Air, water, soil, Fire

1. Antoine Vella
of the Environment
BY KANWAL NISA

2. Atmosphere
Soil
Water
Light
Temperature
Precipitation
Humidity
Wind
Fire
Soil
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4. Constituent of protoplasm
Act as solvent
Agent for chemical transformation of material within body
4

5. Forms
In three forms
Atmospheric moisture
As invisible vapours-humidity
Visible vapours-Fog or cloud

6. Hydrophytes- large quantity of water
Mesophytes-Moderate amount of water
Xerophytes-Long period without water bear dry conditions
Hydroceles-Animal require large amount of water
Xerocoeles-Tolerate extreme dry conditions
Mesocoeles-Require moderate water

7. Adaptations in Hydrophytes
Free Floating-Float freely on water
Rooted with floating leaves-Root fixed in mud and leaves
float
Submerged Floating-Completely submerged not rooted
Rooted Submerged-Completely submerged in water but
rooted
Rooted Emergent-Grow in shallow water require excess
water

8. Adaptations in Xerophytes
Ephemerals-Short lived complete life cycle in short period and
avoid dry season like spring beauties
Succulents-Storage of water in their tissues occur like cactus
True Xerophytes-Maintain growth under water stress or high
temperature
Like Woody tress, herbs and shrubs

9. Adaptations in Xerocoeles
Drought Evaders-
Dormant during unfavourable conditions
Aestivation or hibernation
Toad in aestivation 8-10 months reappear in rain
Bird nest in rainy season when food is abundant
Drought resister
Active throughout the year
In shades or rodents in burrows
Kangaroo rat
can live on dry seeds obtain water from metabolic process

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VIBGYOR
Sunlight is the primary source of energy in
nearly all ecosystems.

11. Visible light is of the greatest importance to plants because it is
necessary for photosynthesis.
11

12. Light is the energy that is used by green plants (which contain
chlorophyll) during the process of photosynthesis; a process
during which plants
manufacture sugar
by combining water
(found in the soil)
and carbon dioxide
obtained from the
air.
12

13. Photosynthesis is the ‘knitting’ together of carbon dioxide from
the air and water from the soil to produce simple sugars. The
energy needed to do this comes from light.
13

14. Light requirements of plants differ and, as a result, distinct
layers, or stratification, can be observed in an ecosystem.
Plants which grow well in bright sunlight are called heliophytes
(Greek helios, sun) while plants which grow well in shady
conditions are known as sciophytes (Greek skia, shade ) 12

15. Effects of Light on Animals
Metabolism
Increase light increase metabolic activity, enzymatic activity
Salmon Larvae
Pigmentation
Skin pigment proportional to sunlight
Animals in caves lack pigment
Polar bears white in colour blend with snowy background
Movement
Euglena Positive Photo tactic
Earthworm negative Photo tactic

16. Factors such as the
following all play an
important part in an
ecosystem.
• quality of light,
• intensity of light
• length of light period
(day length)
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17. Quality of light refers both to its wavelength and its colour.
Plants absorb blue and red light during photosynthesis.
17

18. Certain plants flower only
during certain times of the year.
One of the reasons for this is
that these plants are able to
"measure" the length of the
night (dark periods).
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19. These plants flower only if they experience nights which are
longer than a certain critical length. Chrysanthemum and
poinsettia are examples of short day plants.
19

20. These plants flower if they experience
nights which are shorter than a certain
critical length. Spinach, wheat and radish
are examples of long-day plants.
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21. The flowering of day-
neutral plants is not
influenced by night
length.
Tomato and maize are
examples of day-
neutral plants.
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22. Photonasty is the movement of parts of a plant in response to a
light source, but the direction of the stimulus does not
determine the direction of the movement of the plant.
22

23. We can see the dramatic
effects of lack of light on a
cactus.
The cladodes which have
developed in lack of light are
small, elongated and pale.
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24. These are examples of sunburn on fruits.
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Adaptations in warm blooded
Animals
Blood, Fat, Hair, Sweating

26. Terms
Megatherms -Where high T occur throughout year
Mesotherms-Where high T alternates with low T
Microtherms-Where low T throughout the year
Hekistotherms – With very low temperature
Ectothermic
Cold blooded animals like Reptiles and amphibians
Endothermic
Warm blooded animals like birds and mammals

27. The occurrence or non-occurrence of frost is a particularly
important determinant of plant distribution since many plants
cannot prevent their tissues from freezing or survive the freezing
and thawing processes.
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28. Some fruit trees such as the peach require a cold period each
year so that they can blossom in spring.
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29. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter and enter into a state
of dormancy, where the buds are covered for protection against
the cold.
Peach buds Plum buds 46

