically. 3. They do not accommodate the modern food habits and life style. 4. Tribal people are ill treated by the modern society. 5. Many of the displaced people were not recognised and resettled or compensated. 6. Body condition of tribal people will not suit with new areas and hence they will be affected by many diseases. Case Study- Sardar Sarovar Project: The World Bank’s withdrawal from the Sardar Sarovar Project in India in 1993 was a result of the demands of local people threatened with the loss of their livelihoods and homes in the submergence area. This dam in Gujarat on the Narmada has displaced thousands of tribal folk, whose lives and livelihoods were linked to the river, the forests and their agricultural lands. While they and the fishermen at the estuary have lost their homeland, rich farmers downstream will get water for agriculture. The question is why should the local tribals be made homeless, displaced and relocated to benefit other people? Why should the less fortunate be made to bear the costs of development for better off farmers? It is a question of social and economic equity as well as the enormous environmental losses, including loss of the biological diversity of the inundated forests in the Narmada valley. WATER RESOURCES From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Water is known as LIFE.  Nearly 80% of body composition.  Water is a chemical substance, a liquid at ambient conditions, often co-exists on earth with its solid state i.e ice, and gaseous state i.e water vapor or steam. Properties: Universal solvent- so it can be nutrient carrier. High surface tension- so it can rise easily at great heights. Anomalous expansion- it freezes, it expands instead of contacting. The water resources are the water sources which are useful to all living organisms to exist. Water has distinct uses and some of them are as follows:  Agricultural  Industrial  Household  Environmental activities  Recreational. Human beings need fresh water for their requirements and only 2.7% of the water on the earth is in the form of fresh water bodies and in that also two third of it is in the form of polar ice caps and glaciers. Day by day the demand of water is increasing and it is expected to increase more in the future. The change in climate also furnishes a major impact on water resources because the climate and hydrological cycles are closely related to each other. Basic Facts:  World oceans cover about 3/4th of earth’s surface.  Fresh water constitutes a very small proportion of this enormous quantity.  About 2.7 % of the total water available on the earth is fresh water of which about 79 % lies frozen in Polar Regions and another 20% is present as ground water.  The rest is available in lakes, rivers, atmosphere, moisture, soil and vegetation. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Distribution of Population and Water Resources: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Water on the earth is in motion- The Hydrological Cycle: Sources of Water: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Water Ground Surface Ice Caps, Rain Water Water Glaciers Pond, Lake, Rivers, Aquifer Streams, Artificial Reservoirs Confined Unconfined Ground Water:  Water which percolates or infiltrates down in the ground  Huge source of fresh water.  Layer of sediment or rock that is highly permeable and contains water is an AQUIFER- Confined- Which are sandwiched between two impermeable layers of Rock/Sediments, recharged where it intersects the land surface and Unconfined aquifers- which are overlaid by permeable earth materials, recharged by water seeping down form surface. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Overutilization and Pollution of Surface and Ground Water: With the growth of human population there is an increasing need for larger amounts of water to fulfill a variety of basic needs. Today in many areas this requirement cannot be met. Overutilization of water occurs at various levels. Most people use more water than really needed. Most of us waste water during a bath by using shower or during washing of clothes. Many agriculturists use more water than necessary to grow crops. There are many ways in which farmers can use less water without reducing the yields such as the use of drip irrigation systems. Agriculture also pollutes surface water and underground water stores by the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Methods such as the use of biomass as fertilizers and non toxic pesticides such as neem products reduces the agricultural pollution of surface and ground water. Industry tends to maximise short-term economic gains by not bothering about its liquid waste and releasing it into the streams, rivers, sea. Floods:  Heavy Rainfall causes floods in low-lying areas coastal areas.  Prolonged downpour cause overflow of rivers, lakes leading to floods.  Anthropogenic Activities- Deforestation, overgrazing, mining, rapid industrialization.  It is very regular feature in some North Eastern Parts of India & Bangladesh. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Droughts:  When annual rainfall is below normal and less than evaporation, drought conditions are created.  Meteorological Phenomenon.  Anthropogenic Causes:Grazing, deforestation, mining.  Leads to desertification.  Proper crop plantation is a remedial measure. