Environmental Science- Compulsory Paper Credit 2

Unit 1: Introduction to EVS

MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
The word environment is derived from the French word ‘environment’ which means to
‘encircle or surround’.
Definition:-Environment literally means the surrounding in which we are living.
Environment includes all those things on which we are directly or indirectly dependent for
our survival, whether it is a living components like animals, plants or non-living component
like soil, air water.
Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined “Environment as the sum total of water, air and
land, their interrelationship among themselves and with the human beings, other living beings
and property.”
Segments of environment
1. Atmosphere- The Atmosphere is the Protective blanket of gases surrounding the earth. It
sustains life on the earth and saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
2. Hydrosphere- The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas,
lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water
3. Lithosphere- Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It contains various types of
soils and rocks on the earth.
4. Biosphere- Biosphere composed of all living organisms and their interactions with the
environment.
Scope of the environment:
• Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It includes a large number of areas and
aspects, which may be summarized as follows:
o Natural resources- their conservation and management
o Ecology and Biodiversity
o Environmental pollution and control
o Human population and environment
o Social issues in relation to development and environment
• Several career options have emerged in these fields that are broadly categorized:
o Research and development in an environment
o Green advocacy
o Green marketing
o Green Media
o Environmental consultancy
Importance of environmental studies
Environmental factors greatly influence every organism and their activities.
The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation
ofour natural resources, indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment etc.
Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons:
1. Environment Issues are being global: It has been well recognized that environment
issues like global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and loss of
biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence require
international efforts to solve them.
2. Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development: Development, in its wake gave birth
to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc.
However, it has become phased out in the developed world.
3. Explosively Increase in Pollution: World census reflects that one in every seven persons
in this plant 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.
4. Need for An Alternative Solution: It is essential, specially for developing countries to
find alternative paths to an alternative goal. (1) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of
development an environmentally sound and sustainable development. (2) A goal common to
all citizens of our earth.
5. Need For Wise Planning of Development: Our survival and sustenance depend.
Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product have all to be synchronized with the
ecological cycles in any plan of development. Our actions should be planned ecologically for
the sustenance of the environment and development.
Need for public awareness

➢ Increasing population, urbanization and poverty have generated pressure on the natural
resources and lead to a degradation of the environment.

➢ To prevent the environment from further degradation ,the supreme court has ordered and
initiated environment protection awareness through government and non-government
agencies to take part in protecting our environment.

➢ Environmental pollution cannot be prevented by laws alone. Public participation is equally

important with regard to environmental protection.

➢ Environmental education is a process of learning by giving an overall perspective of

knowledge and awareness of the environment.

➢ It sensitizes the society about environmental issues and challenges interested individuals
to develop skills and expertise thereby providing appropriate solution.
 ➢ Climate change, loss of diversity ,ozone layer depletion, illegal trade of endangered
species, destruction of habitats, land degradation, environmental pollution, storm water pose
a serious threat to ecosystem in forest, rural, urban and marine ecosystem.

➢ Both formal and informal education on the environment will give the interested individual
the knowledge, values, skills and tools needed to the face the environmental challenges on a
local and global level.

Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies

➢ The Environment studies is a multi-disciplinary science because it comprises various

branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical science, life science, agriculture, public
health, sanitary engineering etc.

➢ It is the science of physical phenomena in the environment. It studies about the sources,
reactions, transport, effect and fate of physical and biological species in the air, water, soil
and the effect of from human activity upon these.

➢ As the environment is complex and actually made up of many different environments like
natural, constructed and cultural environments, environmental studies is inter disciplinary in
nature including the study of biology, geology, politics, policy studies, law, religion
engineering, chemistry and economics to understand the humanity’s effects on the natural
world.

➢ This subject educates the students to appreciate the complexity of environmental issues
and citizens and experts in many fields.

➢ By studying environmental science, students may develop a breadth of the

interdisciplinary and methodological knowledge in the environmental fields that enables them
to facilitate the definition and solution of environmental problems.

Sustainability is the concept of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economic, social, and environmental
considerations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the UN in 2015, are
a universal set of 17 interconnected goals and 169 targets to end poverty, protect the planet,
and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

Concept of sustainability

Definition: A development approach that integrates three key pillars: economic growth,
social equity, and environmental protection.