30. In deserts, there is a greater temperature variation between day
and night and organisms have distinct periods of activity and
dormancy.
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31. High temperatures cause damage not only directly but also because
they are usually accompanied by low humidity and draught. This
causes dehydration of the plant tissues and result in its death.
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32. Low temperatures can hinder and inhibit the rate of
development and cause bloom fall. Most plants are damaged if
temperatures drop below 0° C.
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33. The most important gases used by
plants and animals are:
Oxygen (O)is used by all living
organisms during respiration.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used by green
plants during photosynthesis.
Nitrogen (N) is made available to
plants by certain bacteria and through
the action of lightning.
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Air in Motion is wind
Moves from area of high to low pressure

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Stem Breaks
Changes in Shoot
Flattering of Plants
Ice Particles
Soil Erosion
Dry wind cause dehydration
Wind Effects

36. Winds carry water vapour which may condense and fall in the
form of rain, snow or hail.
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37. Wind plays a role in pollination and seed
dispersal of some plants.
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38. Precipitation
is any product of the condensation of atmospheric
water vapour that falls under gravitational pull from
clouds.

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Drops of liquid water which are larger and heavier
Gentle and steady rain good for Plants
Heavy Rain

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Any moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon
their surfaces. (uncountable) Moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc
in the morning or evening, resulting in drops.

42. Dew is water in the form of
droplets that appears on thin,
exposed objects in the morning
or evening. As the exposed
surface cools at night the
moisture in the air condenses
and forms water droplets.
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43. In dry Mediterranean climates, dew is an extremely important
source of water for trees in summer. 100

44. On the island of Pantelleria, special structures are built around
single citrus tree.
These are know as
“giardini Panteschi”
and are essential
for the survival of
the tree.
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45. Dew is essential for the
survival of many plants in hot
dry summers but it can also
favour the onset of disease as
many fungal pathogens thrive
in the high relative humidity.
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Mould forming on grapes.

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Water in the form of particles floating or falling in the
atmosphere at or near the surface of the earth and approaching
the form of rain

47. The formation of mist follows
the same principle as that of
dew. Water moisture in the air
condenses and forms tiny
droplets.
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Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It is distinct from ice
pellets It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each
of which is called a hailstone

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51. Hail damage on tomato plants.
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Deciduous trees drop
their leaves to protect
themselves from the
effects of snow and
very low
temperatures.
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54. Conifers have
physical adaptations
- especially in their
leaves - to withstand
being covered in
snow without
suffering injury.
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55. When immature crops are damaged by frost, yield and quality
can all be affected.
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Antoine Vella

56. When only a portion of leaves
are killed, those not killed can
and will continue to function
and contribute to yield if good
growing conditions exist after
the frost.
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57. Fire
Important in North America and Australia grasslands
• Source of ignition
• Lightening
• Man
• Forest Fire
• Surface fire-burn little grass or seedlings
• Crown Fire-hot fire burn the tree top or forest fire
• Ground Fire-where organic matter occur in heaps burn the
decayed leaves

58. Harmful Effects
• Destroy trophic levels
• Release nutrients through ash production
• Increase sporulation
• Stimulate germination of seeds
• Control outbreak of tree diseases and pest
• Eliminate species and maintain desired species in ecosystem

59. Soil
Upper layer of earth crust to which most plants are rooted and
from where they drive their water and nutrient supply soil is mean
of support and shelter it contains organic and inorganic substances
and microrganisms

60. Soil Components
Soil components arranged in series of zones called as Soil Horizons
A cross sectional view of horizons in a soil is called as Soil profile
A mature soil have four horizons
An organic O horizon
And three mineral horizons (A,B and C)
O Horizon
This is the uppermost horizon of soil also
called surface
litter layer
This again differentiate in to two layers
O one and O two

61. O Horizon
O1
It is top layer of soil consist of freshly fallen litter mostly present in
soil of forests but absent in deserts, grassland and cultivated fields
O2
Layer below litter layer where litter broken in small fragments and
partly decomposed layer is with microorganisms and animals like
insects, nematodes also known as duff layer
A Horizon
A horizon or top soil layer is a porous mixture of partially
decomposed organic matter with living organism and some in
organic mineral particles

62. Con…
A1
Plant and animals remains are completely decomposed forming
light amorphous substances grey to black in colour called humus
this region having mixture of humus and mineral particles is
termed as humid region
A2
This region is of light colour where mineral particles are of large
size with very little humus most minerals like silicates , clay
oxides of iron and aluminium leach down called as leaching zone

63. B-Horizon
Mineral components of soil become hard due to cementing action
Of iron calcium carbonate deposits are found where organic matter
is poor while root of shrubs and big tree reach here this is subsoil
layer
C Horizon
It is light coloured and completely lack organic material which is
composed of partially broken down inorganic material of parent
bedrock
R Horizon
Parent un weathered bedrock it is impenetrable layer except
fractures

