The word environment is derived from the

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The term environment has been derived from a French word “Environia” means to surround. It refers to both Abiotic (physical or non-living) and Biotic (living) environment.

What is the origin of the word environment?

Who created the word environment?

At this pivotal moment of awak- ening to industrialism’s effects on humanity and to the theoretical aspects of this transformation of the human condition, Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) coined the term ‘environment’ in the Lowlands of Scotland in 1828.

When was the word environment first used?

The noun environment, meaning the «state of being environed,» first appeared around 1600. The word as referring to our natural surroundings was first recorded in 1827, and the popular idea of environmental concern in an ecological sense first appeared in 1956.

What is the root word of Environmental?

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The word ‘environment’ is derived from the old French word ‘environer’ – which means to ‘surround, enclose, and encircle’. Environment refers to an aggregate of conditions or surroundings in which living beings such as humans, animals, and plants live or survive and non-living things exist.

All living beings including man and their environment are mutually reactive, affecting each other in a number of ways. It is generally equated with nature wherein physical components of the planet earth such as earth, air, water, etc. support and affect life in the biosphere.

Environment represents the physical components of the earth, wherein man is an important factor affecting the environment.

Environment comprises interacting systems of physical, biological, and cultural elements, which are interlinked individually as well as collectively in various ways.

Constituents of Environment

Physical elements constitute space, landforms, water-bodies, climate, soils, rocks, and minerals. These elements determine the variable character of human habitat, and also its opportunities and limitations.

Biological elements include plants, animals, micro-organisms, and man.

Cultural elements include economic, social and political conditions which are largely man-made features.

Types of Environment

Since environment is a combination of physical and biological factors, it contains both living or biotic and non-living or abiotic components. On the basis of this basic structure, environment can be divided into physical or abiotic and living or biotic environment.

Physical or Abiotic Environment

Physical environment is made up of the following states — solid, liquid, and gas. These three elements signify lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere respectively. On the basis of spatial distribution, smaller units are termed as coastal environment, plateau environment, mountain environment, lake environment, river environment, maritime environment, etc.

Living or Biotic Environment

Biotic environment consists of plants (flora) and animals (fauna) including human beings as a significant factor. Thus, biotic environment can be of two types such as floral environment and faunal environment.

Apart from the above, there are social, cultural, and psychological environment.

Social and Cultural Environment

This type of environment includes the varied aspects of socio-cultural interactions along with its outcomes such as beliefs, attitudes, stereotypes etc. The tangible and intangible aspects of environment are included in it.

Psychological Environment

Psychological environment deals with the perception and experiences related to any environmental setting. Some environment may be stimulating and exciting for us, while others may be dull and boring. Psychological environment is more often used in the organizational context.

Man-Environment Relationship

Man and environment relationship is as old as the evolution of mankind. Since the evolution of man, the physical elements of the planet earth, such as terrain, soil, water, climate, flora and fauna formed man’s environment. During that time man was a typically a ‘physical man’ because of his limited wants, requirements, and total dependence on nature.

With the growth in social and economic activities, advancement in technologies, man expanded his own environment through design and skill to have provisions for improved and better food, shelter, access, and comfort or luxuries. Man’s ability to survive in a variety of ecosystem and his unique ability to adapt to a great variety of external conditions make man-environment relationship quite a fascinating area of study.

The environment in which man survives and to which he adapts himself and which he influences include physical, socio-cultural, and biological aspects. Man and environment has never been static and a great many factors are responsible for the shifts in man environment relationship.

Approaches to Man-Environment Relationship

The man and environment relationship can be studied under the following approaches.

Determinism − Friedrich Ratzel, the German geographer, was responsible for the development of the concepts of determinism, which was further expanded by Ellsworth Huntington.

This approach is based on the concept of ‘nature controls man’ or ‘earth made man’. According to this approach, man is largely influenced by nature. In fact, the determinism states that man is subordinate to natural environment because all aspects of human life such as physical (health and well-being), social, economic, political, ethical, aesthetic, etc. not only depend on but are dominantly controlled by the physical environment.

