Environmental Science

Environment living and non-living things interacting with one another Environmental Science Study of biotic and abiotic components and their inter relationship Environmental Engineering- Application of Engineering principles for protection and conservation of environment

Environmental education- giving awareness on importance of conserving environment.

TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT

Natural

Man made

Biotic

Abiotic

Buildings, Farms, dams etc

Forests, animals, Birds etc

minerals, rocks, sand etc

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COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT

Abiotic
Atmosphere

Biotic
Biosphere

Energy
Flow of energy
Biotic- abiotic

Lithosphere

Animals,
Hydrosphere Plants, Microorganisms

Solar, Geothermal, wind Nuclear etc

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STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE

REGION
TROPOSPHERE

ALTITUDE IN km 0 11

TEMP CHANGE C 15 to 56

CHEMICAL SPECIES N2, H2O, CO2, O2

STRATOSPHERE

11 50

56 to 2

O3

MESOSPERE

50 85

2 to 92

O2+ , NO+ O+ , O2+ , NO+

THERMOSPERE/ IONOSHERE

85 500

92 to 1200

EXOSPHERE

up to 1600

92 to 1200

H2 & He

Major layers of the atmosphere

Thermosphere

Meteor burns Mesosphere

Altitude km

Ozone Stratosphere

Clouds

Troposphere

Temperature 0C
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Atmosphere

Maintains heat balance by absorbing IR radiations Gases present sustain life

Functions

Lithosphere

Home for all forms of life Store house for organic and inorganic matter

Hydrosphere

Supports life all organisms need an aquatic environment Drinking, irrigation, power generation etc.
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SCOPE of environmental studies

To become aware of the importance of environmental issues To motivate participation in environmental protection To develop skills for identifying and solving environmental issues. To be aware of the dire need for conservation To relate environmental issues to social, economic and ecological factors

SIGNIFICANCE of environmental studies

To understand the need for development without environmental damage To comprehend the consequences of environmental hazards To appreciate the role of the individual in conservation and the related laws To enhance the quality of life through proper monitoring of the environment

ROLE OF PUBLIC
Pressure groups to influence the govt and industries Watch Dogs to keep an eye on processes that harm the
environment

Advisory council Can set up advisory councils to

educate the public on environmental issues

Enforcement of law

to ensure that laws pertaining to environment are in force and if necessary file PIL for the same

ECOSYSTEM

NATURAL

ARTIFICIAL

Terrestrial

AQUATIC

Cropland, Dams etc.

Fauna

Flora

Marine

Freshwater

Lotic / Running

Lentic/Standing
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Biotic Environment
Autotrophic Producers Heterotrophic Consumers

Plants Make their own food

Primary consumers HerbivoresDeer, Rabbit

Secondary ConsumersPrimary Carnivores frogs, snakes etc.

Tertiary consumers Secondary CarnivoresTigers, Lions etc

Saprotrophsdecomposers / microocnsumers Bacteria/ Fubgi

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Food Chain

Food Web

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Ecological Pyramids
Graphical Representation of structure and function of the ecosystem Producers form the base, then the primary consumers etc. Usually upright pyramids in some cases inverted pyramids Pyramids of numbers, biomass, energy

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Pyramid of Numbers in a Grassland & Aquatic Ecosystems

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Pyramid Of Biomass

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Pyramid of Energy

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Ecological succession
Stages: Pioneer Community, Seres/ Seral Stage- developmental stages of a community Types of succession
Primary
Hydrarch/ hydrosere Xerarch/ xerosere

Secondary succession

Process of succession
Nudation- bare area development Invasion- establishment of species throuh Migration Establishment (pioneer community) Competition ( between same and other species for space and food) Reaction- midification of environment through food and space demand- may become unsuitable foe existing species and new species enter seral communities Stablization -establishemnt of stable community equilibrium with environment
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BIODIVERSITY
Variety and variability among the living organisms Influenced by physical and climatic factors >20 million species- 1.4 million identified Importance of diversity- survival and sharing of resources-otherwise slowly extinct Important for human existence- all food sources like agriculture, fisheries , forestry depend on diversity Important for preserving the abiotic environment

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Loss of biodiversity
Economic and social loss Reasons: Biotechnology, hybrid seeds Loss of medicinal plants not replanted (Taxus baccate) - Himalayan medicinal plant anticancer-on endangered list Deforestation due to agriculture and urbanization
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Levels / classification
Genetic-A species with different genessubspecies or genera Species diversity- discrete group of organisms Ecosystem diversity- diversity at the habitat level- large region with different ecosystems

