CHAPTER 06

Environment
Environment Food Chain and Food Web
Environment is defined as the social, cultural and " Food chain is a feeding hierarchy in which organism in
levels
physicalcondition that surround, affect and influence an ecosystem are grouped into nutritional (tropic)
the survival, growth and development of people, and are shown in a succession to represent the flow of
animals or plants. food energy and the feeding relationship between them.
Environment includes everything around us.It " Complex network of inter connected food chain called
a Food Web
encompasses both the living (biotic) and non-living
(abiotic) components of Earth. Types of Food Chain
It consists of four segments: atmosphere, hydrosphere, Grazing Food Chain
lithosphere and biosphere. (a) Grass -Grasshopper-Frog-Snake-Hawk
(b) Green Plant-Goat-Wolf-Lion
Ecosystem
The term "ecosystem" was first coined by British Detritus Food Chain
ecologist Tansley. "An ecosystem is defined as a natural (a) Dead Plant-Soil mites-Insects -Lizards
unit that consists of living and non-living components (b) Dead Organic Matter-Bacteria
which interact to form a stable system". Protozoa-Rotifers.

Components of Ecosystem Ecology

The componentsof an ecosystem are grouped as abiotic . The term 'Ecology' first coined by German biologist
(non-living) and biotic (living). Ernst Haeckel.
(a) The abiotic factors include air, water, soil,
" It was derived from Greek word Okologie, means
temperature, chemical products etc.
'home or surrounding'.
(b) Biotic factors includes plants, animals and It is defined as "the study of the interaction between life
micro-organisms. This living component can be
and its physical environment; the relationship between
further divided into: animals and plants and how one species affect another."
Plant, algae
(1) Producers make their own food.
and green bacteria are all
producers. Environmental Pollution
producers for their food.
() Consumers depend onclassified . Presence of dangerous and unnatural ingredients
Consumers are futher into primary, causing imbalance in the ecosystem and health
secondary and tertiary consumers. hazards to human beings and animals can be called as
bacteria and fungi, that
0) Decomposers include pollution. To check climate change, Kyoto Protocol
feed on decaying matter. came into force in 2005.
Functions of Ecosystem " Various Types of Pollution are Air Pollution,
Water Pollution, Noise Pollution, Soil Pollution,
(a) It regulates flow of energy.
Marine Pollution, Radioactive Pollution, E-waste
(0) Itregulates the cycling of nutrients.
various trophic Pollution.
(C) It maintains balance among the
levels in the ecosystem.
 88
Environment
Pollution Source
Air Pollution
Effects Mitigation Control Measures
Smoke from power plants, motor Cause health problems and damage our Suitable fuel Selecti
vehicles, and marine vessels; chemical environment. " Modification in
dust, open burning in agriculture.
" industrial
Correct selection
Water Pollution
Agricultural, industrial and domestic
Surface Water Pollution wastes
Ground Water Pollution Arsenic and fluoride are some
pollutants
"
Eutrophication,
Many water-related diseases
Effect on vegetation and aquatic
.
.
sites.
The Water Act, 1947
Narnarni Ganga Mission
Efficient
imanutacur
treatment plants
in the drinking water in some parts of
ecosystenm. . Water
Noise Poilution
India.
Industrial sources and non-industrial
(prevention
pollution) and control cf
Act of 1974,
Lack of concentration " Insulation
SOurces
Fatique
Abortion Controlling the noise along its
transmission path can do the
Blood pressure
Deafness
isolation of every source of noite
Radioactive Pollution " Production of
Nuclear weapons. " Radiation can mutate DNAcausing .
Mining of Radioactive ore
Coal ash abnormal growth. RadioactiveDisposal
Geological waste managenert
Transmutatr
" Medical war Can damage human/ animal body " Re-use of
" Nuclear Power Plants
and its organs. " Space Disposal Radioactive waste
Solid-waste Pollution " Urban waste
Can litter the land and make it ugly " Open dumps
Industrial waste and unhygienic.
Domestic waste Chokes and blocks the drains.
" Landfills
" Rural waste
Sanitary Land fill
Nuclear waste "
Incineration and pyrolysis units
Green House Gas
" These are th0se gaseous " Agenda 21 is associated with
atmosphere (both naturalconstituents
of the Rio de Janerio, (Brazil), deals Earth summit held at
and man-made) that with biodiversity
absorbs the sun's long wave radiation. conservation.
" These gases " India has
heatens up the atmosphere and promotes declared protected areas for conservation
green house effect.
"
Biodiversity.
" Important green house gases are Methane, Water Protected areas are Land or Sea
vapour, Carbon dioxide etc. protect and maintain biodiversity.areas dedicated to
" There are four categories of the
Biodiversity and its Conservation (1) Wildlife Sanctuary, protected areas:
"
Biodiversity means species diversity and species (2) National Park,
richness. other words
In (3) Biosphere
variety and abundance ofbiodiversity refers to the (4) CommunityReserves
Reserves.and
particular region. organisms living in a
" India holds about 7-8%o of the global Wildlife in India
4,5000 species of plants and biodiversity. Over " Wildlife
have been recorded so far in 91,000 species of animals traditionally refers to undomesticated
species, but it also include all plants, fung andanothe
India.
" India also has four
hotspots namely Western Ghats, organisms that grow or
being introduced by live in
wild area without
Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma region
Sundaland. and
" Wildlife of
India is a
humans.
" Biodiversity great natural heritage. AD0
Hotspots To 4-5% of all known plant
hotspots, region must have qualify
as a biodiversity and animal species on e
a a high percentage of are found in India.
plant life found nowhere else on planet and it " India has
threatened. must be about 2,000 species of birds constituting
"
l3%% of world's total and 2,546 species of fish
Biodiversity Conservation Conservation is the constituting nearly 12% of world's stock.
planned management of natural resources to retain " India
also shares
the balance in nature and alsoretain the
bio-diversity. amphibians, between to 5 8% of the world's
The method of conservation of bio-diversity can be " India is reptiles and mammals.
both
the only
In-Situ (on site) or Ex-Situ (off site). tigers and lions. country in the world that has
 Environment 89

