SUBJECT: SCIENCE FORM: 5

PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

3.1 Balance in Nat!e
"#at i$ t#e %eanin& '( )alance in nat!e*
Refer to the $itati'n +#e!e li,in& t#in&$ an- n'n li,in& t#in&$ -e.en- 'n eac# 't#e!
('! t#ei! e/i$tence in nat!al +a0. That means they are balance on one another so that
their ecosystems continue to exist in natural state.
Nat!al C0cle Hel.$ t' Maintain Balance in Nat!e:
Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Clouds
Water vapor
Seas / oceans
Rain
Water in the ground
Plants
Ponds, laes and rivers
!nimals/"umans
Condensation Condensation
#vaporation
#vaporation
!bsorption
!bsorption
$lo% $lo%
Transpiration
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide in
atmosphere
&reen plants in sunlight
Respiration, combustion
and decay of plants and
animals
Carbohydrates formed
'xygen released
$oods for animals
Carbohydrates stored in
plants
(itrogen Cycle
F''- "e)$ Hel.$ t' Maintain Balance in Nat!e:
a) $ood chains
$ood relationship among organisms forms food chains. That means &!een .lant$ %a1e
t#ei! '+n (''- )0 .#'t'$0nt#e$i$, and $'%e ani%al$ &et t#ei! (''- (!'% eatin& t#i$
&!een .lant, and $'%e 't#e! ani%al$ &et t#ei! (''- )0 eatin& #e!)i,'!e$ *animals that
feed only green plants)
#xamples of food chains are given belo%+
a) &rass Rabbits #agles
b) &reen plants &oats "uman ,eings
c) Paddy plants Rats Snaes #agles
(itrites Plant proteins
(itrates (itrates
!mmonium in compounds !nimal proteins
!bsorption
(utrition
!ction of nitrifying bacteria
Synthesis of nitrogen fixing
bacteria
-ightning
!bsorption
.ecay by bacteria and fungi
!ction of nitrifying bacteria
!ction of denitrifying
bacteria
.ecay by bacteria and fungi
(itrogen in atmosphere
Ene!&0 is transferred from organism to organism in food chain. S'%e '( ene!&0 i$
+a$te- -!in& t!an$(e!. /t is because of +a$te 2(aece$3 .!'-ct )0 '!&ani$% and #eat
l'$t t' $!!'n-in&.
N' ene!&0 i$ -e$t!'0e- '! c!eate- in (''- c#ain$.
O!i&inal $'!ce '( ene!&0 in (''- c#ain$ i$ t#e Sn. Why0 ,ecause t#e $n $..lie$
ene!&0 t' &!een .lant$ so that they can mae their o%n food by photosynthesis
b) $ood %ebs
$ood chains don1t exist alone on their o%n in nature. /n fact, they are inter2related. This
inter2relationship among food chains forms food %eb.
#xample of food %eb is given belo%+
P!'-ce!$ : !ll producers are green plants, because they mae their o%n food under
sunlight via photosynthesis
P!i%a!0 c'n$%e! : !nimals %hich eats plants, either herbivores or omnivores
Sec'n-a!0 c'n$%e!: !nimals %hich eats primary consumers
Te!tia!0 c'n$%e! : !nimals %hich eats secondary consumers
P!'-ce!$ P!i%a!0
c'n$%e!$
Sec'n-a!0
c'n$%e!$
Te!tia!0
c'n$%e!$
Dec'%.'$e!
Dia&!a% 3.1
Dec'%.'$e! : They are bacteria of decay, fungi and other organisms %hich brea up
dead plants and animals into minerals. These minerals %ill be absorbed again by plants.
Refer to .iagram 3.4, food %eb is much simple compare to the real one. !ctually, real
food %eb is much more complicate that that.
Sta)le (''- +e) %aintain$ t#e )alance in nat!e. The balance of ecosystem %ill be
upset if members are taen out or ne% members are put in.
c) Pyramid of (umbers
/t sho%s the relative number of organisms in a particular food chain
!s %e move up from the base to the apex of the pyramid,
a) the number of organisms decrease
b) the organisms become stronger and maybe bigger
c) the energy transferred decrease *'nly 456 of energy is transferred from one organism
to another)
The relative number of organisms at each stage of the number of pyramid is naturally
controlled. 'ther%ise, food supply %ill be disrupted.