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VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY- LIFE SUPPOTING AND PRESERVING BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC ENVIRONMENT
Productive use value Commercial value Silk industry Wool manufacture Musk extraction Tusks- ivory products leather Pearl fishing Food industry Paper industry Textiles

Consumption use value Food from plants and animals Drugs from plants and animals- India uses 3000 plant species Quinine, reserpine, penicillin, morphine, neem products, peepal tree leaves, tulasi Firewood and fossil fuels

Other Values Social-Worship / Holy animals and plants Ethical- PreservationRespect for nature Optional Yet to be discovered-

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Terrestrial Biodiversity
Tropical rain forests- Largest store house of biodiversity-50-65% of globaldiversity Medicinal plants- 3000 plants identified for cancer drugs- 70% from tropical rain forestsAIDS drugs Flowering plants known -1-3% - 1,30,000 Protection of biodiversity- Silent valley in Kerala, hydroelectric power given up Temperate rain forests- 1,70,000 flowering plants,30000 vertebrates, 2,50,000 other species

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Marine Biodiversity- > terrestrial but less known

Species Protozoans (Unicellular) Bacteria (Cyanobacteria) Algae Fungi Higher Plants Number 31,000 5,000 27,000 45,000 2,50,000

Jelly fish, corals

Sponges Worms Insects Snails, Slugs etc. Fish Amphibians Reptiles Mammals Birds

10,000
5000 36,000 7,50,000 70,000 22,000 4,000 5,000 4,000 9,000
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Number of Animal / plant species in India

10th

in plant richness 11th in endemic species 6th as centers of biodiversity &origin of agricultural crops > 2000 medicinal plants including turmeric Commercial valuesandalwood, tobacco with high nicotine content, edible mushrooms & ornamental plants > 100 species of microorganisms in soil formulated in foreign labs

Flowering plants Insects Fish

20,000 67,000 1,460

Birds
Reptiles

1,200
420

Mammals
Domestic animals and plants

340
170
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Biodiversity measurement
Point richness- number of species found at a single point in a given space richness (alpha diversity)-number of species in a small homogeneous area- strongly correlates with physical variables tunicates-number varies with temperature of the regionArctic 100 species; temperate waters- 400 and tropical waters- 600 richness rate of change in species composition across different habitats- more number of species more diversity Example: ant species -10-2000 from north pole to equator richness rate of change of species across landscapes- large areas.
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BIODIVERSITY IN TAMIL NADU

Dense forests in Salem district Western Ghats- plants, animals and reptiles Elephants in Anamalai Sanctuaries Tigers in Mundanthurai

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MEGADIVERSITY REGIONS IN THE WORLD70% OF THE GLOBAL DIVERSITY

Australia India China Colombia Ecuador United States Indonesia Madagascar Mexico Peru Congo

India Animal Species89,450-7.31% of global fauna Plant- 47,500- 10.8% of global flora Loss in biodiversity 33%

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Endemic species in IndiaEndemic biodiversity

Plants-5000 flowering,166 crop plants

Marine -> 340 coral species, mangroves and sea grasses

Animal-75000 species -2,00,000 living organisms

Agro -> 166 crops, 30000-50000 varieties of rice, mango, turmeric, ginger, sugarcane etc.
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RED DATA BOOK/ RED LIST

Catalogue of species facing extiction Prepared for the following reasons:
Awareness of degree of threat to biodiversity Global index on declining species Identification of species with high risk of extinction plan conservation Information on international agreements

44 plant species are critically endangered, 54 endangered, 143 are vulnerable India- 2nd in the number of threatened mammals and 6th among most threatened for birds
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 Pitcher plant is endemic in Himalayas

EXAMPLES

Taxus Wallichiana under red list due to over exploitation-Ayurvedic and Tibetian medecine- anti cancer drug
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Examples of endemic species

Plants Sapria himalayana Ovaria lurida Nephenthes khasiana Pedicularis Parroter
Animals Frogs Toads Reptiles Crocodiles

Pteridophyta-200 species Angiosperms- 4950

Land- 878 species Freshwater- 89 Insects- 16214 Amphibians- 110 Reptiles-214 Aves- 69 Nannakua-38

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Factors affecting endemic species

Habitat loss Fragmentation Pollution The above true specially for frogs, toads etc. Drying of water sources Overhunting Introduction of predators and competitors Disease producing organisms
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HOT SPOTS
Geographic areas which posses high endemic species and therefore also contain the threatened species- areas of high conservation priority- if species lost can never be regenerated or replaced Hot spots - < 2% of worlds land- contain 50000 endemic species An area should contain at least 0.5% of endemic species 40% of terrestrial plants , 25% of vertebrates are endemic and found in hot spots35