Wildlife Conservation in lndia

In 1972, a comprehensive Wildlife Protection Act was enacted for conservation and protection of wildlife in India.
Wildlife Conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their
habitats.
There are 18 biosphere reserves, 166 national Darks and 515 wildlife sanctuaries in India.
Dann of Kutch (Indian Wild Ass Sanctuarv) is one of the largest wildlife
sanctuary in India.
India's first National Park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National
Park, Uttarakhand.
Biosphere Reserves of India
Biosphere Reserve Year State Key Fauna
1 Great Rann of Kutch 2008 Gujarat Indian Wild Ass
2 Gulf of Mannar 1989 Tamil Nadu Dugong or Sea Cow
3 Sunderbans 1989 West Bengal Royal Berngal Tiger
4. Cold Desert 2009 Himachal Pradesh Snow Leopard
5 Nanda Devi 1988 Uttarakhand Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear

6. Nilgiri 1986 Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-Tailed Macaque
Musk Deer
7. Dihang-Dibang 1998 Arunachal Pradesh
Pachmarhi 1999 Madhya Pradesh Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel
Seshachalam Hils 2010 Andhra Pradesh Slender Loris

Odisha Gaur, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild Elephant

10 Simlipal 1994
Antelope, Indian Wild dog, Crane
11. Achanakmar- Amarkantak 2005 MP and Chhattisgarh
Asom
Golden Langur, Red Panda
12. Manas 1989
Sikkim
Snow Leopard, Red Panda
13. Khangchendzonga 2000
Kerala and Tamil Nadu Nilgiri Tahr, Elephants
14 Agasthyamalai 2001
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Saltwater Crocodile
15. Great Nicobar 1989
Red Panda
16. Nokrek 1988 Meghalaya
Asom
Golden Langur
17. Dibru-Saikhowa 1997
Madhya Pradesh Tiger, Chital, Chinkara, Sambhar and Sloth Bear
18. Panna 2011
Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries
Rare Species Found in National
National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary State/UT Rare Species
Asom
Elephant, Tiger, Panther
1. Manas National Park One horned Rhinoceros
Asom
2. Kaziranga National Park Tiger, Panther, Gaur, Cheetal, Sangai
Park Manipur
3. Keibul Lamjao National Gir Lion, Tiger, Panther, Gaur
Gujarat
4. Gir National Park Tiger, Panther, Guar, Leopard
Rajasthan
5. Maru Sanctuary
Sikkim Tiger, Panther, White Spoontbill
National Park
6. Kanchenjunga Odisha
Elephant, Tiger, Leopard
7. Sirnlipal National Park Odisha Tiger, Gaur, Wild Boar, Leopard
8. Bhitarkanika National Park Kashmiri Stag, Hangul
Jand K
National Park
9. Dachigam UP
Tiger, Panther, Nilgai
Park
10. Dudhwa National Rajasthan
Tiger, Panther, Gaur, Leopard
National Park
11. Keoladeo Ghana Himachal Pradesh Chinkara, Sauraus, Gane
National Park Panda, Elephant, Gaur, Tiger
12. Pin Valley Uttarakhand
13. Jim Corbett National Park
 Practice Questions
1. Who coined the term Ecology? 11. In Kolkata, major air pollution is 19. Acid rain is
(a) E. Hacckel
(b) E Davis
