ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENT 1.Introduction 2.Ecology 3.

Ecosystem

4.Food chain
5.Eltonian pyramids 6.Biogeochemical cycle

7.Bio-diversity

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1. INTRODUCTION
The environment is subject to changes either natural

or by man activities. Most of changes are assimilated by the environment without any appreciable microbes on living organisams- plants,animals and microbes.

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2. ECOLOGY
The science dealing with changes in environment and

causes and effects is defined as ecology. Ecology is the science of community and environment. Ecology is the study of structure and function of ecosystem or broadly of nature.

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3 . Ecosystems:

Fundamental Characteristics

Structure:
Living (biotic) Nonliving (abiotic)

Process:
Energy flow Cycling of matter (chemicals)

Change:
Dynamic (not static) Succession, etc.

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3.1 Abiotic components:

ABIOTIC components:

Solar energy provides practically all the energy for

ecosystems. Inorganic substances, e.g., sulfur, boron, tend to cycle through ecosystems. Organic compounds, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and other complex molecules, form a link between biotic and abiotic components of the system.

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3.2 BIOTIC components

The biotic components of an ecosystem can be

classified according to their mode of energy acquisition. In this type of classification, there are: Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Organisms that produce their own food from an energy source, such as the sun, and inorganic compounds. Organisms that consume other organisms as a food source.

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4. Food Chains
The producers, consumers, and decomposers of each

ecosystem make up a food chain. There are many food chains in an ecosystem. Food chains show where energy is transferred and not who eats who.

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Example of a Food Chain

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5. ELTONIAN PYRAMID
Energy flow from one tropic level to another tropic

level. This concept of energy transformation was expressed by charles elton the british ecologist using the proverb, one hill can not shelter two tigers.

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5.1 ECOLOGOCAL PYRAMID

The pyramid are prepared with respect to number,

volume and biomass of organisams in a food chain. Solar energy does not return to sun in a cyclic way.i.e. energy pyramid is an open pyramid. There is cyclic movement of nutrients the ecological pyramids represent the tropic structure and functions of ecosystem.

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5.2 Energy Pyramid

The greatest amount of energy is found at the base of the pyramid. The least amount of energy is found at top of the pyramid.

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Trophic level: All the organisms that are the same number of food-chain steps from the primary source of energy

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6. Biogeochemical cycles

Nitrogen Phosphorus cycle cycle Carbon cycle

Hydrologic cycleAarsh mahavidyalaya

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6.1 HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

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 Water is an important constituent of the environment. Living plants and animal contain about 70% water.

The cycle includes all he forms of water solid liquid and

gases . Due to solar radiations evaporation of water from oceans and surface water bodies takes place. The rain on earth aquifers finds its way in rivers and streams as runoff. The part of rain water also finds its way into subsurface aquifers. The remaining water is in inland seas, atmosphere, living biomass and stream channels.
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6.2 CARBON CYCLE

Carbon in Atmosphere

Decomposers break down dead things, releasing carbon to atmosphere and soil Fossil fuels are burned; carbon is returned to atmosphere

Plants use carbon to make food Plants and animals die Animals eat plants and take in carbon

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 Major constitutes of life are carbon,oxygen and

hydrogen. Carbon is about 49%in living plants and animals. Plants obtain carbon as food from atmosphere by process of photosynthesis in presence of sun light. Plants are food humans and animals. Dead plants and animals form sediments. Dead plant from buried deep in the ground form fossil fuel very long span of geological time.
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6.3 NITROGEN CYCLE

Atmosphere

Biosphere Net Effect: Increase in Nitrogen in water & soil

Nitrogen fixation: industrial (fertilizer) combustion

Increased Erosion

Hydrosphere
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Lithosphere

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 The nitrogen is most complex compound of nutrient

cycle. The nitrogen is available in different forms in nature . In the constitution of plants and animals nitrogen is an important element. In atmosphere approximately 78%is nitrogen gas. Plant get nitrogen form soil/fertilizer in the form of nitrate. Some nitrates are soluble in water and enter sea through river flow.
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6.4 PHOSPHORUS CYCLE

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 Phosphorus is an essential and important element in

protoplasm. It is required in very small quantity only about 1/10 as much as nitrogen. Links between phosphorous in soil and in ocean are very week. Very little dissolved phosphorous are carried by river water due to less solubility.

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7. BIODIVERSITY
There are very large number of species of plants

animals and microbes available on earth depend on available environnment and changes taking place in environment conditions. Biological diversity of life is termed as biodiversity. There are about 30 to 50 lakhs species of different life forms are on earth however detailed information of only 15 to 20 lakhs of species is available.

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NECESSITY OF BIODIVERSITY
Urbanization

Deforestation
Desertification Improper agricultural practicles,increased pollution.

Continuous discharge of wastes oceans spill of oil in

oceans. In india about 15,000 plant species and 75,ooo animals species are on the verge of extinction due to man activities on forest land.
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