1. Define the term producer and consumers.

(i) Producer synthesizes their food themselves through

photosynthesis.
(ii) Consumers are organisms which cannot prepare their
own food and depends directly or indirectly on the
producer.
2. What is biodiversity? What is its significance?
Biodiversity is “the variety and variability among all groups
of living organism’s ad the ecosystem in which they occur”.

Significance:
❖ It is very important for human life, as we depend on plants
and animals for our food and medicine, etc.
❖ It protects the fresh air, clean water and land. Loss of
biodiversity has serious economic loss.
3. What is ecosystem?
A group of organisms interacting among themselves and
with environment is known as ecosystem. It is community of
different species interacting with one another and with their non-
living environment exchange energy and matter.
4. (a) Discuss about the threats to biodiversity. (or) Various
threats to biodiversity (or) causes for loss of biodiversity
1. Habitat loss:
• The loss of populations of interbreeding organisms is
caused by habitat loss.
• Habitat loss threatened a wide range of animals and plants.
Factors influencing habitat loss:
A. Deforestation:
The loss of habitat is mainly caused by deforestation activities.
The forest and grasslands are the natural homes of thousands of
species, which disintegrate due to loss of their natural habitat.
B. Raw materials:
For the production of hybrid seeds, the wild plants are used
as raw materials as a result many plants species become extinct.
C. Production of drugs:
Many pharmaceutical companies collect wild plant for the production of
drugs. Therefore, several medicinal plant species are on the verge of
extinction.
D. Illegal trade:
Illegal trade on wild life also reduces the bio-diversity and
leads to habitat loss.
E. Developmental activities
Construction of dams and hydroelectric projects.

2. Poaching (hunting) of wild life:

❖ Poaching means killing of animals or commercial hunting.
It leads to loss of animal biodiversity.
Factors Influencing Poaching:
1 Human Population:
❖ Increased human population in our country has lead to
pressure on forest resources which ultimately causes
degradation of wild life habitats.
2. Commercial Activities:
❖ Though international ban on trading the products of
endangered species smuggling of wild life products
continues.
Wild Life Products: Furs, horns tasks live
specimens’ herbal products.
3. Man- Wild Life Conflicts:
❖ Man- wild life conflicts arise, when wild life starts causing
immense damage and danger to the man.
Examples:
❖ Very recently, two men were killed by leopards in Powai,
Mumbai.
❖ A total of 14 persons were killed during 19 attacks by the
leopards in Sanjay Gandhi national park, Mumbai.
 Factors Influencing Man-Animals Conflicts
❖ Shrinking of forest cover compels wildlife to move outside
the forest and attack the fields and humans.
❖ Human encroachment into the forest area induces a
conflict between the man and wildlife
❖ Garbage near human settlements or food crops near forest
areas attracts wild animals.
❖ Villagers put electrical fence around crops
❖ Cash compensation paid by government is very less.

Remedial Measures
❖ Cropping pattern should be changed near the forest
borders
❖ Adequate food and water should be made available for the
wild animals within forest zones.
❖ Solar fences can be increased.
❖ Developmental projects inside forest should be stopped.
5. Discuss the values of Bio-diversity.

Value of biodiversity
The value of biodiversity in terms of its commercial
utility, ecological services, s o c i a l and aesthetic value is
enormous.
i) Consumptive use value: These are direct use values where the
biodiversity product can be harvested and
consumed directly e.g., fuel, food, drugs, fiber etc.
Food: About 90% of present-day food crops have been
domesticated from wild tropical plants. A large number of wild
animals are also our sources of food.
Drugs and medicines:
i) The wonder drug penicillin used as an antibiotic is
derived from a fungus called penicillium.
ii) Likewise, we get Tetracycline from a bacterium. Quinine,
the cure for malaria is obtained from the bark of Cinchona tree,
while Digitalin is obtained from foxglove which is an effective cure
for heart ailments.
(i) Productive use values:
a. These may include the animal products like tusks of
elephants, musk from musk deer, silk from silk-
worm, wool from sheep, etc., all of which are traded
in the market.
b. Many industries are dependent upon the productive
use values of biodiversity
Ex. the paper and pulp industry, plywood industry,
railway sleeper industry, silk industry, ivory- works,
leather industry, pearl industry etc.
(ii) Social value:
a. Many of the plants are considered holy and sacred
in our country like Tulsi, Mango, and Lotus etc.
b. The leaves, fruits or flowers of these plants are used
in worship or the plant itself is worshipped.
c. Many animals like Cow, Snake, and Peacock also
have significant place in our psycho-spiritual arena.
(iii) Ethical value:
a. The ethical value means that we may or may not use
a species, but knowing the very fact that this species
exists in nature gives us pleasure.
b. We are not deriving anything direct from Kangaroo,
Zebra or Giraffe, but we all strongly feel that these
species should exist in nature.
(iv) Aesthetic value:
a. Ecotourism is estimated to generate about 12 billion
dollars of revenue annually.
(v) Option values:
a. There is a possibility that we may have some
potential cure for AIDS or cancer with in the depths
 of a marine ecosystem or a tropical rain forest.

