PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT

  PEOPLE  AND  ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT

 . Everything . that . surrounds . or . affects . an . organism . during . its . life . time . is . collectively . known . as . its . environment . which . comprises . both . living . (biotic) . and . nonliving . (abiotic) . components. . All . organisms . (from . virus . to . man) . are . obligatorily . dependent . on . the . environment . for . food, . energy, . water, . oxygen, . shelter . and . for . other . needs. . The . environment . is . defined . as . 'the . sum . total . of . living, . non-living . components; . influences . and . events, . surrounding . an . organism.

Ecology, . Biome, . Ecotone, . Niche, . Ecosystem, . Biosphere

Ecology

Ecology . may . be . defined . as . the . scientific . study . of . the . relationship . of . living . organisms . with . each . other . and . with . their . environment

The . emphasis . is . on . relationships . between . organisms . and . the . components . of . the . environment . namely . abiotic . (non-living) . and . biotic . (living).

Ecology . is . derived . from . 2 . Greek . words

Oikos . >> . Home . or . place . to . live . in

Logos . >> . Study

Literally, . it . means . study . of . home . or . nature

Ecology . not . only . deals . with . the . study . of . the . relationship . of . individual . organisms . with . their . environment, . but . also . with . the . study . of . populations, . communities, . ecosystems, . biomes . and . biosphere . as . a . whole

Biome

a . large . community . unit, . characterized . by . a . major . vegetation . type . and . associated . fauna, . found . in . a . specific . climatic . region . No . two . biomes . are . alike

Ecotone

Transitional . area . between . two . biomes . or . diverse . ecosystems . (where . two . communities . meet . & . integrate)

Examples . : . between . a . field . and . forest, . between . forest . and . grassland

may . appear . as . a . gradual . blending . of . the . two . communities . across . a . broad . area, . or . may . manifest . itself . as . a . sharp . boundary . line

May . contains . some . organisms . which . are . entirely . different . from . that . of . adjoining . communities

Sometimes . the . number . of . species . & . population . density . of . some . of . the . species . is . much . greater . in . this . zone . than . either . community, . Known . as . edge . effect

Organisms . which . occur . primarily . or . most . abundantly . in . this . zone . are . known . as . edge . species

Niche

Description . of . all . the . biological, . physical . & . chemical . factors . that . a . species . needs . – . to . survive, . stay . healthy . & . reproduce.

Niche . is . unique . for . every . species . which . means . no . 2 . species . can . have . exact . identical . niche .

Ecosystem

A . functional . unit . of . nature . encompassing . complex . interaction . between . its . biotic . (living) . and . abiotic . (non-living) . components.

For . example- . a . pond . is . a . good . example . of . ecosystem; . (it . can . also . be . as . small . as . a . single . tree)

Components . of . ecosystem: . They . are . broadly . grouped . into:-

Abiotic

Biotic . components

Natural . ecosystems . - . Ecosystems . dependent . on . solar . radiation . & . energy . subsidies . (alternative . sources) . such . as . wind, . rain . and . tides . E.g. . tropical . rain . forests, . tidal . estuaries . and . coral . reefs

Man-made . ecosystems . – . Dependent . on . solar . energy . + . Dependent . on . fossil . fuel

Biosphere

Represents . a . highly . integrated . & . interacting . zone . comprising . of . atmosphere, . hydrosphere . & . lithosphere . abundant . life . between . 200 . meters . below . oceans . surfaces . till . approx. . 6000 . meters . above . sea . surfaces . absent . at . extremes . of . north . & . south . poles, . the . highest . mountains . & . at . the . deepest . oceans . majorly . due . to . hostile . conditions . Occasionally . spores . of . fungi . & . bacteria . do . occur . at . great . height . beyond . 8000 . meters . but . they . are . not . metabolically . active . & . hence . represent . only . dormant . life . Ecological . Succession, . Food . Chain, . Food . Web, . Ecological . pyramids

Ecological . Succession

Primary . succession

From . a . pioneer . community . ( . initiation) . to . a . climax . community . (Final)

Rare . & . takes . a . long . time . to . generate

Secondary . succession

Development . of . a . community . which . forms . after . the . existing . natural . vegetation . that . constitutes . a . community . is . removed, . disturbed . or . destroyed . by . a . natural . event . like . hurricane . or . forest . fire . or . by . human . related . events . like . tilling . or . harvesting . land.