caused by
(a) Fungalspores by
caused
pollution of environment
by the
(c) K Richard (b) Algae (a) Carhon
(d) R Johngon (c) Hydrocarbons (b) Carbon dioxide and
(d) Carbon monoxide dioxidemonozide andnitrn
2. Natural Ecosvstem includes
(c) Ozone and cat
(a) Agriculturalerop 12. Environmental Impact
(b) Forest (d) carbon dioid.
(c) Praries
Assessment (EIA)
(a) should be made compulsory for
Nitrous oXide and sulnhu
dioxide
(d) Both (b) and (c) 90. The most
starting adevelopment project.
3. Which is not a functional unit of
ecosvstem?
(b) should not be made compulsory
for starting a developmental
decrease inimportant
biodiversityrease
(a) Habitat pollution
(a) Productivity (b) Stratification project. (b)
(c) Energy flow (d) Decomposition (c) should be done after completion
of a development project.
Introduction of
(c) Over exploitationexotic She.
4. Which is an example of () Habitat destruction
(d) None of the above
terrestrial ecosystem?
(a) Tropical Rainforest 13. The functing of an ecosystem 21. Which place is not a
site f
(b) River
(c) Streams
involves In-situ
flora?
method of conservah
(a) flow of energy and circulation of
(d) All of the above nutrients (a) Biosphere Reserve
5. Ecosystem is smallest unit of (b) an increasing simplicity relations (b) Botanical Garden
(a) lonosphere (b) Lithosphere (c) increasing animal population (c) National Park
(c) Biosphere (d) Mesosphere (d) increasing number of trees and (d) Wildlife Sanctuary
6. Which is a human made bushes etc.
22. Which place is global
environment? 14. Ground water in the Bengal
(a) Mountain (b) Sea basin is mostly contaminated by biodiversity hotspot in
India?
(c) Aquarium (d) Lagoon (a) Chromium (b) Lead (a) Western Ghats
(c) Cadmium (d) Arsenic (b) Western Himalayas
7. Which fuel causes
minimnum air
15. Which of the following (c) Eastern Ghats
pollution? illustrates
(a) Coal (b) Hydrogen an anthropogenic (man-made) (a) Northern Himalayas
(c) Diesel (d) Kerosene form of pollution? 23. Agen da 21 refers to
(a) A large plume of ash from an (a) Earth Summit at Rio
8. Which toxic compound is not erupting volcano
found in E-waste? (b) Large clouds of smoke from a (b) Montreal Protocol
(a) Mercury (c) Stockholm Conference
(b) Cadmium forest fire caused by lightening
(c) Neon (d) Lead (c) Sulphur dioxide (d) None of the above
released from a
9. Which one of the following is coal burning power plant 24. Bio-diversity is important
the (d) Sea salt aerosols in the air
best description of the term above because
an ocean
'Ecosystem'? (a) it is necessary tomaintai
(a) A community of 16. Which of the
organisms following is an ecosystems
interacting with one another indicator of air pollution? (b) humans can use new sour
(b) That part of the Earth which is (a) Lichens food
(b) Algae
inhabited by living (c) Cycas
(c) A community of organisms (d) Bryophytes (c) Both (a) and (b)

