Environment : A Brief Overview

Environment

Definition

Environment is derived from a french word Environer/Environner meaning "neighbourhood". It is defined as the space inhabitated which allows the ecosysytem to dwell, survive and thrive are called their respective environment. Environment is basically the place we live, or the system which supports life and allows us to get adapted to the surroundings and their environment.

Division

Natural    

• Lithosphere (Land)
• Hydrosphere (Water)
• Atmosphere (Air)
• Biosphere (Living things)

Artificial

• Buildings
• Parks
• Bridges
• Roads
• Monuments
• Industries 

Human

• Individuals
• Family
• Community
• Religion
• Political Situation
• Economic

Abiotic

• Energy
• Radiation
• Temperature & Heat Flow
• Water
• Gases & Wind
• Fire
• Gravity
• Topography
• Soil

                          
Biotic

• Green & Non-Green Plants
• Decomposers
• Parasites
• Animals
• Man

Ecosystem

The system formed by the interaction of all the organisms(from virus to human being) with each other & with the physical & chemical factors of the environment in which they live, all linked by the transfer of energy and material.

Ecosystem

Classification of Eco-system                       

Terrestrial

• Forests
• Grasslands
• Deserts                                                                                                              

Aquatic

• Freshwater
• Saline Water
• Marine Water

Ecosystem Contribution

• It provides food, fuel, fibre, shelter & building materials.
• Purify the air, water, soil etc.
• Decomposition of wastes and garbages.
• Regulation of the weather & climate.
• Control floods, draughts, extreme temperature.
• Generation & Renewable of soil fertility and nutrients cycle.
• Pollination of plants, controlling of pests & crop diseases.

Ecotone

Ecotone

A zone of junction between two or more diverse ecosystem. Examples mangrooves forests, grasslands, estuaries and river bank. 

Characteristics 

• May be very narrow or quite wide.
• It has the the conditions intermediate to the adjacent eco-system. Hence its a zone of tension.
• It is linear as it shows progressive increase in species composition of one in coming community and a simultaneous decrease in species of the other out going adjoining community.
• A well developed ecotones contain some organisms which are entirely different that of the adjoining communities.

Niche

The unique functional role or place of species in an an ecosystem. It describes the biological, physical and chemical factors that species needs to survive, stay healthy and reproduce and regulate.

Bees colony in Beehive

Types

• Habitat Niche
• Reproductive Niche
• Food Niche
• Physical & Chemical Niche

Biomes 

The terrestorial part of the biosphere is divisible into enormous region called biomes, which are chacterised by climate, vegetation, animal life and soil type. No two biomes are alike. The climate determines the boundaries of biomes and abundance of plants and animal found in each one of them. Most important climatic factors and temperature and precipitation.

Tundra

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Biomes distribution throughout the world 

• Tropical rainforest
• Tropical deciduous                                   
• Temperate giant rainforest    
• Montane rainforest
• Temperate deciduous forest
• Temperate evergreen forest
• Subarctic-subalpin needle-leaved forests (taiga)
• Elfin woodland
• Thorn forests and woodlands
• Thorn scrub
• Temperate woodland
• Temperate shrublands
• Savanna
• Temperate grassland
• Alpine grasslands
• Tundra
• Tropical desert
• Warm-temperate desert
• Cool temperate desert scrub
• Arctic-alpine desert
• Bog
• Tropical fresh-water swamp forest
• Temperate fresh-water swamp forest
• Mangrove swamp
• Salt marsh
• Wetland

Aquatic Zones 

Aquatic Systems are not termed as biomes they have distinct life zones, with regions of relatively distinct plant and animals life.

Various aquatic zones because of salinity, levels of dissolved nutrients, water temperature depth of sunlight penetration.

Examples- 

1. Fresh water Ecosystem
2. Marine Ecosystem
3. Estuaries
4. Coral reef
5. Mangrooves

Biosphere 

Biosphere

The part of Earth where life can exist. It represents a highly integrated and interacting zone compromising of atmosphere (air), hydrosphere(water) and lithosphere(land).

Artificial Biosphere

• Biosphere 2 in Arizona, US
• BIOS 1,2,3 in Siberia
• Biosphere J in Japan

Natural Biosphere

• TRAPPIST 1