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Water Management: Building several small reservoirs instead of few mega projects. Develop few catchment dams. Afforestation permits recharging of underground water. Treatment and recycling municipal waste water for agricultural use. Preventing leakages from dams and canals. Preventing loss in municipal pipes. Effective rain water harvesting in urban environments. Water conservation measures in agriculture such as using drip irrigation. Pricing the water at its real value makes people use it more responsibly and efficiently and reduce the water wasting. Water Conflicts: Conflict through use: Unequal distribution of water led to interstate and international disputes. National conflicts: a. Sharing of Cauvery water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. b. Sharing of Krishna water between Karnataka and Andra Pradesh. c. Siruvani – Tamil Nadu and Kerala. International conflicts: Indus – India and Pakistan & Colorado River – Mexico and USA From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 ENERGY RESOURCES Energy (from the Greek- energeia, "activity, operation", from- energos, "active, working “is a scalar physical quantity that is an attribute of objects and systems that is conserved in nature. In physics textbooks, energy is often defined as the ability to do work or to cause change. Forms of Energy: Several different forms of energy exist to explain all known natural phenomena. These forms include:  Kinetic  Potential  Thermal  Gravitational  Sound  Light  Electromagnetic. Renewable Resource: Renewable energy is energy which is generated from natural sources i.e. sun, wind, rain, tides and can be generated again and again a sand when required. They are available in plenty and by far most the cleanest sources of energy available on this planet. Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Geothermal Energy, Biomass Energy from Plants, Tidal Energy are the examples of Renewable resources. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Types of Renewable Energy Resources: 1. Solar energy: Nuclear fusion reaction of sun produces enormous amount of energy. Several techniques are available for collecting, storing and using solar energy. a. Solar cell (or) Photovoltaic cell (or) PV cell. b. Solar battery. c. Solar water heater. 2. Wind energy: Moving air is called wind. The energy recovered from the force of the wind is called wind energy. Its speed is high. 3. Ocean energy: Tidal energy (or) Tidal power: Ocean tides are due to gravitational force of sun and moon which produce enormous amount of energy. High tides – rise of water in the ocean. Low tides – fall of water in the ocean. Tidal energy can be used by constructing a tidal barrage. During high tides sea water enters into the reservoirs and rotates the turbine, produce electricity. During low tides water from reservoir enters into the sea rotate the turbine produce electricity. 4. Geo thermal energy: Temperature of the earth increases at a of 20 –750C per/km when we move down the earth. The energy utilised from the high temperature present inside the earth is called geothermal energy. 5. Bio mass energy: Bio mass: Organic matter produced by plants or animals used as source of energy Bio gas: Mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Methane is the major constituent. It is obtained by anerobic fermentation of animal dung (or) plant wastes in the presence of water. Non Renewable Resource: A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be re-made or re grown at a scale comparable to its consumption. Non-renewable sources are not environmentally friendly and can have serious effect on our health. They are called non-renewable because they cannot be re-generated within a short span of time. Non-renewable sources exist in the form of fossil fuels, natural gas, oil and coal. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Types of Non-Renewable Energy Resources: 1. Coal: It is a solid fossil fuel. Disadvantages: 1. When coal is burnt large amount of CO2 is released which causes global warming. 2. Produces toxic gases during burning. 2. Petroleum: Crude oil is a liquid consists of more than hundreds of hydrocarbons and small amount of impurities. The petroleum can be refined by fractional distillation. In the world level 25% of oil reserves are in Saudi Arabia. At present rate of usage, the world crude oil reserves are expected to get exhausted in just 40 years. 3. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG): Petroleum gases obtained during FD and cracking can be easily converted into liquid under high pressure as LPG. It is colorless and odorless gas, but during cylindering mercaptans are added to detect leakage. 4. Natural gas: These are found above oil in oil wells. It is a mixture of methane and other hydrocarbons. Calorific value is high. There are two types. Dry gas and wet gas. 5. Nuclear energy: Dr.H.Bhabha is a father of nuclear power development in India. 10nuclear reactors are present in India. It produces 2% of India’s electricity. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION SYNOPSIS:  Biodiversity and Conservation: Levels of Biological Diversity: Genetic, species and ecosystem diversity; Biogeographic zones of India; Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hotspots. India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Endangered and endemic species of India.  Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, biological invasions; Conservation of Biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.  Ecosystem and Biodiversity Services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value. Meaning & Definition: Biodiversity is a neologism from Bioand Diversity. Diversity means different kinds of objects, such as species. Biodiversityis the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, or for the entire Earth. “It is a measure of the relative diversity among organisms present in different ecosystems”. Biologists most often define "biological diversity" or "biodiversity" as the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region". Features of Biodiversity: “Biological Diversity" - This term was used first by wildlife scientist and conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann. It was coined by Thomas Lovejoy in 1980. In 1986 the term ‘Biological Diversity’ replaced with “Biodiversity”. The biodiversity found on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species, which is the product of nearly 3.5 billion years of evolution. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Types or Kinds: [Levels of biological diversity] Genetic Biodiversity: It means the variation of genes within a species. A species can have varieties & each variety has its own genes or genetic makeup. Species Biodiversity: It means variety of species within a region. Ecosystem Biodiversity: It refers to variety of ecosystems in a particular region. It refers to the variations among the genetic resources of the organisms. Every individual of a particular species differs from each other in their genetic constitution. That is why every human looks different from each other. Similarly, there are different varieties in the same species of rice, wheat, maize, barley, etc. Species diversity refers to the variety of different types of species found in a particular area. It is the biodiversity at the most basic level. It includes all the species ranging from plants to different microorganisms. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 No two individuals of the same species are exactly similar. For example, humans show a lot of diversity among themselves. An ecosystem is a collection of living and non-living organisms and their interaction with each other. Ecological biodiversity refers to the variations in the plant and animal species living together and connected by food chains and food webs. It is the diversity observed among the different ecosystems in a region. Diversity in different ecosystems like deserts, rainforests, mangroves, etc., includes ecological diversity. Functions of Biodiversity: Two main functions of biodiversity are- 1. It is the source on which the entire human species depends on for food, fibre, shelter, fuel and medicine. 2. It depends on biosphere which in turn leads to stability in climate, water, soil, air and overall health of biosphere. Biogeographic Regions of India: India is a mega diverse country. With only 2.4 per cent of the total land area of the world, the known biological diversity of India contributes 8 per cent to the known global biological diversity. In terms of Biogeography, India has been divided into 10 biogeographic zones as shown in the below chart: India has been divided into ten recognizable biogeographic zones as follows: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Biodiversity Pattern in Species: Biodiversity is the variety observed in organisms at every level of biological organization. As ecologists studied biodiversity in the environment, they observed a regular pattern in which diversity was distributed over the entire area of the planet. Ecologists discovered two broad kinds of diversity patterns, namely:  Latitudinal gradient&  Species-area relationship. Global Biodiversity Hotspots: Hotspots of biodiversity refer to bio-geographic regions where significant levels of biodiversity with richness and unusual concentration of endemic species are found, however, they are threatened with mindless exploitation and destruction. A biodiversity is termed as a hotspot if −  It has at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemic.  It must be threatened or under threat of destruction to a considerable extent. Across the world, about 35 areas are marked as hotspots of biodiversity and they represent 2.3 percent of the Earth’s land surface but they support more than half of the world’s endemic plant species and almost half of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians as endemic. List of Biodiversity Hotspots in the World  North and Central America − California Floristic Province, Madrean pine-oak woodlands, Mesoamerica.  The Caribbean − Caribbean Islands.  South America − Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests, Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena, Tropical Andes.  Europe − Mediterranean Basin.  Africa − Cape Floristic Region, Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa, Eastern Afromontane, Guinean Forests of West Africa; Horn of Africa; Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands; Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany; Succulent Karoo. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  Central Asia − Mountains of Central Asia.  South Asia − Eastern Himalaya, Nepal; Indo-Burma, India and Myanmar; Western Ghats, India; Sri Lanka.  South East Asia and Asia-Pacific − East Melanesian Islands; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Philippines; Polynesia-Micronesia; Southwest Australia; Sundaland; Wallacea.  East Asia − Japan; Mountains of Southwest China.  West Asia − Caucasus; Irano-Anatolian. About 1.8 million species are known to mankind at present. Scientists, however, have estimated that the number of species of plants and animals on the earth can go up to 20 billion. It means a majority of species still remain undiscovered. India as a Mega Diversity Region: A mega diversity region or country is one that harbors majority of the Earth’s species and is therefore considered extremely bio-diverse. India is rich in biodiversity from north to south and from east to west. Geological events in the landmass of India, different climatic regions across the country and its special geographical position between a couple of distinct biological evolution and radiation of species are responsible for India’s rich and varied biodiversity. India is one among the top 10 countries with rich biodiversity and one among the 12 Mega biodiversity regions in the world. Around 18 biosphere reserves have been set up in India. India is home to 350 different