World famous biologist, Charles Darwin, in 1859 laid the foundation stone of the concept of environment influences on man and other organism.

Possibilism − Lucien Febvre, the French historian, founded the concept of Possibilism. Possibilism approach in the study of man-environment relationship is an offshoot of the criticism of environmental determinism and the impact of science and technology on such a relationship.

Possibilism indicates that the physical environment is passive and man is the active agent at liberty to choose between wide ranges of environmental possibilities. According to it, the pattern of human activity is the result of the initiative and mobility of man operating within the natural framework. Nowadays, the role of natural elements in conditioning, though not controlling human activities, is often lost sight of.

Possibilists were largely aware of the limitations of freedom of man to dictate terms to environment. It was agreed upon by the possibilists that man lacks the abilities to fully tame the nature and is not always victorious over it. As result of the above, some geographers vouched for ‘cooperation with nature’ or ‘mutual interaction’ between man and environment.

Ecological Approach − This approach is based upon the basic principle of ecology, which is the study of mutual interaction between organisms and physical environment on the one hand, and the interaction among the organism on the other in a given ecosystem. This approach describes man as an integral part of nature or environment. Man, being most skilled and intelligent, has a unique role to play in maintaining a natural environment as healthy and productive as it should be.

This approach emphasizes on wise and restrained use of natural resources, application of appropriate environmental management programs, policies and strategies keeping in view certain basic principles of ecology so that already depleted natural resources are replenished, and health and productivity of the nature is restored.

What is Environmental Studies?

Environmental studies refer to an extensive and systematic study of nature/environment and of its physical, biological, social, and cultural factors, and the nature and characteristics of relationship between man and environment. How far man influences nature and to what extent nature delivers its bounties constitute another objective of environmental studies.

It is an interdisciplinary study as subjects like ecology, biochemistry, toxicology, geography, geology, meteorology, sociology, etc. are dealt with under environmental studies.

The Need for Environmental Studies

Nature or environment sustains life. As a conscious and rational being, man needs to know the importance of environment and help keep the environment as healthy and productive as it can be. It is the environment that has made this beautiful world possible for him. Hence, there is an ever demanding need for environmental studies.

The natural environment that mankind had before the onset of industrialization, urbanization, and exponential growth in population was expectedly healthy and resilient. Nature was able to replenish the loss of its resources, which was very limited.

After the onset of modern civilization, the overall health and efficiency of natural environment started deteriorating gradually and went on to such an extent that nature has virtually lost its natural ability to replenish the loss of resources caused by man.

Environmentalists, geographers, and biologists the world over are constantly endeavoring for a sustainable solution to restore a sustainable environment.

There is a need for focus on environmental management, laws governing environment protection, pollution and recycling of non-bio-degradable material, etc. There is also a need for careful and cautious use of natural resources in the present time to establish sustainability in every aspect of nature.

There is a need to clarify modern environmental concepts such as how to conserve biodiversity and maintain an ecological balance.

Environmental studies help us understand the importance of our environment and teaches us to use natural resources more efficiently and embrace a sustainable way of living. It enables us to know the behavior of organisms under natural conditions and the interrelationship between organisms in population and communities.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The word ‘Environment’ is derived from the French word ‘Environner’ which means to encircle, around or surround. The biologist Jacob Van Uerkal (1864-1944) introduced the term ‘environment’ in Ecology. Ecology is the study of the interactions between an organism of some kind and its environment. As given by Environment Protection Act 1986, Environment is the sum total of land, water, air, interrelationships among themselves and also with the human beings and other living organisms. Environmental Science is the interdisciplinary field and requires the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the Environment with a focus on environmental pollution and degradation. Environment studies is a multidisciplinary subject where different aspects are dealt with in a holistic approach. The science of Environment studies comprises various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, life science, medical science, agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering, geography, geology, atmospheric science, etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in the environment. It studies the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of a biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of and from human activity upon these. Environmental Science deals with the study of processes in soil, water, air and organisms which lead to pollution or environmental damages and the scientific basis for the establishment of a standard which can be considered acceptably clean, safe and healthy for human beings and natural ecosystems. 