 Criterion for a hot spot 1. Richness of endemic species 2. Significant % of specialized species 3. Site under threat 4. Should contain important gene pool of plants Reason for rich biodiversity in tropics 1. More stable climate 2. High temp and humidity 3. Many species no dominance of one species 4. Rate of out crossing higher in plants
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Global Hot Spots

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Hot Spots in India

Eastern Himalayas Western Ghats

Northern India, Nepal and Bhutan 35,000 plant species- 30% endemic- rich in wild plants of economic value 63% mammals 60% birds of India Huge numbers of fungi, insects Crops- Sugarcane, rice, banana, ginger, chilli, jute

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala ~ 1500endemic species 62% amphibians, 50% lizards endemic Only 6.8% of the original forests area exists now. Egs of endemic plantsTernstromia Japonica, Rhododendran, HyperciumS
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Threats to Indian Biodiversity/ Loss of biodiversity

Habitat Loss: 1. Deforestation-agriculture, settlement areas, developmental projects 2. Destruction of wet land- draining, filling, pollutionloss of wetlands, mangroves and estuaries 3. Habitat fragmentation- due to human practices 4. Extracting raw materials- for food, medicine, construction etc. 5. Illegal trade of wild life 6. Construction activities- dams, industries- effluents

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Poaching: Illegal hunting Subsistence poaching- for food and survival Commercial poaching- to sell the products Reasons: Human population Commercial demand for prohibited goods -Deer skin, tiger skin, Rhino horns, sea turtles, whales, gorillas etc.

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POACHING Male Gorilla hunted for body parts, head and hands (Rwanda & Zaire) Blue Morpho Butterfly- making attracive trays and other objects (Brazil) Snowy Large Erget- white plumes for ladies hat - U.S Blubber- lamp and lubricating oils Baleen combs and similar articles Elephant- feet to make ash trays and for ivory Bengal tigers- for fur valued > $1,00,000 Bush meat- for food Dynamite fishing- hi tech method exhausts marine life Sea Horses and turtles- for meat and money
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How to prevent:
Strict law enforcement Public awareness Giving up use of articles made from ivory, animal skins etc.

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Man- Wild life conflict

Examples Killing of humans by elephants-Orissa; by tigers and leopards Damage of crops by elephants Killing of elephants and other wild animals by electrocution; use of explosives Resons Shrinking of forest cover Human encroachment into forests Injuring animals specially cubs Food requirement- wild life and human Compensation paid by the govt for loss not adequate and hence poaching
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Remedial measures
Adequate cattle and crop compensation schemes Solar powered fences and shock proof trenches Change of crop pattern near forests Ensuring enough water and food available for wild life. Deforestation for any reason to be prevented.
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Endangered species in India

Extinct Endangered Vulnerable Rare
No longer found in the world

Number reduced to critical level- to be protected- immediate danger of extinction

Population on the decline due to habitat loss and over exploitation but still abundant
Localized within an area or thinly scattered

over a large area

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Group of threatened species Plants Birds Mammals Reptiles

Number 250 70 86 25

Examples Rauvol Serpentina, Sandal wood tree Peacock, Siberian white crane, Pelican, Indian Bustard, blue necked crane Indian wolf, red fox, sloth bear, tiger, Indian lion, desert cat, wild buffalo, gangetic dilphin Tortoise, Green sea turtles, python, gharral, Estuarine crocodile

Amphibians
Fishes Molluscs

3
3 2

Viviparous toad, Indian Salamander

Insects
Primates

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Hoolock gibbon, lion tailed macaque, capped monkey, golden monkey
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Factors affecting Endangered species

Pollution- habitat/ environmental degradation/ toxicity through food chain Over exploitation and poaching Climate change due to green house gases

Remedial Measures
International treaties on endangered speciesConvention on international trade in Endangered species 1975- 900 species which are about to become extinct & 2900 endangered species cannot be traded. Enforcement very difficult Many countries do not come under the treaty
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CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY The management of biosphere so that it will yield the greatest sustainable benefit to the present generation and also will have the potential to meet the needs of the future generation
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Factors affecting biodiversity

Need for conserving biodiversity

Construction of dams, release of industrial wastes, use of insecticides and pesticides Poaching of wild animals, over exploitation of resources leading to habitat loss Oil spills and discharge of effluents Global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion- climatic changes

Societal needs such as tourism and recreation Important raw materials and drugs Preserves genetic diversity Sustainable use of life supporting systems Loss of biodiversity may lead to extinction od species and affect human life.