Three Pillars:

o Economic: Ensuring long-term economic viability.

o Social: Promoting well-being, equity, and justice for all.

o Environmental: Protecting the planet and its resources.

Holistic approach: The SDGs move away from siloed approaches and emphasize that these
three pillars are interconnected and indivisible.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Adoption: Adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.

• Purpose: A universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that
everyone enjoys peace and prosperity.

Key features:

o 17 Goals: A set of specific goals to address a wide range of global challenges like poverty,
hunger, climate change, and inequality.

o 169 Targets: Each goal has associated targets that provide specific objectives to be reached.

o "Leaving no one behind": The SDGs are built on the principle of inclusivity and aim to
address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.

The list are:

1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Affordable and clean energy
8. Decent work and economic growth
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and economies
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life below water
15. Life on land
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
17. Partnership for the goals
An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology where the living organisms
interact with each other and the surrounding environment. In other words, an ecosystem is a
chain of interactions between organisms and their environment. The term “Ecosystem” was
first coined by [Link], an English botanist, in 1935.

Read on to explore the structure, components, types and functions of the ecosystem in the
notes provided below.

Structure of the Ecosystem

The structure of an ecosystem is characterised by the organisation of both biotic and abiotic
components. This includes the distribution of energy in our environment. It also includes the
climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment.

The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two main components, namely:

• Biotic Components
• Abiotic Components
The biotic and abiotic components are interrelated in an ecosystem. It is an open system
where the energy and components can flow throughout the boundaries.

Biotic Components

Biotic components refer to all living components in an ecosystem. Based on nutrition, biotic
components can be categorised into autotrophs, heterotrophs and saprotrophs (or
decomposers).

• Producers include all autotrophs such as plants. They are called autotrophs as they
can produce food through the process of photosynthesis. Consequently, all other
organisms higher up on the food chain rely on producers for food.
• Consumers or heterotrophs are organisms that depend on other organisms for food.
Consumers are further classified into primary consumers, secondary consumers and
tertiary consumers.
• Primary consumers are always herbivores as they rely on producers for food.
• Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers for energy. They can
either be carnivores or omnivores.
• Tertiary consumers are organisms that depend on secondary consumers for
food. Tertiary consumers can also be carnivores or omnivores.

• Quaternary consumers are present in some food chains. These organisms

prey on tertiary consumers for energy. Furthermore, they are usually at the top
of a food chain as they have no natural predators.
 • Decomposers include saprophytes such as fungi and bacteria. They directly thrive on
the dead and decaying organic matter. Decomposers are essential for the ecosystem
as they help in recycling nutrients to be reused by plants.

Abiotic Components

Abiotic components are the non-living component of an ecosystem. It includes air, water,
soil, minerals, sunlight, temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude, turbidity, etc.

Functions of Ecosystem

The functions of the ecosystem are as follows:

1. It regulates the essential ecological processes, supports life systems and renders stability.

2. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients between biotic and abiotic components.

3. It maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the ecosystem.

4. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.

5. The abiotic components help in the synthesis of organic components that involve the
exchange of energy.

So the functional units of an ecosystem or functional components that work together in an

ecosystem are:

• Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass production.

• Energy flow – It is the sequential process through which energy flows from one
trophic level to another. The energy captured from the sun flows from producers to
consumers and then to decomposers and finally back to the environment.
• Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown of dead organic material. The top-
soil is the major site for decomposition.
• Nutrient cycling – In an ecosystem nutrients are consumed and recycled back in
various forms for the utilisation by various organisms.

Types of Ecosystem

An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning

thousands of miles. There are two types of ecosystem:

• Terrestrial Ecosystem
• Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem

Terrestrial ecosystems are exclusively land-based ecosystems. There are different types of
terrestrial ecosystems distributed around various geological zones. They are as follows:

1. Forest Ecosystem
2. Grassland Ecosystem
3. Tundra Ecosystem
4. Desert Ecosystem

Forest Ecosystem

A forest ecosystem consists of several plants, particularly trees, animals and microorganisms
that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment. Forests help in
maintaining the temperature of the earth and are the major carbon sink.

Grassland Ecosystem

In a grassland ecosystem, the vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs. Temperate

grasslands and tropical or savanna grasslands are examples of grassland ecosystems.