mammals (rated highest in the world), 1, 200 species of birds, 453 species of reptiles and 45, 000 plant species. India is home to 50, 000 known species of insects, that include 13, 000 butterflies and moths. It is estimated that the number of unnamed species could be much higher than the existing number. More than 18 percent of Indian plants are endemic (native to a particular region) to the country and found nowhere else in the world. India has 27 indigenous breeds of cattle, 40 breeds of sheep, 22 breeds of goats and 8 breeds of buffaloes. Among the amphibians found in India, 62 percent are unique to this country. High endemism has also been recorded in various flowering plants, insects, marine worms, centipedes, mayflies, and fresh water sponges. Apart of noticeable diversity in Indian wild plants and animals, there is also a great diversity of cultivated crops and breeds of domestic livestock. The traditional cultivars (a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding) include about 50,000 varieties of rice and From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 a number of cereals, vegetables, and fruits. The highest diversity of cultivars is found concentrated in the high rainfall areas of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Northern Himalayas. and North-Eastern hills. Biodiversity is a paramount factor for the survival of the living world in general and mankind in particular. The fewer species (animals and plants) we have, the fewer people we will have on the earth. During the last few decades, loss of biodiversity is on the rise. Endangered & Endemic Species in India: Endemism refers to the phenomenon in which certain plant and animal species are only found in a specific region of the world. What is Endemic Species? Endemic species are those that are found in just one region and nowhere else in the world. For example, kangaroos are originally endemic to Australia and are found nowhere else in the world. The cases where they have been spotted outside their natural habitat is due to humans introducing them when the animal was in captivity. There are also other marsupials that are endemic only to Australia and its surrounding islands. The Tasmanian Tiger is one such animal that was endemic to Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. But now, it is extinct. “Endemic species is that ecological state of a species where a species is unique to a defined geographical location.” Endemic Species of India A list of the endemic species of India is mentioned below:  Asiatic Lion, Gir Forest Asiatic Lion is also known as the Indian Lion and can be only found in and around Gir Forest National Park of Gujarat. These are listed as endangered species. These are one of the five big cats found in India, the others being Indian Leopards and Bengal Tigers.  Kashmir Stag, Kashmir Valley Also known as Hangul, the Kashmir Stag is found in the dense forests of Dachigum National Park, Kashmir Valley and Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh.  Lion-Tailed Macaque, Western Ghats It is the rarest, most threatened and endangered primate species found only in the Western Ghats of Southern India.  Purple Frog, Western Ghats The purple frog, also known as the Pignose frog, is only found in the rainforests of western ghats in India. It spends most of its life underground.  Sangai Deer, Loktak Lake From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 It is also known as Brow Antlered Deer exclusively found in KeibulLamjao National Park of Manipur. This park is a marshy wetland located in the southern parts of Loktak lake.  Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Hills It is a wild sheep species, endangered and endemic to the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats. Other endemic species of India include:  Pygmy Hog, Assam.  Bronzeback Vine Snake, Western Ghats.  Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Hills.  Malabar Civet, Western Ghats.  Anaimalai Gliding Frog, Anaimalai Hills.  Namdapha Flying Squirrel, Arunachal Pradesh.  Indian Giant Squirrel.  Bonnet Macaque. Threats to Biodiversity:  Any disturbance in a natural ecosystem tends to reduce its biodiversity.  Waste generated due to increase in human population and industrialization spoils the environment and leads to decreased diversity in biological species.  Any change in the system leads to a major imbalance and threatens the normal ecological cycle. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Causes for Loss of Biodiversity: 1. Habitat loss. 2. Poaching of wildlife and 3. Man-wildlife conflicts. 1. Habitat loss: The loss of populations of interbreeding organisms is caused by habitat loss. Factors influencing habitat loss are: a. Deforestation: Loss of habitat is mainly caused by deforestation activities. Forests and grasslands are cleared for conversion into agriculture lands or settlement areas or developmental projects. Forests and grasslands are natural home to thousands of species which disintegrate due to loss of their natural habitat. b. Destruction of wetlands: Wetlands, estuaries and mangroves are destroyed due to farming, filling and pollution that cause loss of biodiversity c. Habitat fragmentation: When the habitat is divided into small and scattered patches the phenomenon is called habitat fragmentation. This leads to the disappearance of most wildlife d. Raw material: To produce hybrid seeds, wild plants are used as raw materials leading to extinction of many wild plant species. e. Production of drugs: Pharmaceutical companies collect wild plants for the production of drugs leading to extinction of several medicinal plant species. f. Illegal trade: Illegal trade of wildlife reduces biodiversity leading to habitat loss g. Developmental activities: Construction of dams in forest areas coupled with the discharge of industrial effluents kills birds and other aquatic life. 2. Poaching of wildlife: Poaching refers to killing animals or commercial hunting. It contributes to loss of biodiversity. Poaching can be of two types listed below: 1. Subsistence poaching: This refers to killing animals for survival. 