The Environment is about the surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of people, animal or plants; living or working conditions etc. This involves three questions ie., what is surrounded, by what surrounded and where surrounded. The answer to the first is living objects in general and man in particular.Human life is concerned to be the main in the study of environment. However, human life cannot exist or be understood in isolation from the other forms of life like animal life and from plant life. Environment belongs to all living beings and is thus important for all. Hence, environment refers to the sum total of conditions surround in space and time. The scope of the term ‘Environment’ has been changing and widening by the passage of time. In the primitive age, the environment consisted of only physical aspects of the planet earth ie., land, water and air as biological communities. As of now, it includes social, economic and political conditions also.The answer for the question where surrounded is in nature that physical component of the planet earth, viz land, air, water etc., support and affect life in the biosphere..

1.2 DEFINITIONS OF ENVIRONMENT:

Some important definitions of environment are as under:

1. According to Boring, ‘A person’s environment consists of the sum total of the stimulation which he receives from his conception until his death.’ Indicating that environment comprises various types of forces such as physical, intellectual, mental, economical, political, cultural, social, moral and emotional.

2. Douglas and Holland defined that ‘The term environment is used to describe, in aggregate, all the external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the growth, development and maturity of living organisms’.

 1.3 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENT:

The environment consists of four segments of the earth namely atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere:

1. Atmosphere:  The Atmosphere forms a distinctive protective layer about 100 km thick around the earth. A blanket of gases called the atmosphere surrounds the earth and protects the surface of earth from the Sun’s harmful, ultraviolet rays. It sustains life on the earth.  It also regulates temperature, preventing the earth from becoming too hot or too cold. It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space. The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen besides, argon, carbon dioxide and trace gases.

 The atmosphere has a marked effect on the energy balance at the surface of the Earth. It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the sun. It transmits only ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultra-violate waves below about 300 nm.

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water. Oceans represent 97% of the earth’s water and about 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers. Only about 1% is available as fresh water as surface water in rivers, lakes, streams, and as ground water for human use.

3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.

4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with environment, viz atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

The scope of environmental studies is very wide and it deals with many areas like i) Conservation of natural resources, ii) ecological aspects, iii) pollution of the surrounding natural resources, iv) controlling the pollution, v) social issues connected to it, and vi) impacts of human population on the environment.

Elements of Environment

Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural elements inter-related in various ways, individually as well as collectively. These elements are:

(1) Physical elements

Physical elements are space, landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, rocks and minerals. They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its opportunities as well as limitations.

(2) Biological elements

Biological elements such as plants, animals, microorganisms and men constitute the biosphere.

(3) Cultural elements

Cultural elements such as economical, social and political elements are essentially man- made features, which make the cultural background.

1.4 ENVIRONMENT STUDIES: IMPORTANCE

The environment studies make us aware about the importance of protection and conservation of our mother earth and about the destruction  due to the release of pollution into the environment. The increase in human and animal population, industries and other issues make the survival cumbersome. A great number of environment issues have grown in size and make the system more complex day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth.  Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons:

1. Environment Issues are being of Global:

It has been well recognised that environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence require international efforts and cooperation to solve them.

2. Development and Environment:

Development leads to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Telecommunication and Transportation Systems, Hi-tech Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the developed world. The North intentionally moves their dirty factories to South to cleanse their own environment. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Development of the rich countries of the world has undesirable effects on the environment of the entire world.

3. Explosive Increase in Pollution

World census reflects that one in every seven persons in this planet 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 soil 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, specially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as under:

1. A true goal of development with an environmentally sound and sustainable development.

2. A goal common to all citizens of our planet earth.

3. A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.

It is utmost important for us to save the humanity from extinction because of  our activities constricting the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of development.

5. Need for Wise Planning of Development

Our survival and sustenance depend on resources availability. Hence Resources withdraw, processing and use of the products have all to be synchronised with the ecological cycle. In any plan of development our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment and development.

6. Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under:

(i) Holism, (ii) Ecosystem, (iii) Succession and (iv) Conversation.

Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which interacting units of ecology are discussed, are as under:

Misra (1991) has recognised four basic requirements of environmental management as under:

1. Impact of human activities on the environment,

2. Value system,

3. Plan and design for sustainable development,

4. Environment education.

Keeping in view of the goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development, India contributed to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de Janeiro, the Capital of Brazil, 3rd-14th June, 1992. 

Presentation on theme: «The word environment is derived from the French word «Environ» meaning «Surroundings». Each and everything around us is called as environment. Every organism.»— Presentation transcript:

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The word environment is derived from the French word «Environ» meaning «Surroundings». Each and everything around us is called as environment. Every organism is surrounded by materials and forces which constitute its environment, from which it must derive its needs. Environment creates favourable conditions for the existence and development of living organisms.

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Example The animal eats plants for its survival. The plant requires nourishment from the soil. Nourishment is provided by nitrogenous mater excreted by animal or by the dead bodies of other plants and animals Thus for the survival of an animal (or) a plant, (or) a microbe, it requires a supply of materials and removal of waste products from its environment. Degradation of the environment nowadays has become a serious problem. Pollution of soil, water and air leads to loss of valuable natural resources

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Example Types of Environmental

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Example Scope of Environmental Studies

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Importance of Environmental Studies

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Risks and Hazards in the Environment

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Types of Hazards

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Chemical hazards are systems, where chemical accidents like fires, explosions, leakages could occur under certain circumstances.

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Prevention and control measures of Hazards

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Definition Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms or group of organisms with their environment. The environment consists of both biotic components (living organisms) and abiotic components (non-living organisms). (or) Ecology is the study of ecosystems.

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Ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology. Greek word meaning study of home. A group of organisms interacting among themselves and with environment is known as ecosystem. In an ecosystem is a community of different species interacting with one another and with their non-living environment exchanging energy and matter. Definition

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A kind of organisms which can live in a particular ecosystem depends on their physical and metabolic adoptions to the environment of that place.

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Components of an ecosystems and their relationship

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Non-living components (physical and chemical) of an ecosystem collectively form a community called abiotic components (or) abiotic community. It includes Example: Climate, soil, water, air, energy, nutrients, etc., 1. Physical components: It includes the energy, climate, raw materials and living space that the biological community needs. It is useful for the growth and maintenance of its member.

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2. Chemical Components: It is the sources of essential nutrients. Example (i) Organic substances: Protein, lipids, carbohydrates, etc., (ii) Inorganic substances: All micro (Al, Co, Zn, Cu) and macro elements (C, H, O, P, N, P, K) and few other elements.

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Living organisms in an ecosystem collectively form its community called biotic components. The living components are made of many different species. These species are distinguished on the basis of their nutritional (feeding) relationship.

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1.Autotrophic components: Autotrophic components are producers, which are autotrophs (self-nourishing organisms). They derive energy from sunlight and make organic compounds from inorganic substances. Example: Green plants, algae, bacteria, etc., 2.Heterotrophic components: Heterotrophic components are consumers and decomposers, which are heterotrophs (dependent on others for food).

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Classification of biotic components The members of biotic components of an ecosystem are grouped into three groups based on how do they get their food. 1. Producers (Plants). 2. Consumer (Animals). 3. Decomposers (Micro-organisms).

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(Producers) (Primary Consumer) (Secondary Consumer) (Tertiary consumer) (Producers) (Herbivores) (Primary carnivores) (Secondary Carnivores)

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1.Primary function (or) primary production: Primary function of all ecosystems is manufacture of starch (photosynthesis). 2. Secondary function (or) secondary production: Secondary function of all ecosystem is distributing energy in the form of food to all consumers (or) the energy stored by the consumer 3. Tertiary Function: All living systems die at a particular stage. These dead systems are decomposed to initiate the third function of ecosystems namely “cycling”.

