Environmental science is the study of nature and the facts about environment. Basically environment can be defined as all the social, economical, physical & chemical factors that surrounds man (or) all abiotic and biotic components around man-all living and non living things surrounds man. Scope of environmental science
Studying the interrelationship between the components of environment. Carrying out impact analysis and environment Audit Preventing pollution from existing and new industries Stopping the use of biological and nuclear weapons Managing unpredictable disasters etc.
Importance of Risk and Hazards Risk is the likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard. A Hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons . In other words a hazard is anything in the workplace that has the potential to harm people.
Chemical hazards Chemicals can be broken down into hazard classes and exhibit both physical and health hazards. It is important to keep in mind, that chemicals can exhibit more than one hazard or combinations of several hazards. It includes fires, explosions, leakages or releases of toxic or hazardous materials that can cause people illness, injury, disability or death. Physical hazards Physical hazards are hazards that arise at work due to the influence of various forms of energy. They include noise, temperature, lighting and radiation. The physical hazards checklist is well-suited for almost all work inspections, since the items it contains generally affect working environments and apply to all types of work.
Biological hazards Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin (from a biological source) that can affect human health. It can also include substances harmful to other animals. Concept of Ecosystem An ecosystem is defined as a natural functional ecological unit comprising of living organisms and their non-living environment that interact to form a stable self supporting system . Ecology deals with the study of organisms in their natural home interacting with their surroundings. Structure and function of Ecosystem Structure of Ecosystem 1. Abiotic or non-living components or physical components 2. Biotic or Living components 3. Energy components Functions of Ecosystems Biotic structure :Producers, Consumers(Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, Detritivores ), Decomposers. Abiotic Structure :Physical factors (sunlight , temperature , annual rainfall, soil type, water availability, water currents etc ), Chemical factors (nutrients C, N, P, H, O, S )
Oxygen and Nitrogen cycle Nitrogen Cycle:
Plants & Algae Fish Ammonia (Waste of Fish) Nitrite Nitrate Food Bacteria Bacteria
Bacteria Oxygen Cycle ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEM Energy is defined as the capacity to do work. The flow of energy from producer level to top consumer level is called energy flow. The main source of energy in the ecosystem is sunlight. Sun Producer Herbivores Carnivores Top carnivores Decomposers ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION FOOD CHAIN Sequence of eating and being eaten in an ecosystem. Producers (Plants)
Consumer I order (Deer)
Consumer II order (Tiger, Lion)
Decomposers (Bacteria, fungi)
In an ecosystem linking of feeding habit relations will provide a food web. Mouse snake Grass Rabbit Hawk Grasshopper Lizard FOREST ECOSYSTEM It is a natural ecosystem consisting of dense growth of trees and wild animals . Types: tropical deciduous, evergreen, wet green Characteristics: Abiotic: soil, sun light, temperature etc ..Biotic : forest trees, shrubs and animals Structure: Producer : trees and shrubs Consumer : Primary elephants, deer etc. Secondary snakes, birds, lizards etc Tertiary lions, tigers etc Decomposers : fungi, bacteria
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM Dominated by grass few shrubs and trees are also found rainfall average but erratic overgrazing leads to desertification. Types: Tropical grass lands ,Temperate grasslands, Polar grasslands . Components: Structural Components: Abiotic: soil pH, nutrients, soil moisture, temp, climatic conditions, etc. Biotic: grass, caterpillar, butterfly, worms, insects, birds, etc.
DESERT ECOSYSTEM Types: 1. tropical desert-found in Africa-Sahara and Rajasthan Thar 2. temperate desert-south California-Majave 3. cold desert-China-Gobi desert Characteristics: 1. Air is dry 2. Climate is hot 3. Annual rainfall is less than 25 cm 4. Vegetation is poor
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM Deals with water bodies and biotic communities present in them-Classified as fresh water and marine ecosystems. Fresh water systems are classified as lentic and lotic ecosystems. Types: Pond ecosystem Lake ecosystem Streams: Oceans: Characteristics: Structural Components: Abiotic: pH, nutrients, D.O, temp, climatic conditions, etc. Biotic: Phytoplankton, fishes, snails insects, birds, etc.