together with theorganisms 17. (d) without certain speetes

environment in Which of the following is not photosynthesis may not be
which they live gaseous air pollutant? possible
(d) The flora and fauna of a (a) Oxides of
(b) Oxides of sulphur 25. IUCN (The International
geographical area nitrogen
(c) Hydrocarbon for Conservation of isalsoo
Nature
10. Which of thefollowing three R's (d) Smoke Natural Resources)
are regarded as environment 18. Which of the following not a as

friendly? Greenhouse Gas? (a) Man and Biosphere pro3

Union
(a) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (a) Water vapour (b) World Conservation
(b) Read, Register, Recall (b) Methane (c) World Conservation
(c) Random, Reduce, Recall (c) Ozone Consortium
(d) Reduce, Rebuild, Restrict (d) Carbon monoxide (a) World Wide Conservatio
Union
 Environment 91

26. How many Biosphere Reserves

are there in India? 33. Which place is famous for the 41. Sariska Tiger Reserve is located
(a)20 (b) 27 giant Olive Ridley turtle? in
(c)18 (d) 16 (a) Goa (b) Gujarat (a) Rajasthan
(c) Odisha (b) Uttarakhand
27. Which protected area has a (d) Tamil Nadu
(c) Madhya Pradesh
defined boundary, where no 34. The first Biosphere Reserve (d) Maharashtra
person can get into without an Project was 42. The total number of living
approval? (a) Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
(a) Wildlife Sanctuary (b) Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve organisms, both plants and
(b) National Park (c) Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve animals, in a given area is called
(d) Gulf of Mannar Biosphere (a) buffers (b) biomass
(c) Community Reserves
Reserve (c) batholith (d) barrage
(d) Biosphere Reserves
35. Which National Park is famous 43. Which of the following National
28, Term used for species which are for Asiatic lions? Parks is situated in Uttar
in danger of being extinct in near (a) Gir Pradesh?
future is (b) Bandhavgarh (a) Dudhwa (b) Dachigam
(a) Degradability (c) Jim Corbett (c) Van Vihar (d) Hemis
(b) Extinct (d) Kaziranga
(c) Endangered 44. The day-to-day condition of the
(d) Global Bio-diversity 36. ShivpuriNational Park of atmosphere at a place with
Madhya Pradesh is important for respect to the temperature,
29. Which one of the following is also (a) tiger and elephant humidity, rainfall, windspeed.,
known as Top Slip? (b) wild buffalo etc., is called the at that
(a)Simplipal National Park (c) birds place.
(b) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (d) leopard and chital (a) climnate (b) ecology
(c) environment (d) weather
(c) Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary 37. The only Sanctuary where
(d) Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary Kashmir stag is found in 45. The Gir National Park and the
and National Park Sasan Gir Sanctuary of Gujarat
(a)Kanha (b) Dachigam
(c) Gir (d) Mudumalai are the only wildlife sanctuaries
30. Which one of the following is not in India that have
asite for in situ method of 38. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is
conservation of flora? (a) Bengal Tigers
located in (b) Asiatic Lions
(a) Biosphere Reserve (a) Tamil Nadu (c) One-Horned Rhinos
(b) Botanical Garden (b) Kerala (d) Black Buck
(c) National Park (c) Karnataka
(d) Wildlife Sanctuary 46. The number of biogeographical
(d) Andhra Pradesh Zones in India are
31. Which one of the following 39. Which is the largest Biosphere (a) 2 (b) 10 (c) 5 (d) 6
National Park has a climate that
Reserves of India?
varies from tropical to ANSWERS
(a) Nilgiri
sub-tropical temperate and (b) Nanda Devi 1 2 d 3 4 C

arctic? (c) Sundarbans 6 C 7 b 10

(a) Khangchendzonga National Park

15
(d) Great Rann of Kutch 11 12 13 14
19 20
(b) Nandadevi National Park 16 17
40. In 1973, the Project Tiger was 22 23 24 25
(c) Neora Valley National Park started in National Park.
21
26 27 28 29 30
(d) Namdapha National Park (a)Bhitarkanika 31 32 C 33 34 35
(b) Sanjay Gandhi 36 37 38 39 40
32. Project Tiger started in (c) Jim Corbett 41 42 b 43 44 45
(a) 1987 (b)1977
(d) Sundarbans 46
(c) 1973 (d) 1996