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Functioning of an ecosystem may be understood by studying the following terms. (a) Energy and material flow. (b) Food chains. (c) Food webs. (d) Food pyramids.

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Sun is the ultimate source of energy. The atmosphere absorbs 50% of the radiations and allow the remaining to reach the earth surface. Of the solar radiations, reached the earth’s surface, some of which is absorbed by organisms (primary producers) to produce organic matter through photosynthesis.

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1. First law of thermodynamics It states that, “energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another.” Energy for an ecosystem comes from the sun. It is absorbed by plants, wherein it is converted into stored chemical energy.

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2. Second law of thermodynamics It states that, “whenever energy is transformed, there is a loss of energy through the release of heat.” There will be a loss of energy (about 80-90%) in the form of heat as it moves from one tropic level to another tropic level.  The loss of energy takes place through respiration, running, hunting etc.,

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Flow of energy and nutrient cycling from abiotic to biotic and vice versa.

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Elements, which are essential for the survival of both plants and animals are called nutrients. 1. Macronutrients Example: Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

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2. Micronutrients. Example: Boron, cobalt, strontium, zinc, copper.  Cyclic flow of nutrients between the biotic and abiotic components is known as nutrient cycle (or) biogeochemical cycles.

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 The major nutrients like C, H, O and N are cycled again and again between biotic and abiotic component of the ecosystem. Hydrological Cycle Movement of water in a cyclic manner is known as hydrological cycle.

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Nitrogen cycle

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Nitrification Conversion of ammonia into nitrates is termed as nitrification. This is brought about by nitrifying bacteria. Example: Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas. Denitrification Conversion of nitrates into nitrogen (N 2 ) is termed as Denitrification. This process is brought about by denitrifying bacteria. Example: Pseudomonas, fluorescence.

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Oxygen cycle is the cycle that helps move oxygen 1. The atmosphere (air). 2. The biosphere (sum of all ecosystem). 3. The lithosphere (earth’s crust).

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Oxygen cycle

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 In an area one community may be replaced by another community or by a series of communities.  Thus the progressive replacement of one community by another till the development of stable community in a particular area is called ecological succession. 1. Pioneer community First group of organism, which establish their community in the area is called ‘Pioneer’ Community.

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2. Seres (or) Seral stage Various developmental stages of a community is called ‘seres’. Community It is the group of plants or animals living in an area. Ecologists recognize two types of ecological succession, based on the conditions present at the beginning of the process.

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. 1. Primary succession: It involves the gradual establishment of biotic communities on a lifeless ground. (a) Hydrarch (or) Hydrosere: Establishment starts in a watery area like pond and lake. (b) Xerarch or Xerosere: Establishment starts in a dry area like, desert and rock. 2. Secondary succession: It involves the establishment of biotic communities in an area, where some type of biotic community is already present.

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Process of ecological succession can be explained in the following steps. 1 1. Nudation: It is the development of a bare area without any life form. 2. Invasion: It is the establishment of one or more species on a bare area through migration followed by establishment. (a) Migration: Migration of seeds is brought about by wind, water or birds. (b) Establishment: The seeds then germinate and grow on the land and establishes their pioneer communities.

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3. Competition: As the number of individual species grows, there is a competition with the same species and between different species for space, water and nutrients. 4.Reaction: The living organisms, take water, nutrients and grow and modify the environment is known as reaction. seral communities. This modification becomes unsuitable for the existing species and favour some new species, which replace the existing species. This leads to seral communities. : 5. Stabilizations: It leads to stable community, which is in equilibrium with the environment.

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A forest ecosystem is the one in which a tall and densetrees grow that support many animals and birds. The forests are found in undisturbed areas receiving moderate to high rainfall. The forest occupies nearly 40% of the world’s land area. In India it occupies only 19% of its total land area.

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Rain Forest of the World

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Depending upon the climate conditions 1. Tropical rain forests. 2. Tropical deciduous forests. 3. Tropical scrub forests. 4. Temperate rain forests. 5. Temperate deciduous forests.

