Environmental Ecology

Pyramidal based on number, energy, biomass

●​ Pyramid of energy
○​ Energy pyramid is narrow at the top
○​ Rates of energy flow through trophic levels, not absolute amounts of energy
stored.
●​ Pyramid of Biomass
○​ The biomass in the lower trophic level is generally very high as compared to the
higher trophic level

Pollution
●​ SAFAR Index - two categories
○​ Pollutants monitored: PMI, PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, CO, Nitrogen Oxides (NO,
NO2), SO2, Black Carbon, Methane, Non-methane hydrocarbons, VOC’s,
Benzene, Mercury
○​ Monitored Meteorological Parameters: UV Radiation, Rainfall, Temperature,
Humidity,Wind speed, Wind direction, solar radiation.
●​ Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere increases
○​ Impacts on plants
■​ Increase rate of photosynthesis
■​ Decreased rate of transpiration
■​ Increase Water-use efficiency in crops

Important Gases

Ethylene Oxide ●​ Flammable gas

●​ Dissolves easily in water
●​ Applications
○​ Use in medical industry to
sterilize surgical
instruments
○​ Used by spice industry as a
fumigant to reduce
microbial contamination
such as E. Coli and
Salmonella
○​ It doesn't enhance flavour
in food, it can be toxic
●​ Intermediate product of many
useful chemicals
●​ Key ingredient in production of of
 surfactants, which are used in
detergents, shampoos, and
cleaning agents

Biodiversity
●​ India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2023
○​ Forest Survey of India (FSI)
○​ Biannual basis since 1987
○​ 18th report
○​ Forest Research Institute, Dehradun
○​ Satellite used: Linear Imaging and Self Scanning Sensor - 3 (IRS Satellite
Resourcesat
○​ Facts:
■​ Net sown area of India = 42.89% of total
■​ Total forest and tree cover = 25.17%
●​ Forest cover: 21.76%
●​ Tree cover: 3.41%
■​ Forest cover States: MP>AP>Ch
■​ Forest+Tree cover States: MP>AP>MH
■​ Tree cover States: MH>Raj>UP
●​ Chandigarh> Delhi>Kerala
■​ Increase forest cover: Miz>Guj>Od
■​ Loss forest cover: MP>Andhra>Tel> Tripura>AP
■​ Total area forest cover: Lakshadweep>Miz>A&N
■​ More than 33% forest cover: 19 States/UTs
■​ Decrease tree cover: MP>Kar>Ladakh> Nagaland
○​ Fire incidence of forests
■​ UK>Od>Chh
○​ Mangrove
■​ WB>Guj>A&N>Andhra
■​ Add: Andhra (13%), MH (12%)
■​ Decrease: Guj (36%), A&N (4.65%)
■​ Total cover: 4,991.68 km2, 0.15% of total area of India
●​ Decrease compared to 2021 by 7.43 km2.
■​ Fishbone structure for mangrove plantation
○​ Bamboo Plantation
■​ Increased compared to 2021
■​ MP>AP>MH
○​ Agroforestry
 ■​ MH>KAR
○​ Carbon stock :
■​ AP>MP>Chh>MH
○​ Wood stock :
■​ AP>UK
○​

●​ Invasive Species:
○​ Exotic species compete with the local or native species for food.
○​ Lantana camara
■​ It primarily impacts the understory of forests
■​ It increases the propensity of forest fires in the region
■​ Its fruits are edible to local species
●​ Species relationships
○​ Amensalism:
■​ Penicillium - Bacteria
■​ The fungus called bread mould or Penicillium produces penicillin, an
antibiotic, which inhibits the growth of a variety of bacteria
○​ Parasitism
■​ Plants like dodder (Cuscuta) are parasites that live on flowering plants
○​ Mutualism
■​ Bee and flower
○​ Insect eating plants
■​ Pitcher plants
●​ Umbrella Species
○​ A species whose protection also helps protect many other species in the same
habitat
●​ WPA, 1972 framework
○​ Provisions related to elephant
■​ Elephant tusks and the sale of ivory produce are totally banned in India in
any case.
■​ Act allows transfer or transport of a captive elephant for a religious or any
other purpose by a person having a valid certificate of ownership
■​ Elephants are allowed to be transferred or translocated from one State to
another.
●​ FRA, 2006
○​ It provides title rights to tribal forest dwellers
○​ Gram Sabha serves as the nodal agency to initiate proceedings for granting
rights under the Act
○​ Central Govt can notify the Critical Wildlife Habitat under the Act

●​ Species in News
 ○​ Epidelaxia falciformis and Epidelaxia palustris
■​ Jumping spiders
■​ Found in Shendurney WLS, Kerala

Biomes
Vegetation
●​ Tropical Forest Evergreen Trees
○​ Examples of Tree Species:
■​ Rosewood, Mahogany, Aini, Ebony
■​ Rubber, Beetle Nut, Jamun, Mango, Roseberry, and Bamboo
■​ Indian rosewood, Malabar Kino, Teak, Indian laurel
■​ Ceiba, Rubber tree, Banana tree, Kapok, Ramon tree
■​ Spruce, Pine, Fir, Hemlock (Northern Hemisphere), Araucaria and
Podocarpus (Southern Hemisphere)

PT 365

Categories under IUCN Red List

Indian Tiger

Indian Elephant: difference between Asian and African

Great Indian Bustard

Gharial

Biosphere Reserves

Global Forest Goals

Wetlands in India

CITES 1963, Geneva

IUCN 1948, Gland

WWF 1961, Gland

Nationally Determined Contributions

Types of Greenwashing
UNEP 1972, Nairobi

WMO 1873, 1950, Geneva

International Cryosphere Climate Initiative 2009

Water Conservation in India

Water Reuse Technology

Plastic Pollution

National Green Tribunal 2010, New Delhi

Central Ground Water Board 1970, Faridabad

Committee for Air Quality Management for National Capital 2021, New Delhi
Region and Adjoining Areas

Renewable Energy in India

Evolution of Just Transition in UNFCCC discussion

Types of Hydrogen

International Solar Alliance 2015, India

International Energy Agency 1974, Paris

International Renewable Energy Agency 2009, Abu Dhabi

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs 1948, New York

UN Sustainable Development Solution Network 2012

International Energy Efficiency Hub 2020

World Energy Council 1923, London

International Rice Research Institute - South Asia Regional 2018, Varanasi

Centre

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2019, New Delhi