6. Salient Features of international Conventions on Environment:

Montreal Protocol, Kyoto Protocol, Ramsar Conventions on
wetlands, Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants,
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCC).
7. What are renewable resources? Give examples
These resources are capable of being regenerated by
ecological processes within a reasonable time period. They have
the potential to renew themselves
Examples: Soil, water, wind energy, solar energy, etc.,
8. What is overgrazing?
Overgrazing is a process of eating away the forest
vegetation without giving it a chance to regenerate.
9. State the problems caused by the construction of dam.
(i) Displacement of tribal people
(ii) Loss of forest, flora and fauna
(iii) Landslips, sedimentation and siltation occurs
(iv) Stagnation and water logging around reservoirs
retards plant growth.
(v) Breeding of vectors and spread of vector-borne
diseases.
10. What is deforestation? What are the causes for
deforestation?
Deforestation is the process of removal of forest resources
due to many natural and man-made activities. In general
deforestation means destruction of forests.
Cause
(i) Developmental project leads to destruction of forest
(ii) Mining has a serious impact on forest areas.
(iii) Forest fires is one of the major causes of
deforestation
 (iv) Fuel requirement
(v) Wood is the important raw material for so many purpose
11. (b) Discuss about the environmental degradation due to
mineral resources in detail.
Mineral Resources
Minerals:
(i) Minerals are naturally occurring substances having
definite chemical composition and physical properties.

Impacts of Extracting Mineral Resources:

Mining:
Mining is the process of extraction of metals from
a mineral deposit.

Types of Mining:
1. Surface Mining:
It is the process of extracting minerals from
shallow depth of the earth.
2. Underground mining:
It is the process of extracting minerals from deep
depth of the earth.
Environmental damage:
1. Devegetation and defacing of landscape:
❖ The top soil as well as the vegetation are removed
from the mining area.
❖ Devegetation leads to several ecological losses

2. Ground Water Contamination

❖ Mining pollutes the ground water.
❖ Usually, sulphur present as an impurity in many
ores, gets converted into sulphuric acid due to
microbial action and converted into sulphuric acid.
 3. Surface water pollution:
❖ The drainage of acid mine often contaminates the n
earby streams and lakes.
❖ It kills many aquatic animals.
4. Air pollution:
❖ Smelting and roasting are done to purify the metals,
which emits enormous amounts of air pollutants
damaging the nearby vegetation.
5. Subsidence of land:
❖ It is mainly associated with underground mining.
❖ Subsidence of mining area results in cracks in
houses
Impacts of mining:
➢ Destruction of natural habitat of many florae fauna in
forests
➢ Over exploitation of mineral resources leads to wastage
and dissemination of mineral deposits.
➢ It causes noise pollution.
➢ During mining vibrations occur in earth which may lead to
earth quakes in severe cases.
➢ It reduces the shape of forests.
➢ It pollutes water bodies in nearby areas.
Migration of tribal people.

12. What do you mean by natural resources? Give examples.

Natural resources are the sources which are useful to man

or can be transformed into a useful product. They are classified into
2 types.

(i) Renewable resources

(ii) Non-renewable resources.
13. Write the causes and effects of land (soil) degradation.

Effects:

(1) The soil structure and texture are deteriorated.

(2) Loss of soil fertility
(3) Increase in water logging, salinity, alkalinity and
acidity problems
(4) Loss of economic, social and biodiversity

Causes:

1. Population: Due to increase in population more pressure on

limited land resources for food, fiber and fuel wood

2. Urbanization: The increased urbanization leads to decrease in

agricultural lands.
3. Fertilizers and pesticides: Increased use of fertilizers and
pesticides lead to land degradation, soil pollution and water
pollution.

4. Damage of Top Soil: Increase in food production generally

leads to damage of top soil through nutrient depletion.

5. Water-logging, soil erosion, salinity etc. leads to land

degradation.

