The document outlines the definition and importance of environmental science, emphasizing its multidisciplinary nature and the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems. It discusses concepts such as biodiversity, food chains, and conservation methods, highlighting the threats to biodiversity and strategies for protection. Additionally, it addresses natural resources, including forests, minerals, and energy sources, as well as water conservation techniques like rainwater harvesting.

1. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
Introducing
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
G.HARITHA
LECTURER,
DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
A.V.COLLEGE OF ARTS,SCIENCE AND
COMMERCE

2. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
DEFINITION
Environmental science is defined as a
branch of biology focused on the
study of the relationships of the
natural world and the relationships
between organisms and their
environments.

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SCOPE AND ITS
IMPORTANCE
IT IS MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE WITH
ECOLOGY BEING THE BASIS TO UNDERSTAND
HOW AN ORGANISM SURVIVES UNDER AN
ARRAY OF FACTORS
The environment studies enlighten us, about the
importance of NATURE and its resources,
And the need for their protection and
conservation

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the study of the relationshipsthe study of the relationships
between biotic and abiotic factorsbetween biotic and abiotic factors
in environmentsin environments
the study of the relationshipsthe study of the relationships
between biotic and abiotic factorsbetween biotic and abiotic factors
in environmentsin environments
ecoeco (G) root home, abode(G) root home, abodeecoeco (G) root home, abode(G) root home, abode
ecoecoclimateclimateecoecoclimateclimateecoecosystemsystemecoecosystemsystemecoecotourismtourismecoecotourismtourism
log, -o, ylog, -o, y (G) suffix study of(G) suffix study oflog, -o, ylog, -o, y (G) suffix study of(G) suffix study of
zozoologyologyzozoologyologyepidemiepidemiologyologyepidemiepidemiologyologyclimatclimatologyologyclimatclimatologyology
EcologyEcology

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Ecosystem
includes allincludes all abioticabiotic andand bioticbiotic factors infactors in
one particular environmentone particular environment
includes allincludes all abioticabiotic andand bioticbiotic factors infactors in
one particular environmentone particular environment
Biotic FactorsBiotic FactorsBiotic FactorsBiotic Factors
the living parts ofthe living parts of
an ecosysteman ecosystem
the living parts ofthe living parts of
an ecosysteman ecosystem
Abiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors
the nonliving partsthe nonliving parts
of an ecosystemof an ecosystem
the nonliving partsthe nonliving parts
of an ecosystemof an ecosystem

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Biotic FactorsBio
bio(s), bio(t)bio(s), bio(t) (G) root(G) root lifelifebio(s), bio(t)bio(s), bio(t) (G) root(G) root lifelife
include plants, animals, fungi,include plants, animals, fungi,
microorganismsmicroorganisms
include plants, animals, fungi,include plants, animals, fungi,
microorganismsmicroorganisms
biobiologylogybiobiostatisticsstatisticsbiobiographygraphybiobiotechnologytechnologybiobiospherespherebiobiomechanicsmechanicsbiotbioticicbiobiofeedbackfeedback

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Examples of Biotic
Factors

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Abiotic Factors
include air, water, soil, temperature,include air, water, soil, temperature,
wind, source of energy (usually sun)wind, source of energy (usually sun)
include air, water, soil, temperature,include air, water, soil, temperature,
wind, source of energy (usually sun)wind, source of energy (usually sun)
A
a, ana, an (G) prefix not, without(G) prefix not, withouta, ana, an (G) prefix not, without(G) prefix not, without
aatoxictoxicaatoxictoxicaamoralmoralaamoralmoralaabioticbioticaabioticbioticaamusiamusiaaamusiamusia

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Examples of Abiotic
Factors

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interact with eachinteract with each
other in complexother in complex
waysways
interact with eachinteract with each
other in complexother in complex
waysways
Biotic Factors
also interact withalso interact with
abiotic factors inabiotic factors in
the ecosystemthe ecosystem
also interact withalso interact with
abiotic factors inabiotic factors in
the ecosystemthe ecosystem
parasitismparasitism
mutualismmutualism
competitioncompetition
parasitismparasitism
mutualismmutualism
competitioncompetition
dependent upondependent upon
water, minerals,water, minerals,
temperature, lighttemperature, light
dependent upondependent upon
water, minerals,water, minerals,
temperature, lighttemperature, light
such assuch as

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WHAT ARE PRODUCERS?
Producers: Photosynthesizing organisms
Producers are any kind of green plant.
Green plants make their food by taking
sunlight and using the energy to make
sugar. The plant uses this sugar, also
called glucose to make many things, such
as wood, leaves, roots, and bark. Trees,
such as they mighty Oak, and the grand
American Beech, are examples of
producers.

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Consumers: Any organism that can’t make its own food
Consumers have to feed on producers or other consumers
to survive. Deer are herbivores, which means that they
only eat plants (Producers). Bears are another example of
consumers. Black bears are omnivores and scavengers, like
skunks and raccoons, which means that they will eat just
about anything. In a forest community, Black Bears will eat
blueberries, bugs, acorns, and many kinds of nuts.
What are consumers?

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A linear sequence of
arrangement of
organisms based on
their trophic levels

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Food chains involve transfer of
energy.
They are tools to understand food
relations between various organisms
in an ecosystem.
Also tell us about energy flow and
nutrient circulation.