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1. Forests are characterised by warm temperature and adequate rainfall, which make the generation of number of ponds, lakes etc., 2. The forest maintains climate and rainfall. 3. The forest supports many wild animals and protect biodiversity. 4. The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients, which support the growth of trees. 5. Since penetration of light is so poor, the conversion of organic matter into nutrients is very fast.

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I. Abiotic components Example: Climatic factors (temperature, light, rainfall) and minerals. Abiotic components are physical components (inorganic and organic substances) found in the soil and atmosphere. In addition to minerals, the occurrence of litter is characteristic features of majority of forests.

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II. Biotic components 1. Producers Example: Trees, shrubs and ground vegetation. The plants absorb sunlight and produce food through photosynthesis. 2. Consumers (a) Primary consumers (herbivores) Example: Ants, flies, insects, mice, deer, squirrels.

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Forest Ecosystem They directly depend on the plants for their food.

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(b) Secondary consumers (primary carnivores) Example: Snakes, birds, fox.  They directly depend on the herbivores for their food. (c) Tertiary consumers Example: Animals like tiger, lion, etc.,  They depend on the primary carnivores for their food. 4. Decomposers Bacteria and fungi.

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Grassland occupies about 20% of earth’s surface. In addition to grass species, some trees and shrubs are also present in grasslands. Limited grazing helps to improve the net primary production of the grasslands. But, overgrazing leads to degradation of these grasslands resulting in desertification.

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Depending upon the climate conditions grassland can be classified into three types 1. Tropical grasslands. 2. Temperate grasslands. 3. Polar grasslands.

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Features of different types of grassland 1. Tropical grasslands They are found near the borders of tropical rain forests. They are characterized by high temperature and moderate rainfall (40 to 100 cm). It is also known as Savanna-type. They have tall grasses with scattered shrubs and stunted trees and animals like zebras, giraffes, antelopes, etc.,

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2. Temperate grasslands They are found in the centers of continents, on flat, sloped hills. They are characterized by very cold winters and hot summers. Intense grazing and summer fires, do not allow shrubs or trees to grow. 3. Polar grasslands They are found in arctic polar regions. They are characterised by severe cold and strong winds along with ice and snow. In summers several small annual plants grow. They have animals like arctic wolf, weasel, arctic fox, etc.,

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1. Grassland ecosystem is a plain land occupied by grasses. 2. Soil is very rich in nutrients and organic matter. 3. Since it has tall grass, it is ideal place for grazinganimals. 4. It is characterized by low or uneven rainfall.

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Nutrients, C, H, O, N, P, S, etc.,  These abiotic components are supplied by CO 2, H 2 O, nitrates, phosphates and sulfates. 1. Producers Grasses, forbs and shrubs. I. Abiotic Components II. Biotic Components

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2. Consumers (a) Primary consumers (herbivores) Cows, buffaloes, deer, sheep, etc., (b) Secondary consumers (carnivores) Snakes, lizards, birds, Jackals, fox, etc., (c) Tertiary consumers Hawks, eagles, etc.,

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3. Decomposers  They decompose the dead organic matter. Fungi and bacteria. Grassland Ecosystem

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Desert occupies about 35% of our world’s land area. It is characterised by less than 25 cm rainfall. The atmosphere is dry and hence it is a poor insulator. Based on the climatic conditions, deserts are classified into three types. 1. Tropical deserts. 2. Temperate deserts. 3. Cold deserts.

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1.Tropical deserts (i)Africa: Sahara desert. (ii) Rajasthan: Thar desert. 2. Temperate deserts They are found in South California: Majave 3. Cold deserts They are found in China: Gobi desert

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1. The desert air is dry and the climate is hot. 2. Annual rainfall is less than 25 cm. 3. The soil is very poor in nutrients and organic matter. 4. Vegetation is poor.

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I. Abiotic Components Eg. Temperature, rainfall, sunlight, water, etc.,

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II. Biotic Components 1. Producers Eg. Shrubs, bushes, some grasses and few trees. In deserts mostly Succulent (e.g., cacti) plants are found available. They have water inside them to stay alive. They have waxy layer on the outside to protect them from the sun. 2. Consumers Eg. Squirrels, mice, foxes, rabbits, deer and reptiles.