E((ect$ '( Nat!al Di$a$te!$ 'n t#e Balance in Nat!e:
a) $orest fires
/t can destroys large timber trees and large variety of plants and animals
!fter a forest fire, the balance of nature in that area is completely destroyed. The plants
gro% again, but slo%ly before animals %ill return
Si4e '( c'n$%e!
inc!ea$e
N%)e! '( '!&ani$%
-ec!ea$e
Ha+15Ea&le5Bi& )i!-
Snail5D!a&'n(lie$
S%all (i$#
6!een .lant$
Bi& (i$#
$orest fire produces plenty of smoe and dust. These substance form thic ha7e, and
result in poor vision and healthy problem for human beings such as cough, asthma, and
bronchitis
b) .rought
Refer to long period of dry %eather.
Plants and animals don1t get enough %ater supplies. Plants are the first to %ither and die,
follo%ed by the animals.
/n severe drought, the c'%.lete #a)itat can )e t!ne- int' a -e$e!t7li1e !e&i'n. /t is
follo%ed by a (a%ine. Pe'.le %ho live in that drought area +ill )e $ta!,e- t' -eat#
unless they receive aid from outside the affected region
c) $lood
/t is caused by heavy rainfall such as monsoons
-arge variety of plants is destroyed, and many animals are dro%ned. Those survived
animals have to find ne% habitats to find food.
$loods are liely to +a$# a+a0 t#e t'.$'il an- all it$ nt!ient$. T#e $!,i,in& .lant$
+ill lac1 '( nt!ient$.
$loods also cause t#e +ate! .'llti'n8 an- a$ a !e$lt8 a l't '( +ate!7)'!ne -i$ea$e$
$c# a$ -0$ente!0 an- c#'le!a a!e e%e!&e-.
d) Typhoons
/t is great thunderstorms %hich bring torrential rains and %inds of very high speed
/t can s%eep across a %hole region very fast, inflicting %ide spread and catastrophic
destruction to property and causing loss of lives *animals, plants and human beings).
/t also causes landslide and flooding.
e) #arth8uae
/t happens because of movement of molten rocs belo% the #arth1s crust
(ormally lasts at most for 4 minute
Can cause catastrophic destruction, loss of lives and upset the balance of nature
#xample+ 9obe1s #arth8uae on 4::;
"o%ever, scientists can predict %here the big earth8uae %ill occurs fairly and
accurately, and so that people %ho live in earth8uae2prone area %ill tae proper
precautions.
/f an earth8uae taes place on sea floor, tsunami *mighty sea %ave as tall as coconut tree
and moving at <552=55 m per hour) may be produced.
#xample+ Tsunami on >?
th
.ecember >55;
f) @olcanic eruption
/t thro%s out molten materials, dust and gases such as carbon monoxide *C'), sulphur
dioxide *S'
>
) and hydrogen sulphide *"S)
The dust and acidic gases pollute the air and dissolve in the rain to form aci- !ain
The molten materials, called la,a8 can flo% and spread out over large areas. /t %ill
destroy habitats and ills organisms %hich are in its %ay.
#xample+ 9raatoa1s volcanic eruption in 4==3
"a0$ ('! Maintainin& t#e Balance in Nat!e:
4) Prevent air and %ater pollution
>) Prevent forest fires
3) 9eep our ponds, rivers and laes clean
;) Aaintain the fertility of the soil
B) Prevent the erosion of the topsoil
?) Replant after logging
<) .o not destroy plants and animals indiscriminately.
=) Set up the %arning system if there %ill be high possibility for natural disaster to occur
3.9 En,i!'n%ental P'llti'n an- It$ E((ect$
S'!ce '( En,i!'n%ental P'llti'n:
Cncontrolled use of fossil fuels *e.g+ diesel and coal)
!s a result, they .!'-ce a l't '( carbon dioxide *C'
>
), carbon monoxide *C'), sulphur
dioxide *S'
>
) and nitrogen dioxide *('
>
). !ll of them are aci-ic &a$e$.