A . secondary . succession . is . relatively . fast . as, . the . soil . has . the . necessary . nutrients . as . well . as . a . large . pool . of . seeds . and . other . dormant . stages . of . organisms.

Food . Chain

Plants . are . eaten . by . insects, . which . are . eaten . by . frogs; . these . frogs . are . eaten . by . fish, . which . are . eaten . by . human . beings. . This . sequence . is . known . as . Food . chain.

Plant . > . insect . > . frog . > . fish . > . human

Each . step . in . the . food . chain . is . called . a . “Trophic . level” . as . in . above . food . chain . – . 5 . tropic . levels

Type . of . food . Chain

Grazing . : . Starts . with . green . plants . e.g. . Grass . > . Grasshoppers . > . Birds . > . Snakes . > . Hawks

Parasitic: . Also . starts . with . green . plants . but . here . smaller . organisms . depending . on . larger . organism . g. . Grass . > . cow . > . lice

Detritus*/saprophytic: . Starts . with . dead . plant/animal/ . waste . material . > . decomposers

*Detritus . = . dry . leaves, . dead . plant, . animal . remains, . dead . skin . cells, . other . organic . waste . (urine, . excreta)

Trophic . level

Trophic . level . to . which . an . organism . belongs, . indicates . how . far . it . is . away . from . plants . in . the . food . chain

Energy . Flow . in . food . chain . is . unidirectional, . means . energy . flow . can . never . be . from . carnivores . to . herbivores . or . herbivores . to . producers

In . grazing . food . chain, . primary . source . of . energy . is . living . plant . biomass . while . in . detritus . food . chain, . source . of . energy . is . dead . organic . matter . or . detritus.

Energy . Flow . in . the . Ecosystem

When . energy . is . passed . from . one . tropic . level . to . next . trophic . level, . some . part . of . energy . is . wasted, . So . energy . declines . as . we . move . up . in . the . chain/ . web . / . pyramid . in . :

Body . heat . (Metabolism) . + . Respiration . + . Capturing . the . prey

Remains . trapped . in . skin, . hair, . bone . and . teeth . of . a . prey, . However . this . energy . is . later . utilized . when . scavenger . (hyena) . comes . into . picture, . as . Hyena’s . stomach . acid . is . so . powerful, . it . can . digest . the . skin, . hair, . bone, . teeth . and . other . remnants . of . a . prey . corpse

Generally, . only . 1/10th . of . the . energy . passes . to . next . tropic . level

 . Food . Web

Food . chain . assumes . the . isolated . linear . line. . But . in . real . life, . frog . could . be . eating . other . insects . apart . from . grasshopper. . Fish . could . be . eating . smaller . fishes . apart . from . frog. . So . there . exists . an . interconnected . Network . of . (Food . Chain . + . Food . Chain . + . Food . chain…). . This . interconnected . network . of . food . chains . is . known . as . food . web.

Bio-accumulation

Refers . how . pollutant . enters . a . food . chain . means . concentration . of . pollutant . from . the . environment . to . the . first . organism . in . a . food . chain.