Tundra Ecosystem

Tundra ecosystems are devoid of trees and are found in cold climates or where rainfall is
scarce. These are covered with snow for most of the year. Tundra type of ecosystem is found
in the Arctic or mountain tops.

Desert Ecosystem

Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with little rainfall and scarce
vegetation. The days are hot, and the nights are cold.

Aquatic Ecosystem

Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can be further divided
into two types, namely:

1. Freshwater Ecosystem
2. Marine Ecosystem

Freshwater Ecosystem

The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds, rivers, streams
and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the marine ecosystem.
Marine Ecosystem

The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more substantial salt content
and greater biodiversity in comparison to the freshwater ecosystem.

Important Ecological Concepts

1. Food Chain

The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It provides the energy required for all plant
life. The plants utilise this energy for the process of photosynthesis, which is used to
synthesise their food.

During this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and is passed
on through successive trophic levels. The flow of energy from a producer, to a consumer and
eventually, to an apex predator or a detritivore is called the food chain.

Dead and decaying matter, along with organic debris, is broken down into its constituents by
scavengers. The reducers then absorb these constituents. After gaining the energy, the
reducers liberate molecules to the environment, which can be utilised again by the producers.

2. Ecological Pyramids

An ecological pyramid is the graphical representation of the number, energy, and biomass of
the successive trophic levels of an ecosystem. Charles Elton was the first ecologist to
describe the ecological pyramid and its principals in 1927.

The biomass, number, and energy of organisms ranging from the producer level to the
consumer level are represented in the form of a pyramid; hence, it is known as the ecological
pyramid.

The base of the ecological pyramid comprises the producers, followed by primary and
secondary consumers. The tertiary consumers hold the apex. In some food chains, the
quaternary consumers are at the very apex of the food chain.

The producers generally outnumber the primary consumers and similarly, the primary
consumers outnumber the secondary consumers. And lastly, apex predators also follow the
same trend as the other consumers; wherein, their numbers are considerably lower than the
secondary consumers.

For example, Grasshoppers feed on crops such as cotton and wheat, which are plentiful.
These grasshoppers are then preyed upon by common mouse, which are comparatively less in
number. The mice are preyed upon by snakes such as cobras. Snakes are ultimately preyed on
by apex predators such as the brown snake eagle.

In essence:

Grasshopper →Mouse→ Cobra → Brown Snake Eagle

3. Food Web

Food web is a network of interconnected food chains. It comprises all the food chains within
a single ecosystem. It helps in understanding that plants lay the foundation of all the food
chains. In a marine environment, phytoplankton forms the primary producer.

Terrestrial ecosystems are those ecosystems that are found on the land, i.e. the interactions
between the living and the non-living parts of an ecosystem take place on the land masses.

Types of Terrestrial Ecosystems

Broadly, there are of four types of terrestrial ecosystems:

• Forest Ecosystems,
• Grassland Ecosystems,
• Desert Ecosystems,

Apart from them, there are some other types of terrestrial ecosystems that are found in India,
such as – Mountain Ecosystem, and Ghats Ecosystem.

Each of these terrestrial ecosystems is discussed in detail in the sections that follow.

Forest Ecosystem

• A forest is a large area covered predominantly with trees and undergrowth.

• This is a type of terrestrial ecosystem that supports the rich growth of trees.
• Depending upon the density of trees, forests can be categorised into two types – dense
forests and open forests.
• Forests are spread over approximately 30 per cent of the world’s land.
• Examples: tropical rainforests, coniferous forests etc.

Grassland Ecosystem

• A grassland is a type of terrestrial ecosystem that is characterized by vast open spaces

dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants, with few or no trees.
• Grasslands are found in those regions that have the ability to support vegetation but
not to the extent of supporting big trees.
• These are the intermediate stages (seral stage) of ecological succession, culminating
finally in forested areas.
• Important Grasslands of the world are as follows:
Tropical Grasslands

• There are regions in the tropical area that do not receive enough rainfall to support
extensive tree cover, thus forming grasslands.
• These grasslands are also known as Savannah.
• These areas are dry but not as much as the desert areas. For example, Sahel is south of
the Sahara, in East Africa, and in Australia.