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TYPES OF CONSERVATION
In-situ-within habitat
Natural habitat- preserves- protected areas Bio sphere reserves (7), national parks (80), wild life sanctuaries (420), gene sanctuary (botanical gardens 120)

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Biosphere reserves
Large area- > 5000 sq. km. long term preservation Nanda Devi(UP) Nokrek (Megalaya) Manas( Assam) Sunderbans( West Bengal) Gulf of Mannar(Tamil Nadu) Nilgiri ( TN, Kerala, Karnataka) Great Nicobars & Similipal (Orissa)
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Role of biosphere Reserves

Long time survival for evolving ecosystems Protects maximum species and communities & endangered species Useful for educational and research purposes Functions as open system- land use prohibited No tourism / explosive activities permitted

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National parks- smaller than biosphere reserve100-500 sq km- may be within a biosphere reserve
National parks
Kaziranga- Assam- one horned Rhino Gir national Park- Gujarat Indian lion Bandipur-Karnataka-Elephant Dachigam- J&K-Hangul Corbett- UP- Tiger Kanha- MP- Tiger Periyar- Kerala- Tiger, elephant Dudwa- UP- tiger Sariska&Ranthambore Rajasthan- Tiger

Role & Restrictions Enjoyment & Tourism without affecting environment Protect, propagate and develop wild life Grazing of domestic animals prohibited Private rights and private forestry prohibited
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Wild life Sanctuary- area for conservation of

animals only-492 in India
Sanctuaries
Hazaribarg Bihar-Tiger, Leopard Ghana Bird Sanctuari-Haryanamigratory Birds Abohar Wild life Sanc.-PunjabBlack Buck Nal Sarovar- Gujarat- water Birds Mudumalai- TN-Tiger, Elephant, Leopard Vedantangal- TN-water birds Wild Ass Sanc- Gujarat-Wild Ass, Wolf, Chinkara Jaldapara- W. Bengal- Rhino, Elephant, Tiger

Role and restrictions Protects animals only Allows harvesting of timber, forest products, private ownership rights, forestry operations Killing, Hunting, shooting, capturing wild life prohibited except under control of authority

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Gene Sanctuary for plants

In Northern India For Citrus family For pitcher plants

In situ conservation- merits Cheap and convenient Species ge adjusted to natural disasters like drought, floods etc. Demerits Large area required Maintenance difficult- due to shortage of staff and pollution

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Ex- Situ conservation- protection outside

natural habitat-mainly for crops
Role
Maintenance and breeding of plants an danimals under controlled conditions Foe species which are at risk of extinction Preference given to those that are useful to human in near future Botanical gardens, seed banks, museums, zoological gardens, microbial culture, cell culture etc. Methods of ex- situ conservation
National bureau of plant genetic resources(NBPGR)- New Delhi Cryopreservation- crops and seeds at liquid N2 temp. (77K)rice, turnip, radish, carrot, chilli, tobacco etc for several years. National Bureau of animal genetic resource- semen of domesticated bovine animals National facility for Plant tissue culture- crops and trees by tissue culture

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Merits Survival of endangered species on the increasespecial care and attention Cative brreding- food , water etc. made availablelonger life span Useful fo endangered species which have little chance of survival

Demerits Expensive Freedom of wild life lost Animals out of natural environment- hence cannot be sent back to natural environment Can be adopted for selected species only.

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Biogeographical zones characteristic climate, soil and biodiversity

S.no 1 2 3 4 5 Biogeographic zone Trans- Himalayan region Himalayan mountain Desert( Arid) Semi-Arid Deccan Peninsula Biotic province Upper region-5.7% North-west, West, Central, east Himalayas-17% Kutch, Thar, Ladakh-6.9% Central India Gujarat- Rajwara-15.6% Deccan plateau- south, Central Eastern, Chotta, Central highlands4.3% Malabar Coast, Western Ghat Mountains Upper and Lower gangetic planes11% Brahmaputra Valley, North eastern Hills, Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep, west and east coast Total area sq. km 186200 6900,720000, 123000, 83000 45000, 180000, NA 107600, 404400 378000,341000 198000,217000 287000 59700, 99300 206400, 153000 65200, 106200, 6397, 1930, 180, 58 6500, 6500

6 7 8

Western ghats Gangetic plane North east India, islands, Coasts