Occurs . when . an . organism . absorbs . a . toxic . substance . at . a . rate . greater . than . that . at . which . he . can . digest

 . Bio-magnification

Increase . of . toxic . chemicals . conc. . up . the . food . chain

a . man-induced . process

occurs . with . mobile . & . non-degradable . chemicals . / . fat . soluble . pollutants . only

DDT . concentration

Biotic . Potential

Unlimited . food . + . ideal . environmental . conditions . → . A . species . can . produce . offspring . at . maximum . rate, . known . as . Biotic . potential . Can . be . high . or . low, . depending . on . how . many . offspring . can . a . species . produce . in . ideal . conditions

Interspecies . relations
Interaction	Species . A	Species . B	Example
Mutualism	Enjoys	Enjoys	Bees . and . flowers . (pollination)
Commensalism . (Epiphytic)	Enjoys	Neutral	Orchid . plant . growing . on . a . mango . tree.
Predation	Enjoys	Harmed	Tiger . eating . deer.
Parasitism	Enjoys	Harmed	Tapeworm . in . human . digestive . tract.
Competition	Harmed	Harmed	Jungle . Deer . vs . domestic . goats . grazing . in . same . area.
Amensalism	Neutral	Harmed	Bread . mold . Penicillium . secretes . penicillin . and . it . destroys . other . bacteria.

Ecological . pyramids .

Ecological . pyramids . represent . the . trophic . structure . or . trophic . function . of . the . ecosystem . and . and . is . mainly . of . 3 . types:

Pyramid . of . Number

Depicts . the . number . of . individual . organisms . at . different . trophic . levels . of . food . chain . May . be . inverted . or . upright . or . spindle . shaped

Pyramid . of . Biomass

Depicts . total . dry . weight . of . all . organisms . at . each . tropic . level . at . a . particular . time, . measured . in . g/m^{2 .} . . May . be . upright . or . inverted

Pyramid . of . Energy

a . graphic . representation . of . the . amount . of . energy . trapped . per . unit . time . and . area . in . different . trophic . level . of . a . food . chain . with . producers . forming . the . base . and . the . top . carnivores . at . the . tip . Always . upright

General . Rearing . Methods . for . Common . Agriculture . Techniques
Sericulture	Rearing . of . silkworm
Pisciculture	Fish . farming
Floriculture	flower . farming
Viticulture	Grape . farming
Vermiculture	Earthworm . farming
Horticulture	Garden . or . plant . cultivation
Apiculture	Rearing . of . Honey . Bees
Pomoculture	Fruits . farming
Olericulture	Vegetable . farming
Permaculture	Development . of . agricultural . ecosystems . intended . to . be . sustainable . and . self-sufficient
Silviculture	Art . of . cultivating . foreign . trees
Hydroculture	Aquatic . Horticulture
Aeroponics	Growing . plants . in . an . air . or . mist . environment  . without . the . use . of . soil . or . an . aggregate . medium
Geoponics	Growing . plants . in . soil
Arboriculture	Cultivation, . management . & . study . of . individual . trees, . shrubs, . vines . & . other . perennial . woody . plants
Hydroponics	Growing . plants . using . mineral . nutrient . solutions,  . in . water, . without . soil

Revolutions . & . Associated . Products
Blue . revolution	Fisheries
Green . revolution	Agriculture . – . Reduced . Biodiversity . of . Rice . & . Wheat
Pink . revolution	Drugs . & . Pharma
Yellow . revolution	Oil . seeds
White . revolution	Dairy . & . Milk
Grey . revolution	Fertilizer . & . Housing . Development
Round . revolution	Potato
Brown . revolution	Leather
Black . revolution	Petroleum
Red . revolution	Meat . & . Tomato
Golden . revolution	Horticulture
Golden . fiber . revolution	Jute
Silver . revolution	Egg . /Poultry
Silver . fiber . revolution	Cotton
Evergreen . revolution	Overall . agriculture . development