Temperate Grasslands

• These grasslands are found in the mid latitude region and in the interior parts of the
continents where the rainfall is low to moderate.
• These grasslands are known by different names in different regions of the world,
such as
o Pampas in Argentina,
o Downs in Australia,
o Prairies in Central North American Plains,
o Pustaz in Hungary,
o Steppes in Russia, and
o Velds in South Africa.
• The annual precipitation ranges from 25 cm to 75 cm, most of which is in the form of
snow, and temperature variation is high as these regions experience hot summer and
cold winters.

Desert Ecosystem

• Deserts are those regions that receive an extremely low amount of rainfall (less than
25 cm annually) resulting in less vegetation compared to humid areas.
• This type of terrestrial ecosystem experiences a wide range of temperature and
climate variations.
• The Desert ecosystem can again be categorised into two types: Hot deserts and Cold
deserts.
• Some of the important deserts of the world are as follows.

Hot Deserts

• Rainfall in these terrestrial ecosystems is generally too low (below 25 cm) to support
proper vegetation.
• The soil is also coarse with good drainage so most of the rain water percolates into the
soil.
• Examples of hot deserts include Kalahari (south-west Africa), Sahara (North Africa),
Monte (Argentina) etc.
• In India, it is found in the Thar region of Rajasthan, extending into some parts of
Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat.
• It has long sandy plains with changing sand dunes.
o It has long sandy plains with changing sand dunes.
Cold Deserts or Temperate Deserts

• The cold deserts are mainly found in higher latitude regions or the higher altitudes in
tropical areas.
• Rainfall is scant and thus dry conditions prevail which may be due to remoteness from
the coasts or presence of high mountains separating the desert from the coast.
• In India, the Cold Desert is situated in the Western Himalayas.
o It stretches from Ladakh in the north to Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) in the
south.

An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem where interactions among the different organisms and
their environment take place in water bodies.

Types of Aquatic Ecosystems

• Based on their salinity levels, these are, broadly, two types of aquatic ecosystems:
o Freshwater Ecosystems, and
o Marine Ecosystems.
• Apart from these, there are some other types of aquatic ecosystems, which are widely
found in India, such as – Estuaries, Mangroves, Coral Reefs, Seagrasses, etc.

Each of these aquatic ecosystems is discussed in detail in the sections that follow.

Freshwater Ecosystem

• Freshwater ecosystem is defined as an aquatic ecosystem having salt concentration

usually less than 1% and is continuously cycling.
• For example, pond ecosystem, lake ecosystem and river ecosystem.
• Only 0.8 per cent of the earth’s surface is covered by the freshwater ecosystem.

Categories of Freshwater Ecosystems

Based on the mobility of water in these ecosystems, the freshwater ecosystem can again be
categorised into two types:

• Lentic Freshwater Ecosystems, and

• Lotic Freshwater Ecosystems.

Lentic Freshwater Ecosystem

• These are the systems where the water is stagnant and has no exit.
• These are generally formed in a depression on the earth’s surface where water from
other sources accumulates.
o Lentic systems, therefore, are closed systems.
• These ecosystems experience stratification as the water is stagnant.

Lotic Freshwater Ecosystem

• These ecosystems are characterised by rapid unidirectional flow of water.

• For example, rivers and streams, springs, mountain brooks etc.
 • These ecosystems serve the function of transferring the surplus rainwater back to the
ocean.
• As compared to the lentic ecosystem, plant diversity is low in the lotic freshwater
ecosystem, as the moving water poses a survival threat to plants, especially the big
ones.

Types of Freshwater Aquatic Ecosystems

• The freshwater ecosystems can also be classified into lakes, flood ponds and rivers.
• Each of these freshwater aquatic ecosystems is discussed below in detail.

Lakes

• A body of water is considered a lake when it is inland and not part of the ocean.
• It is also deeper than a pond.
• It is an area of variable size filled with water, localised in a basin that is encircled by
land and some rivers or other outlets that feeds or drains the lake.
• Generally, natural lakes are found in mountainous areas, rift zones, and areas with
ongoing or recent glaciation.
• Examples: Loktak lake, Wular lake etc.

Flood Ponds

• Most of the ponds are filled up during the rainy seasons only and are dried up in other
seasons.
• In its dry phase, many life forms, such as the algae and microscopic animals, aquatic
insects, snails, and worms etc. remain dormant and become active in the monsoon
season.