14. Explain in detail about causes, effects and control measures

of soil erosion.

Soil erosion is the process of removal of superficial layer

of the soil from one place to another.
Types of soil erosion

(i) Normal erosion: It is caused by the gradual removal of

top soil by natural process.
(ii) Accelerated soil erosion: It is mainly caused by
manmade activities

Harmful effects of soil erosion:

• Soil fertility is lost
• Loss of ability of soil to hold water and sediments.
• Sediment runoff can pollute water and kill aquatic life.

Causes of Soil erosion:

(i) Water: It affects soil in form of rain, runoff etc.,

(ii) Wind: It carries away the fine particles of soil
(iii) Biotic agents: Over grazing, mining and
deforestation are the major causes for soil
erosion.
(iv) Land Slides: It also causes soil erosion.
(v) Construction: Construction of dams, buildings,
roads remove the protective vegetal cover and
leads to soil erosion.

Control of Soil erosion

1. Conservational or till farming: In this method

the tilling machine makes slits in
the un ploughed soil and inject seeds, fertilizers and
water in the silt.
2. Contour Farming: It involves planting crops in
rows across the contour of gently
sloped land. Each row act as a small dam to hold
soil and to slow water runoff.
 3. Terracing: It involves conversion of steep slopes
into series of broad terraces,
which run across the contour. This retains water for
crops and reduces soil erosion.
4. Alley Cropping (or) Agro Forestry: It involves
planting crops in strips or alleys
between rows of trees of shrubs, that can provide
fruits and fuel wood. Even after crops are harvested
the soil will not erode because trees and shrubs still
remain
on the soil and hold the soil.
5. Wind Breaks (or) Shelter breaks: the trees are
planted long rows along the
boundary of cultivated lands reduces soil erosion.

15. What is desertification? Give two reasons for it.

It is a progressive destruction or degradation of arid or semi-arid lands to
desert.
Reasons: 1. Deforestation 2. Overgrazing 3. Mining & quarrying.

16. Describe in briefly the type’s, function and uses of forest.

FOREST RESOURCES Forests are one of the most important renewable

natural resources on the earth. It covers one-third of the world’s land surface.
TYPES OF FORESTS: major types. They are According to the type of
vegetation; forests are classified into three
1. Evergreen forests,
2. Deciduous forests,
3. Coniferous forests

1. EVERGREEN FORESTS: This forest consists of trees that retain green foliage
throughout the year. They are found in equatorial regions, where the rainfall is
heavy. Ex: The silent valley in Kerala.
2. DECIDUOUS FORESTS: These forests are of two types.

TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FORESTS:

 • They are found in tropical monsoon.
• They shed their leaves during summer season.

TEMPERATURE DECIDUOUS FORESTS:

• They shed their leaves during winter season.
3. CONIFEROUS FORESTS: These forests consist of trees with needled type trees
which preserve moisture.

FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS:
Habitat to millions of plants and animals,
Recycle rainwater and remove pollutants,
Control water quality and quantity,
Moderate temperature and climate, Prevent soil erosion,
Promote tourism and aesthetic value.

USES (OR) BENEFITS OF FORESTS:

COMMERCIAL USES
Forests provide timber, fire wood, food material, resin, gum, non-edible oil,
drugs, medicine, rubber, fibers, bamboo, honey, hides, etc.

ECOLOGICAL USES:

Production of Oxygen,
Reducing Global Warming,
Wild life habitat,
Regulation of hydrological cycle,
Soil conservation,
Pollution moderators.

17. Explain in detail about water shed management.

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT (WSM)

WATERSHED (OR) DRAINAGE BASIN:

Watershed is defined as the land area from which water drains under the
influence of gravity into a stream, lake, reservoir or other body of surface water.
 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT:
The management of rainfall and resultant runoff is called watershed
management.

FACTORS AFFECTING WATERSHED:

• The watersheds are found to be degraded due to uncontrolled land use
activities.
• Overgrazing, deforestation, mining, construction activities also affect
watersheds.
• Droughty climates also affect watershed.

NEED FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT:

• To minimize the risk of floods, droughts and landslides.
• To develop the rural areas for improving the economy of the region.
• To protect the soil from erosion by runoff.
• To raise the groundwater level.
• To generate huge employment opportunities in the backward rain-fed
areas.

