WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE

ADD OUR WASTE TO THE

ENVIRONMENT ?
Some of this waste may be broken
down by Biological processes (eg.
Saprophytes like fungi and bacteria)
and this waste is called
BIODEGRADABLE.
Examples- plant and animal waste,
vegetable peels etc.
BIODEGRADABLE WASTE
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE
ADD OUR WASTE TO THE
ENVIRONMENT ?
Some of the waste will not be broken
down by Biological processes and this
waste is called NON-
BIODEGRADABLE.
Examples-polythene bags, plastic, metal
objects etc.
Non-biodegradable substances can be
harmful to the environment.
NON-BIODEGRADABLE
WASTE

AS TIC
PL
TTL ES
BO
 What is an Ecosystem?
 An Ecosystem is a Natural unit.

 Consisting of all Plants, Animals and Micro-

organisms in an area functioning together with all the
physical & chemical (soil, climate, water and light)
factors of the environment.

 An ecosystem is formed by the interactions between

all living and non-living things.

 Eco = the Environment; System = regularly

interacting and interdependent components forming a
unified whole.
 Components of
Ecosystem:
Abiotic components:
 Abiotic components are non - living chemical & physical factors in
the environment.
 It includes various physical (temperature, rainfall, wind, soil,
minerals etc.) and chemical factors.

 Biotic components:
 Biotic components refer to the living world of an ecosystem.
 They are of two forms:

Autotrophs:
 Organisms that produce their own food from an energy source,
such as the sun, and inorganic compounds.

 They are also called “PRODUCERS”

Examples; Green Plants.
Heterotrophs:
 Organisms that consume other organisms as a food source.
Examples: Cows; Lions; Vultures
 Structure of an
Ecosystem:
  Examples of producers:

Photosynthetic Bacteria Grasses Shrubs

Trees
  Structure of an Ecosystem:
1) Herbivores: Also primary consumers, feed directly on living
plants or plant residues. They have vegetarian diet.
  Structure of an Ecosystem:
2) Carnivores: Also secondary/ tertiary consumers, which
feed on consumers, i.e. they have non- vegetarian diet.
 They are also called “Predators”
  Structure of an Ecosystem:
3) Omnivores: Consumers, which feed on producers as well as on
primary consumers, i.e. they have vegetarian as well as non-
vegetarian diet.
  Structure of an Ecosystem:
 Micro-consumers: Also Saprotrophs/ Detritivores . They
are popularly known as decomposers, such as bacteria,
fungi, flagellates & actinomyctes.
 They feed on organic compounds of dead or living
protoplasm of plants and animals for their food and energy
 They absorb some of the decomposition or breakdown
products & release inorganic compounds (nutrients) in the
ecosystem, making them available again to producers.
 Food Chains
The energy flow from one trophic level to the
other is know as a food chain
A food chain is simple and direct
It involves one organism at each trophic level
 Primary Consumers – eat autotrophs (producers)
 Secondary Consumers – eat the primary consumers
 Tertiary Consumers – eat the secondary consumers
 Decomposers – bacteria and fungi that break down
dead organisms and recycle the material back into the
environment
 Food Web
 Most organisms eat more than just one
organism.

 When more organism are involved it is

know as a FOOD WEB

 Food webs are more complex and involve

lots of organisms
 FOOD WEB
CONSISTING OF
FOOD CHAINS
 BIOLOGICAL
MAGNIFICATION

It is the increase in concentration of a

substance, such as the pesticide DDT, that
occurs in a food chain as a consequence of:
 Food chain energetic.

 Low rate of excretion/degradation of the

substance.
 HOW DO OUR
ACTIVITIES AFFECT
THE ENVIRONMENT ?

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:-
DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER
WASTE DISPOSAL
 What is Ozone? Ozone Layer?
 Ozone (O3) is a highly-reactive form of oxygen.
 Unlike oxygen (O2), ozone has a strong scent and is
blue in color.
 Ozone exists within both the tropospheric and
stratospheric zones of the Earth’s atmosphere
 In the troposphere, ground level ozone is a major air
pollutant and primary constituent of photochemical
smog
 In the stratosphere, the ozone layer is an essential
protector of life on earth as it absorbs harmful UV
radiation before it reaches the earth.
CFC’s and ozone depletion
 Chlorofluorocarbons are
created and used in
refrigerators and air
conditioners. These
chlorofluorocarbons are not
harmful to humans and have
been a benefit to us. Once
released into the atmosphere,
chlorofluorocarbons are
bombarded and destroyed by
ultraviolet rays. In the process
chlorine is released to destroy
the ozone molecules
 Harmful effects of UV rays on
humans
 Skin cancer
 Premature aging (photoaging) of the
skin (different from normal
chronological aging)
 Cataracts and eye disorders (corneal
sunburn and blindness)
 Immune system damage
 WASTE
“substances or objects which
are disposed of or are
intended to be disposed of or
are required to be disposed of
by the provisions of the law”
Sources of Wastes

Households

Commerce and
Industry
Sources of Wastes

Agriculture

Fisheries
EFFECTS OF WASTE…
 GHGs are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of
human activities, causing global mean surface air temperature
and subsurface ocean temperature to rise.

 Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and

change precipitation and other local climate conditions.

 Changing regional climates could alter forests, crop yields, and

water supplies.

 This could also affect human health, animals, and many types
of ecosystems.

 Deserts might expand into existing rangelands, and features of

some of our national parks might be permanently altered.
ECO FRIENDLY
MANTRA IS:-