These gases -i$$'l,e in !ain8 t' ('!% aci- !ain, %hich is ,e!0 c'!!'$i,e.
Cncontrolled use of pesticides, fungicides, and fertili7ers in agriculture
Some of pesticides and fungicides sprayed onto the crops e$ca.e int' t#e ai!
inci-entall0 an- .'llte it.
#xcess pesticides, fungicides and fertili7ers +#ic# -i$$'l,e in +ate! )el'+ t#e &!'n-
(inall0 (l'+ int' t#e nat!al +ate! !e$'!ce nea!)0 lie pond, lae or river. !s result,
the +ate! +ill )e .'llte-.
#mission of toxic gases, smoe and noise from motor vehicles
T'/ic &a$e$ such carbon monoxide *C') and sulphur dioxide *S'
>
), an- $%'1e comes
from motor vehicles +ill .'llte t#e ai! in )i& citie$.
,esides, the c'ntin'$ n'i$e comes from motor vehicles in the big cities can )e ,e!0
i!!itatin&.
/mproper disposal of industrial %aste
In-$t!ial +a$te$ such as acids, alalis, mercury and lead are in-i$c!i%inatel0 -i$.'$e-
int' t#e en,i!'n%ent. #ven the !a-i'acti,e +a$te$ are not being disposed in a safe and
proper %ay.
/mproper disposal of rubbish
Some of plastics are n'n7)i'-e&!a-a)le. That means, it cann't )e -ec'%.'$e- )0
)acte!ia. !s a result, they stays in the environment for hundred of years.
$ood s%ills and human se%age %hich are not properly managed can pollute the %ater and
land.
#xtensive use of C$C *chlorofluorocarbon)
C$C is the %ain .'lltant +#ic# -e$t!'0$ t#e '4'ne in t#e at%'$.#e!e. /t is
e/ten$i,el0 $e- as a cooling agent in !e(!i&e!at'!$ an- ai! c'n-iti'ne!$.
E((ect$ '( En,i!'n%ental P'llti'n:
"armful #ffect on "uman "ealth
P'lltant Ha!%(l E((ect$
-ead *Pb) Cause high blood pressure and nervous disorders
Aercury *"g) .estroys the nervous system
Cause deformity in fetus
-eading to Ainamata diseases
Chromium *Cr) Cause adverse effects if it accumulate too much in idneys,
brain, liver and bones.
Carbon monoxide *C') .epriving oxygen from our body
Sulphur dioxide *S'
>
) /rritate and corrode human1s respiratory system
Cause coughs, asthma and bronchitis
(itrogen dioxide *('
>
) D
Smoe Cause lung cancer
Se%age Cause %ater borne disease such as typhoid, cholera and
dysentery
Radioactive %aste Cause sterility
Cause deformity in fetus
Cause cancer, even %orse death
(oise -ead to the total deafness and nervous disorders
.estruction of "abitats
P'lltant Ha!%(l E((ect$
!cid rain Corrodes the mineral in the soil, maing the soil is unsuitable
habitat for plants.
Cause the roots of plants to be unable to absorb %ater.
'il spills Pollute the natural %ater resources lie sea, river and lae
When oil spills is %ashed to the shore, it maes the coast line
as uninhabitable place for marine organisms
Clea!in& '( ('!e$t$ for housing, heavy industries and etc deprive plants, animals and
indigenous people from their habitat.
#xtinction of Species
This issue comes from many causes, lie+
4. .estruction of their habitats by +2 a) mining
b) logging
c) Clearing of forests for housing, heavy industries
>. Pollution of natural %ater resources by +2 a) 'il spills
b) Toxic substance spills
3. /llegal hunting
-oss of #conomic Resources
This matter comes from many reasons, lie+
4. .estruction of forests by +2 a) acid rain
b) natural disasters *e.g+ forest fires, typhoon, earth 8uae)
>. Pollution of soil by +2 a) improper disposal of industrial %aste
b) extensive use of pesticides, fungicides and fertili7ers
3. Soot/smoe settling *comes from thic ha7e) on the leaves of the green plants prevent
them to receive sunlight for photosynthesis process.