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES:

1. TRENCHES (Pits): Trenches were dug at equal intervals to improve

groundwater storage.
2. EARTHERN DAM or STONE EMBANKMENT: To check the run-off water,
earthen dam must be constructed in the catchment area.
3. FARM POND: A farm pond can be built to improve water storage capacity of
the catchment area.
4. UNDERGROUND BARRIERS (Dykes): Underground barriers should be
built along the mullahs to raise the water table.

MAINTANCE OF WATERSHED:

1. Water harvesting: Proper storage of water in watershed is done and the water
can be used in dry seasons in low rainfall areas.
2. Afforestation and Agroforestry: Afforestation and Agroforestry help to
prevent soil erosion and retention of moisture in watershed areas.
3. Reducing soil erosion: Terracing, bounding, contour cropping, strip cropping
etc., are used to minimize soil erosion.
 4. Scientific mining and quarrying: Due to improper mining, the stability of the
hills get disturbed resulting in landslides and rapid soil erosion.
5. Public participation: People must be motivated for protecting a freshly planted
area and maintaining a water harvesting structure, implemented by the government.
6. Minimizing livestock population: Livestock population, present in the
surrounding villages of the watershed should be reduced.

18. Discuss about the environmental degradation due to mineral

resources in detail.

MINERAL RESOURCES

MINERALS: Minerals are naturally occurring substances having definite

chemical composition and physical properties.

IMPACTS OF EXTRACTING MINERAL RESOURCES:

MINING: Mining is the process of extraction of metals from a mineral

deposit.

TYPES OF MINING:

SURFACE MINING: It is the process of extracting minerals from shallow

depth of the earth.

UNDERGROUND MINING: It is the process of extracting minerals from

deep depth of the earth.

ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE:
1. DEVEGETATION AND DEFACING OF LANDSCAPE: The top soil as
well as the vegetation are removed from the mining area. Devegetation leads
to several ecological losses

2. GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION:

• Mining pollutes the ground water.

• Usually, Sulphur present as an impurity in many ores, gets converted
 into sulphuric acid due to microbial action and converted into
sulphuric acid.
3.SURFACE WATER POLLUTION:

• The drainage of acid mine often contaminates then ear by streams and
lakes.
• It kills many aquatic animals.

4. AIR POLLUTION:
• Smelting and roasting are done to purify the metals, which emits
enormous amounts of air pollutants damaging the nearby vegetation. 5.

5. SUBSIDENCE OF LAND:

• It is mainly associated with underground mining.

• Subsidence of mining area results in cracks in houses.

EFFECTS OF OVER EXPLOITATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES:

• Rapid depletion of mineral deposits.

• Over exploitation of mineral resources leads to wastage and
dissemination of mineral deposits.
• It causes environmental pollution.
• It needs heavy energy requirement.

19. What is biodiversity hot-spot? Give examples.

The hot spots are the geographic areas which possess high
endemic species.
Example: i) East Himalayas ii) Western Ghats.

20. Explain about the Hot spots of biodiversity.

Hot spots of biodiversity

Areas, which exhibit high species richness as well as high

species endemism, are termed as hot spots of biodiversity.
 There are 25 such hot spots of biodiversity on a global level
out of which two are present in India, namely the Eastern
Himalayas and Western Ghats.
These hot spots covering less than 2% of the world’s land
are found to have about 50% of the terrestrial biodiversity.
About 40% of terrestrial plants and 25% of vertebrate
species are endemic and found in these hotspots.
After the tropical rain forests, the second highest number of
endemic plant species is found in the Mediterranean
(Mittermeier).
E a r l i e r 12 hot spots were identified on a global level.
L a t e r Myers et al (2000) recognized 25 hot spots.
Two of these hotspots lie in India extending into neighboring
countries namely, Indo-Burma region (covering Eastern Himalayas)
and Western Ghats – Sri Lanka region.

a) Eastern Himalayas:
a. They display an ultra-varied topography that fosters
species diversity and endemism.
b. Certain species like Sapria himalayana, a parasitic
angiosperm was sighted only twice in this region in
the last 70 years.
c. Out of the world’s recorded flora 30% are endemic
to India of which 35,000 are in the Himalayas.
(b) Western Ghats:
a. It extends along a 17,000 Km2 strip of forests in
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala
and has 40% of the total endemic plant species.
b. 62% amphibians and 50% lizards are endemic to
Western Ghats.

c. The major centers of diversity are Agastyamalai

Hills and Silent Valley- the New Amambalam
 Reserve Basin.
d. It is reported that only 6.8% of the original forests
are existing today while the rest has been deforested
or degraded.