Environment and Ecology

Basic Understanding.
By Jaiprakash Rau
 What are Environment and Ecology?
• Environment is the sum total of all conditions and
influences that affect the development and life of all
organisms on earth. Ecology is the branch of science
that deals with the study of interactions between living
organisms and their physical environment. Both are
closely interrelated and they have continuous
interaction so that any change in the environment has
an effect on the living organisms and vice-versa.
• There are two commonly known and accepted types
of environment –
• Natural or geographical environment
• Man-made environment.
 What is the geographical environment?

• Geographical environment is the natural environment

and contains all the components of nature such as
mountains, rivers, land, water, deserts, storms, etc.
How is man-made environment different from the
geographical environment?
• This is the environment created artificially by man to
regulate the environmental conditions. It includes the
social environment that exists as long as the society
exists. It includes, traditions, regulations, institutions
and organizations. Whereas geographical environment
is the natural environment.
 Five main features of environment
It regulate the temperature.
It maintain co2 and O2 in the atmosphere.
It helps in raining. so water table is not disturb
It provides food
It provides shelter for wildlife and animal
 Components of Environment
• Atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and
solar energy are the five components of our
environment.
• The gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth is known as
the atmosphere.
• Lithosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth which
is known as the crust and its main components are the
tectonic plates.
 Ecology – An Introduction
• Ecology (oîkos) 'house' and (-logía) 'study of') is the
natural science of the relationships among living
organisms, including humans, and their physical
environment. Ecology considers organisms at the
individual, population, community, ecosystem, and
biosphere levels. Ecology overlaps with the closely
related sciences of biogeography, evolutionary
biology, genetics, ethology, and natural history.
• Ecology is a branch of biology, and is the study of
abundance, biomass, and distribution of organisms in
the context of the environment. It encompasses life
processes, interactions, and adaptations; movement of
materials and energy through living communities;
successional development of ecosystems; cooperation,
competition, and predation within and between
species; and patterns of biodiversity and its effect on
ecosystem processes.
• Ecology has practical applications in conservation
biology, wetland management, natural resource
management (agroecology, agriculture, forestry,
agroforestry, fisheries, mining, tourism), urban
planning (urban ecology), community health,
economics, basic and applied science, and human
social interaction (human ecology).
• The word ecology (German: Ökologie) was coined in
1866 by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel. The
science of ecology as we know it today began with a
group of American botanists in the 1890s.
Evolutionary concepts relating to adaptation and
natural selection are cornerstones of modern
ecological theory
 Ecosystem and Its Dynamics
•An ecosystem is a community of living
organisms, like plants, animals, and microbes,
that interact with each other and their physical
environment in a specific area.
•Components
•Ecosystems are made up of biotic components,
like living organisms, and abiotic components,
like climate, soil, water, minerals, and sunlight.
• Examples
• Tropical forests are an example of an ecosystem,
where trees, plants, animals, insects, and
microorganisms interact with each other and are
affected by physical and chemical components.
 Properties of an ecosystem
• Biodiversity
• Ecosystems are home to a wide variety of species, including
plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
• Interdependence
• Organisms in an ecosystem are connected through
ecological relationships like predation, competition,
and mutualism.
• Energy flow
• Ecosystems depend on energy from sunlight to support
photosynthesis, which is the process by which plants
convert solar energy into chemical energy.
•
• Food chains
• Food chains are a key part of an ecosystem, linking
biotic and abiotic elements together. They determine
which organisms eat other organisms or are eaten by
other organisms.
• Decomposers
• Decomposers, also known as saprophytes, are a vital
part of an ecosystem. They eat dead organisms and
help to keep the earth clean and safe through
recycling.
•
• Biogeochemistry
• Ecosystems are biogeochemical cycling entities that
require an energy source and cycle nutrients like
nitrogen.
• Cultural ecosystem services
• These are intangible benefits that people get from
nature, such as spiritual sustenance, ecotourism,
recreation, and aesthetic values
 Abiotic factors
• Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an
ecosystem that shape its environment. They can be
physical or chemical components.
• Sunlight: The main source of energy for plants, which
use it to make food and oxygen. Sunlight also affects
the breeding cycles of animals.
• Water: Found in rivers, lakes, oceans, and rainfall.
• Soil: Soil chemistry is an abiotic factor.
• Temperature: Temperature can affect the diversity of
populations that can live in a certain area.
• Wind: Wind helps regulate the Earth's temperature and
is a factor in pollination and seed dispersal.
• Atmosphere: The atmosphere traps the Sun's heat to
keep the planet warm.
• Salinity: Salinity is an abiotic factor in marine
ecosystems.
• Ocean currents: Ocean currents are an abiotic factor in
marine ecosystems
 Biotic factors
• Biotic factors affect each other and the ecosystem's
health. Their interactions are necessary for
reproduction and to meet needs like food. Biotic
factors also depend on abiotic factors, like climate,
weather, soil, and water, for survival and reproduction.
• Biotic factors are the living organisms in an
ecosystem, and include:
• Animals and humans
• Plants
• Fungi
• Bacteria
• Consumers
• Predators and prey
• Biotic and abiotic factors are what make up
ecosystems. Biotic factors are living things within an
ecosystem; such as plants, animals, and bacteria, while
abiotic are non-living components; such as water, soil
and atmosphere.
 Ecosystem dynamics
• Ecosystem dynamics refers to the changes in
ecosystems over time, involving the movement of
contaminants, nutrients, and other substances through
the environment due to various forces.
• It explains how different bodies in the environment are
affected and moved by these forces, impacting
biodiversity and ecological well-being.