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Food web: a network of food chains
interconnected at various trophic levels so as
to form a number of feeding connections
among different organisms of a biotic
community
It opens several alternate pathways for the
flow of food energy.
It allows an organism to obtain food from
more than one type of organism of lower
trophic level

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It is a graphic
representation of
relationship between
organisms and
ecological parameters
in an ecosystem
Proposed by Charles
Elton

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Pyramids are of three types
a)Pyramid of numbers
b) pyramid of biomass
c)Pyramid of energy.
The shape of the pyramids can be
Upright
Inverted
Spindle shaped

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Pyramid of
numbers

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Energy flow in an ecosystem is
unidirectional, followed by decrease in
amount of energy

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Bio =
BioBiodiversitydiversity
What does “Bio” mean?

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Definition
“Biodiversity is the sum total of all life
on Earth.”
The variety and variability, among living
organisms is known as “ Bio diversity”.

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Levels of Biodiversity
 Genetic
 Species
 Ecosystem

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Genetic Diversity
It is a measure of the variety of different
versions of the same genes with in individual
species.
Diversity of genesDiversity of genes
Chihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilersChihuahuas, beagles, and rottweilers
are all dogs—but they're not theare all dogs—but they're not the
same because their genes aresame because their genes are
different.different.
ChihuahuaChihuahua BeagleBeagle RottweilersRottweilers

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Species Diversity
It describes the number of
different kinds of organisms with in
individual communities or ecosystems.
Diversity of speciesDiversity of species
For example monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are allFor example monkeys, dragonflies, and meadow beauties are all
different species.different species.
Monkey dragonfly Meadow Beauty

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Ecosystem Diversity
Highest level of Biodiversity. Refers to
variation in different Ecosystems. It arises due to
variation in energy flow, food chains and water
cycles of different ecosystems.
Variety of ecosystemsVariety of ecosystems
grass, rainforest, pond are all ecosystems.grass, rainforest, pond are all ecosystems.
Each one is different, with its own set ofEach one is different, with its own set of
species living in it.species living in it.
Grassland ecosystem Forest ecosystem Pond ecosystem

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THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
• HABITAT DESTRUCTION & FRAGMENTATION
• OVER EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES
• INVASION OF EXOTIC SPECIES
• POLLUTION & ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
• POACHING
• PREDATOR & PEST CONTROL

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Habitat loss and destruction &Habitat
fragmentation.

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Habitat Destruction Habitat Fragmentation
Poaching

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Pollution

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Global environmental Change
Pest Control & invasion of exotic species

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Means to conserve Biodiversity
Protection of Habitat
Prevention of Species overexploitation
Promoting Exsitu conservation
Reducing pollution
Checking Deforestation and promoting
Afforestation
Restriction of exotic species
Public awareness

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BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
METHODS
 IN-SITU CONSERVATION:
This is the conservation of genetic resources
through maintenance with in natural or even man made
ecosystems in which they occur.
Today India has 75 national parks, and 421 wildlife
sanctuaries constituting more than 4% of total geographic
area of the country
 EX-SITU CONSERVATION:
This is conservation outside their habitats by perpetuating
sample populations in genetic resource centres, zoos,
botanical gardens etc.

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NATURAL RESOURCES:
ANY MATERIAL OBTAINED FROM
NATURE WHICH CAN BE TRANSFORMED
TO BECOME MORE VALUABLE AND
USEFUL

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Forest resources
Important component of our environment.
It’s a renewable natural resource.
Chief product of forests are wood and other minor
products
Besides it provides services like:
Protection to wild life; maintenance of gaseous cycle,
nutrient cycle, rainfall, water holding capacity, soil
fertility, watershed management, checks soil erosion,
landslides, flood havoc.
They provide aesthetic and touristic value.
Reservoir of genes

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Mineral resources
A mineral is a pure inorganic substance that
occurs naturally in the earth’s crust.
They are non renewable
More than 2000 different minerals are found
in earth’s crust
They may be in the form of solids, liquid and
gaseous state
Eg: coal, gold, granite, diamond, natural gas,
petroleum, silver, iron, copper

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Energy resources

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Energy resources are defined as input
for development which aim at human
welfare and development.
Energy can be conventional
(coal, gas, petroleum, hydro electricity)
or
non conventional
(wind energy, geothermal springs, solar
energy, energy from human and
biowaste)

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Solar energy: a non conventional & renewable
source of energy

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Geothermal energy is thermal energy
generated and stored in the Earth.
It is generated from radioactive decay and
continual heat loss from Earth's formation
Geothermal energy is a clean renewable
source of energy that does not utilize
fossil fuels or produce greenhouse gases.

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Water conservation

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Methods to conserve water

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Rain water harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is a technique used
for collecting, storing and
using rainwater for landscape irrigation
and other uses. The rainwater is
collected from various hard surfaces such
as rooftops and/or other manmade
aboveground hard surfaces.

78. © 2004 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
How it helps?
It can be purified to make it into drinking
water, used for daily applications and even
utilized in large scale industries. In short,
Rainwater harvesting is a process or
technique of collecting, filtering, storing and
using rainwater for irrigation and for various
other purposes.

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Why are water sheds important?
A healthy watershed conserves water, promotes
stream flow, supports sustainable streams,
rivers, lakes, and groundwater sources, enables
healthy soil for crops and livestock, and also
provides habitat for wildlife and plants.

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