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
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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/m2 . . . 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
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|
Sericulture
|
Rearing . of . silkworm
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Pisciculture
|
Fish . farming
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Floriculture
|
flower . farming
|
Viticulture
|
Grape . farming
|
Vermiculture
|
Earthworm . farming
|
Horticulture
|
Garden . or . plant . cultivation
|
Apiculture
|
Rearing . of . Honey . Bees
|
Pomoculture
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Fruits . farming
|
Olericulture
|
Vegetable . farming
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Permaculture
|
Development . of . agricultural . ecosystems . intended .
to . be . sustainable . and . self-sufficient
|
Silviculture
|
Art . of . cultivating . foreign . trees
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Hydroculture
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Aquatic . Horticulture
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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
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Fisheries
|
Green . revolution
|
Agriculture . – . Reduced . Biodiversity . of .
Rice . & . Wheat
|
Pink . revolution
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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