64. Process of Soil Formation
Two process usually occur in formation
Weathering and maturation
Weathering
is process by which large rock is broken down into smaller
fragments long process occurring in certain climatic conditions The
mechanical and physical process of weathering include action
of water, temperature, glaciers and gravity
This cause weathering of rock through wet-drying, heating-cooling
and freezing

65. Con…..
Chemical weathering include hydration, oxidation and carbonation
of minerals compounds in rock by the action of weak acids
Biological agents like lichens and mosses secrete various organic
acids and produce humic acids after the death and decay cause
biological weathering
Maturation
Weathered material undergo number of changes that are very
complex called as Paedogenesis it is totally biological phenomenon

66. Con…….
It is done by the biological organism like lichens, mosses, fungi
bacteria and algae as a result of secretion of acids and enzymes,
addition of organic matter after death bring geochemical,
biophysical and biochemical changes due to this crust of
weathered rock is converted to true soil consisting of complex
mineral matrix with organic compounds and microorganisms
Soil Types
Residual Soil
Transported Soil

67. Residual Soil
In which the whole process of soil formation weathering and
maturation occur at the same place where the parent or bedrock is
present
Transported Soil
Are those where weathered material is shifted to different places
by various agencies maturation of soil occur at new places
Alluvial-carried by river and streams
Aeolian-carried by wind
Moraine-by glaciers
Colluvial-by gravitational forces

68. Con…
Lacustrine-By wave action of standing water
Marine-By Oceanic waves
Classification on the basis of texture of mineral Particles
Sandy Soil-Consist of sand particles it is loose and dry with poor
water holding capacity and nutrients are very poor it is not
suitable form plant growth
Clayey Soil-It consist of clay particles which remain closely fused
together with very fine interspaces water and air hardly penetrate
it is not good for plant growth

69. Con….
Loam Soil-Soil contain equal quality of sand, clay and slit these are
good for plant growth
Sandy loam Soil-If sand is more in loam soil it is also good for plant
growth
Slit loam Soil- If slit is more in loam soil it is not suitable for plant
growth as it becomes water logged on getting water
Properties of Soil
Soil texture-Refers to proportion of mineral particle of various size
Clay-------------less than 0.002mm
Slit--------------0.002-0.02mm
Sand(fine)--------0.02-0.20mm

70. Con…
Sand(Coarse)-----------0.20-2.0mm
Stones and gravel---------above 2.0mm
Soil texture determines soil porosity larger particles are inert
water held in these spaces is very little
Soil atmosphere- Gases found in pore spaces of soil profile form
soil atmosphere with main gases carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Its
atmosphere is affected by temperature, pressure etc.
Soil water-The main source is precipitation it is further divided
into
Gravitational Water-Extra amount of water displaces air from
pore spaces between soil particles and finally accumulated in pore
spaces

72. Con….
Gravitational water further percolates down and reaches to
bedrock it is called ground water the upper surface of ground
water is called water table
Capillary water- Water which is held by capillary force in smaller
soil channels when the gravitational and ground water have been
Drained it occur as thin film around soil particles in capillary spaces
remain in soil for long periods and carries with it nutrients in
solution
Hygroscopic Water-Held tightly by the small particles of the soil as
a result of cohesive and adhesive forces cannot easily absorbed by
plants

73. Con….
Water Vapour-Some water in soil is present in vaporous form in
pore spaces between soil particles
Combined Water-Present in the form of hydrated oxide of
aluminiunm,iron and silicon in soil
Inorganic Elements of Soil-Main elements are magnesium, calcium,
iron and sodium etc. that exist in form of weak solutions in the
form of carbonates, nitrates, sulphates and chlorides
Organic matter of Soil- Chief component is humus which is black
colure odourless and homogenous complex substance

74. Con….
Chemically contain amino acids , proteins, sugar and fats derived
from decomposed plants and animals it increase water holding
capacity and reduce aggregation of mineral colloids insulating
property of organic matter reduce temperature fluctuations.
Soil Organisms-Several bacteria like Azobacter and blue green algae
Nostoc help in soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and some
bacteria and fungi secrete growth hormones promote plant growth
Also produce mucilaginous substance help binding particles into
larger aggregates while earthworm help in humus formation which
improve aeration of soil some fungi are pathogens of plants.

75. Soil pH
Some soils are neutral some are acidic and other basic soil pH
range from 6.0 to 8.0 very acidic to alkaline. As acidity increase
Aluminium increase and Ca, K, Na decreases which brings
aluminium toxicity
Below 5 activity of bacteria and fungi reduces highly alkaline unfit
for plant growth while halophytes grow in high alkaline solution
some biotic factors affect the distribution and abundance of plants
and animals and regulate density of population from time to time