National . Parks	State	Key . Species
Palamu . National . Park	Jharkhand	Tigers
Betla . National . Park	Jharkhand	. bison, . elephant, . tiger, . leopard, .
Dalma . Wildlife . Sanctuary	Jharkhand	Elephants
Sundarbans . National . Park	West . Bengal	Tigers
Kanchenjunga . National . Park	Sikkim	Musk . Deer, . Snow . Leopard
Balpakhram . National . Park	Meghalaya	Elephants, . Golden . cat
Manas . National . Park	Assam	Tigers, . Elephants
Kaziranga . National . Park	Assam	One-Horned . Rhinoceroses
Nameri . National . Park	Assam	Elephants
Mouling . National . Park	Arunachal . Pradesh	Red . Panda
Namdapha . National . Park	Arunachal . Pradesh	Red . Giant . Flying . Squirrel
Keibul . Lamjao . National . Park	Manipur	Only . floating . park . in  . the . world, . Famous . for . Sangai . or . Dancing . Deers
Bandhavgarh . National . Park	MP	Tigers
Kanha . National . Park	MP	Tigers
Pench . National . Park	MP	Tigers
Madhav . National . Park	MP
Panna . National . Park	MP	Tigers
Indravati . National . Park	Chhattisgarh	Tiger . & . wild . Buffalo
Gir . National . Park	Gujrat	Asiatic . Lion
Marine . National . Park	Gulf . of . Kutch
Wild . Ass . Wildlife . Sanctuary	Rann . of . Katch	Wild . Ass
Simlipal . National . Park	Odisha	Tigers
Chilka . Lake . Bird . Sanctuary	Odisha
Melghat . Tiger . Reserve	Maharashtra	Tigers
Dr. . Salim . Ali . Bird . Sanctuary	Goa
NagarJuna . National . Park	Andhra . Pradesh	Tigers
Bandipur . National . Park	Karnataka	Tigers
Nagarhole . National . Park	Karnataka	Tigers . & . Elephants
Banerghatta . National . Park	Karnataka	Tigers
Silent . Valley . National . Park	Kerala
Wayanad . Wildlife . Sanctuary	Kerala	Tigers
Periyar . National . Park	Kerala	Tigers . & . Elephants
Parambikulam . Tiger . Reserve	Kerala	Tigers

Biosphere . reserves

Core . zone	Central . area . that . has . to . be . kept . undisturbed . of . all . Activities . . . Research . activities . allowed, . which . don’t . disturb . wildlife No . human . activity . is . allowed . in . this . zone
Buffer . zone	Limited . human . activity . is . permitted . viz. . tourism, . fishing, . grazing . etc. Only . activities . are . allowed . which . don’t . disturb . the . core . zone Research . activities . are . encouraged . here
Transition . zone	Outmost . part . & . not . delimitedGreater . activities . are . allowed . viz. . Settlements, . cropping, . forestry, . recreation . etc.

Biosphere . reserves . of . India
Name	State	Key . Fauna
Nilgiri . Biosphere . Reserve	Tamil . Nadu, . Kerala, . Karnataka	Lion-tailed . macaque
Gulf . of . Mannar . Biosphere . Reserve	TamilNadu	Sea . Cow
Sundarbans . Biosphere . Reserve	West . Bengal	Bengal . Tiger
Nanda . Devi . Biosphere . Reserve	Uttarakhand
Nokrek . Biosphere . Reserve	Meghalaya	Red . Panda
Pachmarhi . Biosphere . Reserve	Madhya . Pradesh	Giant . Squirrel,  . Flying . Squirrel
Simlipal . Biosphere . Reserve	Odisha
Achanakmar-Amarkantak . Biosphere . Reserve	Chhattisgarh, . MP
Great . Nicobar . Biosphere . Reserve	A . & . N	Saltwater . Crocodile
Khangchendzonga . Biosphere . Reserve	Sikkim	Snow . Leopard, . Red . Panda
Above . 10/18 . Biosphere . reserves . are . under . MAB . of . World . Network . of . Biosphere . Reserves . under . UNESCO
Manas . Biosphere . Reserve	Assam	Golden . Langur, . Red . Panda
Dibru-Saikhowa . Biosphere . Reserve	Assam	Golden . Langur
Dihang-Dibang . Biosphere . Reserve	Arunachal
Agasthyamalai . Biosphere . Reserve	Kerala, . Tamilnadu	Nilgiri . Tahrs, . Elephants
Great . Rann . of . Kutch . Biosphere . Reserve	Gujrat	Indian . Wild . Ass
Panna . Biosphere . Reserve	MP . (Latest . one . in . 2011)	Tiger, . Chital, . Chinkara, . Sambhara, . Sloth . bear
Seshachalam . Hills . Biosphere . Reserve	Andhra . Pradesh
Cold . Desert	Himachal	Snow . Leopard