2. Commercial poaching: This refers to hunting animals in order to sell their products. Factors influencing poaching: 1. Human population: Increased human population in India has led to pressure on forest resources, leading to degradation of wildlife habitats 2. Commercial activities: Although a ban has been imposed internationally on the trade of products of endangered species, there is a continued smuggling of wildlife products. 3. Man-Wildlife Conflicts: Man-wildlife conflicts arise, when wildlife starts causing immense damage and danger to man. Under such conditions it is very difficult for the forest department officials to convince the affected villagers to gain the villagers support for wildlife conservation. Ex: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 1. In Sambalpur, Orissa, several people were killed by elephants. In retaliation, the villagers killed and injured several elephants. 2. In Mysore, elephants were killed by farmers in retaliation to the damage done by elephants to their cotton and sugarcane fields. 3. Villagers sometimes hide explosives in their fields to ward-off animals which explode when the elephants enter the fields 4. Several people were killed when leopards attacked them in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai Factors influencing man-animal conflicts: 1. Shrinking Forest cover compels wildlife to move outside the forest 2. Human encroachment into forest area induces a man-wildlife conflict 3. Injured animals have a tendency to attack man 4. Wild animals venture out of the forest area in search of food 5. Villagers set-up electric wiring around their fields. This injures animals (Elephants) who suffer pain and get violent. 6. Cash compensation paid by the government is not enough. 7. Garbage near human settlements or food crops attracts wild animals. Conservation of Biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity: Need for Biodiversity: 1. It provides recreation and tourism. 2. Drugs, herbs, food and other important raw materials are derived from plants and animals. 3. It preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals. 4. It ensures sustainable utilization of life supporting systems on earth. 5. It needs to conservation of essential ecological diversity and life supporting systems 6. Loss of biodiversity leads to ecological and environmental deterioration. Measures: The following measures should be taken to conserve biodiversity - 1. Illegal hunting and trade of animals and animal products should be stopped immediately. 2. People-at-large should boycott purchasing coats, purse or bags made of animal skin. 3. Bio-diversity laws should be strengthened. 4. Adequate crop and cattle compensation schemes must be started. 5. Solar powered fencing must be provided with electric current proof trenches to prevent animals from entering fields. 6. Cropping pattern should be changed near the forest borders. 7. Adequate food and water should be made available for wild animals within forest zones. 8. Development and construction work in and around forest region must be stopped. Types of Conservation: There are two types of biodiversity conservation: From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 1. In-situ conservation and 2. Ex-situ conservation. 1. IN-SITU CONSERVATION In-situ conservation involves protection of flora and fauna within its natural habitat. The natural habitats or ecosystems under in-situ conservation are called "protected areas". a. Biosphere reserves. b. National parks. c. Wildlife sanctuaries. d. Gene sanctuaries. Other projects for the conservation of animals are Project Tiger, Gir Lion Project, Crocodile breeding project, project elephant etc. Advantages of in-situ conservation i. It is cheap and convenient. ii. Species get adjusted to natural disasters like drought, floods, forest fires etc. Disadvantages of in-situ conservation i. A large surface area of earth is required to preserve biodiversity. ii. Maintenance is not proper due to shortage of staff and pollution. 2. EX-SITU CONSERVATION Ex-situ conservation involves protection of flora and fauna outside their natural habitats. This type of conservation is mainly done for conservation of crop varieties and wild relatives of crops. 1. Ex-situ conservation involves maintenance and breeding of endangered plant and animal species under controlled conditions. 2. It identifies those species that are at a high risk of extinction. 3. It prefers species that are important for man in the near future among the endangered species. Methods of ex-situ conservation  National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NPBGR) It is located in New Delhi and uses the Cryopreservation Technique to preserve agricultural and horticultural crops. Cryopreservation technique involves using liquid nitrogen at -196 C. Varieties of rice, turnip, radish, tomato, onion, carrot, chilli, tobacco have been successfully preserved for years using this technique.  National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NPAGR) It is located in Karnal, Haryana and preserves the semen of domesticated bovine animals. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1  National Facility for Plant Tissue Culture Repository (NFPTCR) In this facility, conservation of varieties of crop plants or trees is done using tissue culture. This facility has been created within the NPBGR. Advantages of Ex-situ conservation  1. Survival of endangered species is increasing due to special care and attention.  