Unit 1: Understanding the Environment (Detailed Notes)

1.1 Environment: Concept, Importance, and Components

1.1.1 Concept of Environment

• The term Environment comes from the French word Environ meaning
“surrounding.”
• It refers to everything that surrounds us and influences our life,
including natural forces and human activities.
• Environment = Biotic (living) + Abiotic (non-living) components.
• It provides conditions essential for the survival of life.

1.1.2 Importance of Environment

• Basic Life Support: Provides air (oxygen), water, food, and shelter.
• Climate Regulation: Balances temperature, rainfall, and weather
patterns.
• Natural Resource Provider: Supplies resources like minerals, timber,
medicinal plants.
• Health and Well-being: Clean air, water, and healthy surroundings
ensure human health.
• Biodiversity Support: Hosts diverse plant and animal species which help
maintain ecological balance.
• Cultural and Recreational Values: Natural beauty, spiritual
significance, tourism, and leisure.

1.1.3 Components of Environment

• a) Natural Components: Mountains, rivers, forests, atmosphere, soil,
oceans.
• b) Biotic (Living) Components:
• Producers: Plants
• Consumers: Animals
• Decomposers: Bacteria, Fungi
• c) Abiotic (Non-Living) Components:
• Physical: Temperature, sunlight, humidity.
• Chemical: Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, minerals.
• d) Human-made Components:
• Buildings, roads, vehicles, industries, technologies created by humans.

1.2 Ecosystem: Concept, Structure, and Function

1.2.1 Concept of Ecosystem

• An ecosystem is a system where living organisms interact with each
other and with their physical environment.
• Coined by A.G. Tansley in 1935.
• Examples: Forest ecosystem, pond ecosystem, desert ecosystem.

1.2.2 Structure of Ecosystem

• a) Biotic Components:
• Producers (Autotrophs): Green plants, algae that make their own food
using sunlight (photosynthesis).
• Consumers (Heterotrophs):
• Primary Consumers: Herbivores (e.g., deer, rabbit).
• Secondary Consumers: Carnivores (e.g., lion, snake).
• Tertiary Consumers: Top predators (e.g., eagle).
• Decomposers: Fungi, bacteria that break down dead organisms.
 • b) Abiotic Components:
• Sunlight, temperature, water, minerals, gases.

1.2.3 Function of Ecosystem

• a) Food Chain:
• A series showing who eats whom.
• Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk.
• b) Food Web:
• Network of interconnected food chains.
• Represents biodiversity and stability in ecosystems.
• c) Ecological Pyramids:
• Pyramid of Number: Number of organisms at each level.
• Pyramid of Biomass: Total mass of organisms at each level.
• Pyramid of Energy: Shows energy flow; always upright due to energy loss
as heat.
• d) Energy Flow:
• Energy enters through sunlight, captured by producers.
• Follows 10% Law—only 10% energy is transferred to the next trophic
level.
• Energy cannot be recycled; flows in one direction.

1.3 Ecosystem Services

1.3.1 Concept
• Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, supporting life and economic
activities.

1.3.2 Types of Ecosystem Services

• a) Provisioning Services:
• Products from nature.
• Examples: Food, freshwater, fuel wood, fibers, medicinal plants.
• b) Regulating Services:
• Control of natural processes.
• Examples:
• Climate regulation (forests absorb carbon dioxide).
• Pollination (by bees, butterflies).
• Water purification (by wetlands).
• Disease regulation.
• c) Cultural Services:
• Non-material benefits.
• Examples:
• Recreation (tourism in forests, mountains).
• Spiritual values (sacred rivers, forests).
• Educational values (learning from nature).

1.4 Biodiversity: Levels, Values, Threats, and Conservation

1.4.1 Levels of Biodiversity

• a) Genetic Diversity:
• Variety of genes within a species.
• Example: Different types of rice, dogs, mango varieties.
• b) Species Diversity:
• Variety of species in a region.
• Example: Birds, mammals, insects in a forest.
• c) Ecosystem Diversity:
 • Variety of ecosystems.
• Example: Grasslands, deserts, wetlands.

1.4.2 Values of Biodiversity

• a) Ecological Value:
• Maintains ecosystem balance (pollination, nutrient cycle).
• b) Economic Value:
• Source of food, medicines, timber, raw materials.
• c) Aesthetic and Recreational Value:
• Attracts tourism; natural beauty provides peace and recreation.
• d) Cultural and Ethical Value:
• Sacred groves, animals worshipped in traditions.

1.4.3 Threats to Biodiversity

• a) Habitat Destruction:
• Deforestation, urbanization, agriculture expansion.
• b) Over-exploitation:
• Overfishing, hunting, poaching.
• c) Pollution:
• Air, water, soil pollution harming species.
• d) Climate Change:
• Global warming, changing rainfall affecting species survival.
• e) Invasive Species:
• Non-native species harming local biodiversity.
• Example: Lantana, water hyacinth.

1.4.4 Conservation of Biodiversity

• a) In-situ Conservation:
• Conservation in natural habitat.
• Examples: National Parks (Jim Corbett), Wildlife Sanctuaries
(Kaziranga), Biosphere Reserves (Nilgiri).
• b) Ex-situ Conservation:
• Outside natural habitat.
• Examples: Zoos, Seed Banks, Botanical Gardens, Gene Banks.
• International Efforts:
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

1.5 Concept and Objectives of Environmental Education, Environmental Ethics

1.5.1 Concept of Environmental Education

• A lifelong process of gaining knowledge, awareness, skills, and
attitudes regarding the environment.
• Encourages participation in protecting and improving the environment.

1.5.2 Objectives of Environmental Education

• Awareness: Making people conscious about environmental issues.
• Knowledge: Understanding of ecological principles, issues, and
solutions.
• Attitude: Developing respect and concern for the environment.
• Skills: Problem-solving and decision-making skills regarding
environmental management.
• Participation: Encouraging action at personal, community, and national
levels.

1.5.3 Environmental Ethics

• Moral principles guiding human interaction with nature.
 • Focuses on what is right or wrong in terms of environmental behavior.

Key Ethical Principles:

• Intergenerational Equity: Protecting resources for future generations.
• Inherent Value of Nature: Nature deserves respect, not just as a
resource.
• Sustainability: Using resources without exhausting them.
• Precautionary Principle: Avoiding actions that can cause serious harm
to the environment.

Examples of Environmental Ethics in Practice:

• Reducing plastic use.
• Supporting wildlife conservation.
• Planting trees and avoiding pollution.