Environmental Management

ABHIJITH R.

Environment Encompasses virtually everything that

surrounds an organism in a holistic ecological approach

Life on earth experiences different types of surroundings.

Physical environment- soil, air, water…. Biological environment – living beings.

Fundamental principles for the protection of environment Maintenance of biodiversity Maintenance of all gaseous & material

cycles & interdependence of living organisms among themselves & with abiotic environments.

Maintenance of ecological order & natural balance, which depend on the food chain relationship, sustainable productivity & biotic interaction.

Segments of environment Natural environment :- Abiotic component-a) Climatic factors-solar radiation,

temperature, wind, rainfall, water current..

b) Physical factors- light, air, pressure& geomagnetism

Cont… (c) clinical factors- oxygen, carbon

dioxide , acidity, salinity, availability of inorganic nutrients & so on..

Biotic factors:- microbes, plants, animals & all living organisms & their organic by-products

Cont… Man-made environment Crop fields Urban areas Industrial space Vehicles Power plants Telecommunications …

Cont… Social environment Formed by network of social institutions-

political, religious & economic Family Activities including socialization of

children, transference of cultural heritage & morals from one generation to the next.

Environment of the earth Air / Atmosphere: Envelope of gases– nitrogen, oxygen,

carbon dioxide, traces of carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur, hydrocarbon & very little amount of water vapour.

Layers of atmosphere1. Troposphere 2. Stratosphere 3. Mesosphere 4. Thermosphere (ionosphere)5. Exosphere

Cont…. Water / Hydrosphere: Oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, polar

ice caps, streams, glaciers, ground water, & water vapour.

Oceans are storehouses of vast resources- water, salt, minerals, & food.

Cont… Land / Lithosphere Is the outer mantle of rocks constituting

the earth’s crust. Rocks are subjected to continuous

physical, chemical & biological weathering.

Thickness ranging from 64 to 96 km.

Cont… Below the lithosphere lies the mantle;

thickness of 2400km. Upper part is Asthenosphere Lower mantle is Mesosphere

The interior part of earth is Core, consist of minerals such as iron, nickel, cobalt mixed with sulphur & silica

Cont… Inner core appears to be solid Outer core is molten and metallic The direction & interaction b/w the

atmosphere, hydrosphere & lithosphere for millions of years has made the earth suitable for life & has formed the Biosphere.

Which is responsible for large scale of recycling of matter & energy.

the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in environments

the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in environments

eco (G) root home, abodeeco (G) root home, abode

ecoclimateecoclimateecosystemecosystemecotourismecotourism

log, -o, y (G) suffix study oflog, -o, y (G) suffix study of

zoologyzoologyepidemiologyepidemiologyclimatologyclimatology

EcologyEcologyEcoEco

logylogy

a major regional or global biotic community, a super ecosystem, defined chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

a major regional or global biotic community, a super ecosystem, defined chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

BiomeBiome

desertdesert

grasslandgrassland

tropical rain foresttropical rain forest

deciduous forestdeciduous forest

coniferous forestconiferous forest

tundratundra

Major Biomes of the WorldMajor Biomes of the World

oceanocean

Aquatic biomes2 types – marine and freshwater.Stratified vertically – photic zone (light) and aphotic zone (little light).

Bottom of aquatic is benthos – food is detritus that falls from above.

LakesALakes classified by nutrients –

1eutrophic – shallow and nutrient-rich;

2oligotrophic – deeper and nutrient-poor.

*WetlandsWetlands – area covered with

water; supports plants.Estuaries – area where

freshwater meets ocean.Intertidal zone – land meets

water.Coral reefs – dominated by coral.

Terrestrial biomesDefined vertically from the canopy at top to the permafrost at the bottom.

ATropical forest – little light reaches ground because of deep canopy.

Rainfall determines life in area.

Cont…BSavanna – scattered trees and grasses.

Fire helps increase diversity.Has rainy season.CTemperate grassland – seasonal drought, fires prevent tree growth.

Most used for farming.

DesertsDeserts – sparse rain, some are cold.

Plants have structures to allow survival (i.e. water storage, alternative forms of photosynthesis)

Chaparral – evergreen shrub; long, hot, dry summers with fires.

Forest Temperate deciduous forest – small mammals, leaves fall during autumn.

Coniferous forest – cone-bearing trees, trees have needles.

Tundra – permafrost covers ground, low diversity.

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organizationsmallest unit of living thingssmallest unit of living thingsgroup of similar cells organized to work together

group of similar cells organized to work together

group of different kinds of tissues working together

group of different kinds of tissues working together

group of organs working togethergroup of organs working togetherone individual living thingone individual living thingall organisms of the same kind living in one area

all organisms of the same kind living in one area

all interacting populations in an ecosystem

all interacting populations in an ecosystem

all living and nonliving things interacting within a certain area

all living and nonliving things interacting within a certain area

large region with typical plants and animals that includes several ecosystems

large region with typical plants and animals that includes several ecosystems

cell

Changes to Agriculture: •1 After the Second World War, farming changed dramatically and became more intensive. •2 It changed because of the need for farmers to maximize production. •3 Farms became specialist such as growing cereals and little else. •4 This was made possible with the advent of cheap inorganic fertilisers, pesticides, •new high yielding varieties and improved mechanization. •5 Yields improved dramatically (Wheat yields in the 1950’s were about 2 tonnes per hectare and now in excess of 10 tonnes). 6 Food has also become much cheaper.

Agriculture

Effects of intensive agriculture:

Benefits : High yields Greater productivity Cheaper food Higher quality food

Cont… Problems: Pollution(excess nitrates & pesticides) Disease Waste disposal (straw from cereals, slurry

from livestock) Toxic materials entering the human food

chain Damage to the environment Loss of jobs

Agriculture – Monoculture and Intensive Farming Intensive agriculture is characterised by

most of the following: Large areas of monoculture (growing

one species or crop). High level use of –

Fertilisers (especially inorganic fertilisers) Pesticides (includes herbicides)

Mechanisation (large tractors etc)

Cont…. Improved varieties of plants and animals Irrigation schemes (allows continuous

cropping) Continuous cropping from one area year after

year Several crops per season from the same land Low labour input Maximum yields for a minimum area of land Attempts to maximise profits