2. In captive breeding the animals are assured of food, water, shelter and security thereby have a longer life span.  3. It is carried-out in cases of endangered species that do not have any chance of survival in the wild. Disadvantages of Ex-situ conservation  1. It is an expensive method.  2. Freedom of wildlife is lost.  3. Animals cannot survive in the natural environment. Ecosystem and Biodiversity Services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value Ecology, Ecosystem and Biodiversity: Ecology is defined as the study of interrelationship of different organisms with each other and with their environment. Ecosystem refers to the system resulting from the interaction of all the living and nonliving factors of the Environment. There are many examples of ecosystems a pond, a forest, an estuary, a grassland. Various types of Ecosystems. Biodiversity is the biological variety and variability of life on Earth It includes diversity within and among species and ecosystems. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic species and ecosystem level. Ecosystem Service: Ecosystem services are the many and varied benefits to humans provided by the natural environment and from healthy ecosystems. Ecosystems and human wellbeing: a framework for assessment. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2003, World Resources Institute, identified four major categories of ecosystem services: 1.Provisioning services 2.Regulating services 3.Cultural services From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 4.Supporting services. Changes in biodiversity can influence the supply of ecosystem services. Biodiversity, as with ecosystem services, must be protected and sustainably managed. 1. Provisioning Services - Provisioning services are the material benefits people get from ecosystems and nature. Fruits, vegetables, trees, fish, and livestock are available to us as direct products of ecosystems. Along with food, other types of provisioning services include drinking water, timber, wood fuel, natural gas, oils, plants that can be made into clothes and other materials, biochemicals, genetic resources and medicinal benefits. 2. Regulating Services - Regulating services are the benefits provided by ecosystem processes that moderate natural phenomena that make life possible for people. Regulating services include decomposition, air and water purification, erosion and flood control, and carbon storage, pollination climate regulation, and disease regulation. Plants clean air and filter water, bacteria decompose wastes, bees pollinate flowers, and tree roots hold soil in place to prevent erosion. All these processes work together to make ecosystems clean, sustainable, functional, and resilient to change. 3. Cultural Services - Cultural services are non-material benefits people gain from ecosystems. contributes to the development and cultural advancement of people, including how ecosystems play a role in local, national, and global cultures; They include recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, physical and mental health benefits, spiritual experiences, educational, sense of place, cultural heritage. It has guided our cultural, intellectual, and social development by being a constant force present in our lives. 4. Supporting Services - Supporting services are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Ecosystems themselves couldn't be sustained without the consistency of underlying natural processes (e.g., Photosynthesis, soil formation, nutrient cycling, water cycle, primary production. These processes allow the Earth to sustain basic life forms, let alone whole ecosystems and people. Without supporting services, provisional, regulating, and cultural services wouldn't exist. Values of Biodiversity: The values of Biodiversity can be divided as: Direct values. Indirect values. Direct Values - Direct values, also known as use values and commodity values, are assigned to the products harvested by people. These values can be further sub divided as: a) Consumptive use value: It can be assigned to goods such as fuel, wood and goods that are consumed locally and do not figure in national and international market. b) Productive use value: It is assigned to products that are derived from the wild and sold in commercial markets, both national as well as international markets. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari. SMDC - Unit – 1 Indirect values - Indirect values are assigned to benefits provided by biodiversity that do not involve harvesting or destroying the natural resource. Such benefits include ecological benefits such as soil formation, nutrient cycling, waste disposal, air and water purification, education, recreation, etc. Indirect value can be further sub divided as: a) Non consumptive use value. b) Aesthetic, social and cultural value. d) Ethical value. a) Non consumptive use value: It is assigned to benefits such as soil formation/ protection, climate regulation, waste disposal, water and air purification, eco-tourism, medical research, etc. b) Aesthetic, social and cultural value: The diversity of life on Earth brings us many aesthetic and cultural benefits. It adds to the quality of life, providing some of the most beautiful and appealing aspects of our existence. c) Ethical Values:  Ethical values are also sometimes known as existence value.  It involves ethical issues like “all life must be preserved” and the concept of “Live and let live”.  If humans consider species have a right to exist, they cannot cause voluntarily their extinction. Besides, biodiversity is also part of many cultures of spiritual heritage. From the desk of R H GURUPRASAD BABU., MBA, MPHIL, NET, MCOM. Asst. Prof. - Dept. of Commerce & Management Shree Medha Degree College, Fort, Ballari.