;. Pollution of natural %ater resources by +2 a) 'il spills
b) Toxic substance spills
6l')al "a!%in&:
Refer to phenomena %here the #arth1s temperature increases due to several factors such
as+
Clearing of large area of forests
,urning of fossil fuels in factories and motor vehicles
Since 8uantity of CO
9
inc!ea$e$ &!a-all0 in atmosphere and it -en$e! t#an ai!, it %ill
('!%$ a la0e! in at%'$.#e!e $!!'n-in& t#e Ea!t#
Heat (!'% the Sn can .a$$ t#!'&# the la0e! '( CO
9
to the #arth. Bt #eat an-
in(!a!e- !e(lecte- (!'% t#e Ea!t# cann't .a$$ t#!'&# the la0e! '( CO
9
into outer
space.
Heat an- in(!a !e- t!a..e- )et+een t#e la0e! '( CO
9
an- t#e Ea!t# maes the
#arth1s temperature increases.
&lobal %arming is similar to the &!een#'$e e((ect.
,esides C'
>
gas, there are 't#e! &a$e$ that can ca$e &l')al +a!%in& lie CFC,
%et#ane and nit!'&en -i'/i-e 2NO
9
3.
Euantity of C'> eeps increasing
bco7 of both factors
T#innin& '( O4'ne :a0e!$:
Refer to phenomena %here the '4'ne;$ la0e! )ec'%e$ t#in due to $a&e '( CFC in
!e(!i&e!at'!8 ai! c'n-iti'ne! an- ae!'$'l $.!a0
,asically, o7one is %a-e . +it# t#e c'%)inati'n '( t#!ee '/0&en at'%$ 2O
3
3. /t
('!%e- an- -ec'%.'$e- at t#e $a%e !ate so that there is n' c#an&e in t#e t#ic1ne$$
'( '4'ne;$ la0e!. The usage of o7one is t' .!'tect t#e Ea!t# (!'% e/ce$$ '( lt!a,i'let
2UV3 li&#t (!'% t#e Sn
H'+e,e!8 t#e $a&e '( CFC inc!ea$e$ t#e !ate '( '4'ne;$ -ec'%.'$iti'n. /f it i$ n't
t!eate- i%%e-iatel0,
"igh intensity C@ light can ca$e cance!
D 1ill t#e c0t'.la$% '( cell$
D -a%a&e .lant ti$$e
D !e-ce i%%ni0 t' (i&#t -i$ea$e
D inc!ea$e t#e te%.e!at!e '( t#e Ea!t#
3.3 C'n$e!,ati'n '( t#e En,i!'n%ent
H'+ t' c'nt!'l en,i!'n%ental .'llti'n*
4. C'nt!'l$ the $a&e '( ('$$il$ (el
>. D -i$.'$al '( in-$t!ial +a$te
3. D $a&e '( c#e%ical .e$tici-e$ an- (e!tilli4e!$
;. D e%i$$i'n '( .'lltant$ (!'% %'t'! ,e#icle$
B. D -i$.'$al '( !))i$#
?. D $a&e '( CFC
4. Cse unleaded petrol
>. Cse alternative sources *hybrid, solar, electric and etc)
4. ,uild very high chimney and use electrostatic filter inside it
>. Radioactive %aste should be stored in lead and concrete container before it
is disposed on the sea floor or desert.
4. Reuse materials
>. Recycle glass, plastics and paper
3. Set up rubbish traps along a river
4. Practice biological control
>. Practice rotation of crops
3. Cse organic fertili7er such as compost
4. Reduce the usage of C$C
>. Replace C$C %ith "$C
4. Cse unleaded petrol
>. Cse catalytic converter
3. /nstall a silencer at exhaust system
;. Cse public transport