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Desert Ecosystem

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These animals dig holes in the ground to live in. They come out at night to find food. Most of the animals can extract water from the seeds they eat. 3. Decomposers Eg. Fungi and bacteria. Desert has poor vegetation with a very low amount of dead organic matter. They are decomposed by few fungi and bacteria.

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The aquatic ecosystem deals with water bodies. The major types of organisms found in aquatic environments are determined by the water’s salinity. Aquatic life zones are divided into two types. 1. Fresh water life zones Eg. Ponds, streams, lakes, rivers.

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2. Salt water life zones Eg. Oceans, estuaries. I. FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEMS A pond is a fresh water aquatic ecosystem, where water is stagnant. It receives enough water during rainy season. It contains several types of algae, aquatic plants, insects, fishes and birds.

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1.Pond is temporary, only seasonal. 2. It is a stagnant fresh water body. 3. Ponds get polluted easily due to limited amount of water. I. Abiotic Components Temperature, light, water and organic and inorganic compounds.

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II. Biotic Components 1. Producers These include green photosynthetic organisms. They are of two types. (a) Phytoplankton These are microscopic aquatic plants, which freely float on the surface of water. Eg. Algae, small floating plants like volvox, pandorina, anabaena, cosmarium.

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(b) Microphytes Eg. Large floating plants and submerged plants like hydrilla, Jussiaea, wolfia, demna. 2. Consumers (a) Primary consumers (Zooplanktons) These are microscopic animals which freely float on the surface of water. Eg. Protozoa, very small fish, ciliates, flagellates and protozoans.

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Pond Ecosystem

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Zooplanktons are found along with phytoplankton. They feed on plants (phytoplankton). (b) Secondary consumers (Carnivores). Eg. Insects like water beetles and small fish. They feed on zooplankton. (c) Tertiary consumers Eg. Large fish like game fish. They feed on smaller fish.

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3. Decomposers Eg. Fungi, bacteria and flagellates. They decompose the dead plant and animal matter and their nutrients are released and reused by the green plants. Lakes are large natural shallow water bodies. Lakes are used for various purposes. Lakes are supplied with water from rainfall, melting snow and streams.

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Depending upon their depth and distance from the shore, lakes consists of four distinct zones. 1. Littoral zones: It is the top layer of the lake. It has a shallow water. 2. Limnetic zone: Next to the littoral zone is limnetic zone, where effective penetration of solar light takes place. 3. Profundal zone: The deep open water, where it is too dark. 4. Benthic zone: This zone is found at the bottom of the lake.

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Profundal Zone Zones of Lake

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1. Lake is a shallow fresh water body. 2. It is a permanent water body with large water resources. 3. It helps in irrigation and drinking. Eg. Temperature, light, proteins and lipids, turbidity, O 2 and CO 2.

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II. Biotic Components 1. Producers They are green plants, may be submerged, free floating and amphibious plants. Eg. Phytoplanktons, algae and flagellates. 2. Consumers (a) Primary Consumers (Zooplanktons) Eg. Cilictes, protozoans, etc., They feed on phytoplankton.

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(b) Secondary consumers (carnivores) Eg. Insects and small fishes. They feed on zooplankton. (c) Tertiary consumers They feed on smaller fish. Eg. Large fishes like game fish. 3. Decomposers They decompose the dead plants and animals. Eg. Bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes.

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The running water of a stream or a river is usually well oxygenated, because it absorbs oxygen from the air. The number of animals are low in river or stream. 1. It is a fresh water, and free flowing water systems. 2. Due to mixing of water, dissolved oxygen content is more. 3. River deposits large amount of nutrients.

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I. Abiotic Components Eg. Temperature, light, pH, nutrients, organic and inorganic compounds. II. Biotic Components 1. Producers Phytoplankton, algae, water grasses, aquatic masses and other amphibious plants.