Rivers

• These aquatic ecosystems are the flowing water bodies on land surfaces, carrying
surplus water of rain to discharge into an ocean.
• For example, river Yamuna, Ganga and Tapti, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada etc.

Marine Ecosystem

• This type of aquatic ecosystem includes oceans, estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, coral
reefs, the deep sea, and the sea floor.
• These ecosystems cover around 71 per cent of the earth’s surface.
• Marine ecosystems have high concentrations of salts.
• As we move from coastal areas to the ocean, the depth of water increases, and thus
different types of ecosystems develop.
• The producers in this ecosystem vary from microscopic algae to large seaweeds.
• There are millions of zooplankton and a large variety of invertebrates on which live
fish, turtles and marine mammals.
• The top layer of the ocean is highly productive and the substratum of the ocean is less
productive.
Zones in Marine Ecosystem
Marine ecosystems are stratified into various zones based on depth, light penetration, and
ecological characteristics.

Photic Zone or Euphotic Zone

• Extends from the surface to about 200 meters (656 feet).

• Receives sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.
• It is the warmest layer, which supports a diverse range of photosynthetic organisms
like phytoplankton and algae and is the most biologically productive zone.

Disphotic Zone

• Extends from the lower limit of the euphotic zone (around 200 meters) to about 1000
meters (3280 feet).
• Receives minimal sunlight, insufficient for photosynthesis but enough to influence the
behavior of some organisms.
• It acts as a transitional area between the photic and aphotic zones and supports species
adapted to low-light conditions.

Aphotic Zone

• Begins around 1000 meters and extends to the ocean floor.

• No sunlight reaches this zone.
• It houses a dark, cold, and high-pressure environment and relies on organic matter
falling from upper layers (marine snow) for sustenance.

Factors Affecting Marine Ecosystem

The organisms in marine ecosystems are not evenly distributed and depend on many factors,
as explained below.

• Availability of Light: The majority of biodiversity is present in the zones where

sunlight is present.
 • Proximity to Land: Areas close to the lands are rich in nutrients brought about by
many rivers.
o This is why the greatest diversity of marine organisms is typically found in the
tidal zone close to the shore.
• Depth of Water: It plays a significant role as the pressure increases with the depth.
o Thus, organisms at great depths show adaptation to this increased pressure.

Variants in Marine Ecosystem

Open Marine Ecosystems

• This is also known as the Euphotic Zone and extends upto a depth of around 150
meters.
• Open Marine Ecosystem includes types of sea life that float or swim, such as
plankton, algae, jellyfish and whales.

Ocean Floor Ecosystems

• Marine life exists not only in the open ocean waters but on its floor as well.
• Being at greater depths, sunlight cannot penetrate to this region, and organisms
inhabiting this area rely on the sinking of organic matter above for survival.
• Most of these organisms are small in size, and generate their own light to attract or
find food sources.
• Examples of ocean floor ecosystem includes invertebrates such as crabs, jellyfish,
squids, corals, sperm whales, etc.

Estuaries

• Estuaries are the meeting place of rivers carrying freshwater and silt load with the
saline water of the oceans.
• This aquatic ecosystem represents an ecotone, a transition zone, between the
freshwater ecosystem and the marine ecosystem.
• These ecosystems are highly dynamic as the river is continuously bringing the load
with it and the amount of load is also varying.
• Examples of estuaries are coastal bays, tidal marshes, lagoons and deltas.
• As it is continuously replenished by the sediments brought by the freshwater sources
and also from the ocean, they tend to have very high level of nutrition which in turn
supports very high diversity of organisms.
• This biodiversity is generally higher than both the freshwater and marine water
ecosystem as it has characteristics of both the ecosystems.
• Mangrove forests are found near the mouth of the rivers and deltas.
• Example Sundarban delta.

Threats to Estuaries:
These ecosystems are under grave threat due to a variety of reasons which include:

• population growth and changing land use patterns, putting an excessive burden on the
ecosystem,
• polluted runoff from human activities like waste from Industries and urban centres,
• Construction of dams blocks upstream and downstream passages for migrating fish,
and global warming, leading to submergence of coastal areas, etc.