Reserved . Forest	An . area . notified . under . the . provisions . of . Indian . Forest . Act . or .  . State . Forest . Act It . has . full . degree . of . protection All . activities . are . prohibited . unless . permitted
Protected . Forest	An . area . notified . under . the . provisions . of  . Indian . Forest . Act . or . State . Forest . Act It . has . limited . degree . of . protection All . activities . are . permitted . unless . prohibited
Conservation . Reserves	Can . be . declared . by . the . State . Governments . in . any . area . owned . by . the . government . Particularly . the . areas . adjacent . to . National . Parks . and . Sanctuaries .  . and . those . areas . which . link . one . Protected . Area . with . another Such . declaration . should . be . made . after . having . consultations . with . the . local . communities
Community . Reserves	Can . be . declared . by . the . State . Government . in . any . private . or . community . land Not . comprised . within . a . National . Park, . Sanctuary . or  . a . Conservation . Reserve Particularly . where . an . individual . or . a . community . has . volunteered . to . conserve . wildlife . and . its . habitat

Reserve . Forests . & . Protected . Forests .	covered . under . the . Indian . Forest . Act, . 1927 focus . here . is . not . really . on . protecting . flora/fauna, . but . on . protecting . forests . and . their . economic . wealth
National . Parks, . Sanctuaries, . Conservation . Reserves . and . Community . Reserves	covered . under . the . Wildlife . (Protection) . Act, . 1972 . focus . on . conservation . on . flora/fauna
National . Parks . and . Conservation . Reserves	boundaries . cannot . be . altered . except  . by . a . law . passed . by . the . State . Legislature, . so . the . Executive . can’t . freely . alter . boundaries other . protected . areas . do . not . have . this . protection
Biosphere . Reserves .	not . specifically . defined . by . any . Parliamentary . law . derived . from . UNESCO’s . Man . and . Biosphere . Program . (1972) a . combination . of . Reserve . Forests . / . Protected . Forests . / . National . Parks . / . Sanctuaries
Tiger . Reserves	legally . protected . areas, . covered . under . Wildlife . (Protection) . Amendment . Act, . 2006 notified . by . state . governments, . but . on . the . recommendation . of . a . Central . Authority- . the . National . Tiger . Conservation . Authority

Forest . Ecosystem

Tundra	Ice . frozen . soil . with . severe . climatic . conditions
Tropical	Lying . near . the . tropics . or . in . equatorial . region
Temperate	Between . Tropics . & . Arctic . circles . i.e. . from . 23.5* . to . 66.5* . approx.
Evergreen	Trees . do . not . shed . their . leaves . periodically . & . always . looks . filled
Deciduous	Trees . which . shed . their . leaves . periodically
Coniferous	Needle . leaved . trees
Alpine	Relating . to . high . mountains
Montane	Pertaining . to . mountainous . region

Ramsar . Convention

An . international . treaty . for . the . conservation . & . sustainable . utilization . of . wetlands, . recognizing . the . fundamental . ecological . functions . of . wetlands . & . their . economic, . cultural, . scientific, . & . recreational . value

named . after . the . city . of . Ramsar . in . Iran, . where . the . Convention . was . signed . in . 1971;

Canada . has . the . highest . area . under . wetland . and . UK . has . highest . number . of . wetlands

Montreux . Record

a . register . of . wetland . sites . on . the . List . of . Wetlands . of . International . Importance . where . changes . in . ecological . character . have . occurred, . are . occurring, . or . are . likely . to . occur . as . a . result . of . technological . developments, . pollution . or . other . human . interference

a . voluntary . mechanism . to . highlight . specific . wetland . of . international . importance . under . the . Ramsar . convention, . which . are . facing . immediate . challenges