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2. Consumers (i) Primary consumers They feed on phytoplankton. (ii) Secondary Consumers They feed on primary consumers. (iii) Decomposers They decompose the dead animals and plants.. Eg. Water insects, snails, fishes.. Eg. Birds and mammals.. Eg. Bacteria and fungi.

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II. SALT WATER ECOSYSTEMS Oceans cover more than two thirds of the earth’s surface. The ocean environment is characterized by its high concentration of salts and minerals. It supplies huge variety of sea-products and drugs. It also provides us iron, magnesium, phosphorus, natural gas.

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1. It occupies a large surface area with saline water. 2. Since ship, submarines can sail in ocean, commercial activities may be carried out. 3. It is rich in biodiversity. 4. It moderates the temperature of the earth.

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Ocean (marine) Ecosystem

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I. Abiotic Components Eg. Temperature, light, NaCl, K, Ca, and Mg Salts, alkalinity. II. Biotic Components 1. Producers Eg. Phytoplanktons (diatoms, unicellular algae, etc.) and marine plants (sea weeds, chlorophyceal, phaeophyceae).

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2. Consumers These are heterotrophic macro consumers. They depend on producers for their nutrition. (i) Primary consumers (herbivores) Eg. Crustaceans, moiluscs, fish. They feed on producers. (ii) Secondary consumers (carnivores) Eg. Herring sahd, mackerel, etc., They feed on herbivores.

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(iii) Tertiary Consumers Eg. Cod, Haddock, etc., They are the top consumers. They feed on small fishes. (3) Decomposers Eg. Bacteria and some fungi. They decompose the dead organic matter

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An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal area at the mouth of a river, where river joins the sea. It is strongly affected by tidal action. Estuaries are generally abundant of nutrients. Estuaries are useful to human beings due to their high food potential. It is essential to protect the estuaries from pollution.

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1. Estuaries are transition zones, which are strongly affected by tides of the sea. 2. Water characteristics are periodically changed. 3. The living organism in estuarine ecosystems have wide tolerance. 4. Salinity remains highest during the summer and lowest during the winter.

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II. Biotic Components I. Abiotic Components Eg. Temperature, pH, sodium and potassium salts and various nutrients. (a) Producers Eg. Marsh grasses, seaweeds, sea grasses and phytoplankton.

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(b) Consumers (c) Decomposers Eg. Oysters, crabs, seabirds, small fishes. Eg. Bacteria, fungi and actenomycetous.

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French environnement, equivalent to environ +‎ -ment. Compare French environnement.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (non-rhotic) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈvaɪɹə(n)mənt/, /ənˈ-/, /-mɪnt/
• (rhotic) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈvaɪɚ(n)mənt/

Noun[edit]

environment (plural environments)

1. The surroundings of, and influences on, a particular item of interest.
2. The natural world or ecosystem.

   • 2013 June 7, David Simpson, “Fantasy of navigation”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 36:

     It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: […];  […]; or perhaps to muse on the irrelevance of the borders that separate nation states and keep people from understanding their shared environment.

3. All the elements that affect a system or its inputs and outputs.
4. A particular political or social setting, arena or condition.
5. (computing) The software and/or hardware existing on any particular computer system.

   That program uses the Microsoft Windows environment.

6. (programming) The environment of a function at a point during the execution of a program is the set of identifiers in the function’s scope and their bindings at that point.
7. (computing) The set of variables and their values in a namespace that an operating system associates with a process.

Synonyms[edit]

• umbworld
• ecosystem
• surrounding
• domain

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

• environ
• environmentalist
• environmentalism

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

• environment at OneLook Dictionary Search
• environment in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• “environment”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• environment in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Slovak[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): [ˈenvironment]

Noun[edit]

environment m inan (genitive singular environmentu, nominative plural environmenty, genitive plural environmentov, declension pattern of dub)

1. environment

Declension[edit]

[edit]

• environmentálny (adjective)

Further reading[edit]

• environment in Slovak dictionaries at slovnik.juls.savba.sk