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Unit 1 Definition of Environment

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118 views3 pages

Unit 1 Definition of Environment

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alok2005.2020
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Unit 1

Definition of Environment:
Environment can be defined as a sum total of all the living and nonliving
elements and their effects which influence human life.
OR
Environment means what surrounds us. It may be living or non-living things. It
includes physical, chemical and other natural forces.
Environment is a term that means a surrounding area where all living and non-
living creatures co-exist. The word environment is derived from the French
word “environ” which means each and everything that surrounds us. It can
indicate the natural, social, or man-made nature. Thomas Carlyle coined the
terminology ‘environment’.

Types of Environment

The environment is divided into two parts which are as follows;

1. Geographical Environment
2. Man-Made Environment
1. Geographical Environment
It mainly refers to the terrestrial environment which is composed of variety of
environmental and natural factors. It is also known as the natural environment.
It consists of all the natural components like mountains, land, rivers, water,
deserts, storms etc. It is sometimes known as the physical environment
because it is directly related to the physical conditions required for life.
Geographical environment has elements including natural resources, climatic
factors, landforms and biological structures. This environment has no human
involvement because it is self automated by the natural phenomenon.

2.Man-made Environment
• Man-made environment is also called artificial environment. This
environment has a human involvement and is made by them. Man is
unable to live in geographical environment directly so he creates some
of the environmental conditions to get adjust in it. For the purpose of
their own benefit man created this environment to regulate and monitor
some environmental conditions. It is sub-divided into two parts:
Components of Environment:

The componentsof environment includes both living and non-living creatures


present on the earth. The air or atmosphere, rocks and soil or lithosphere,
water or hydrosphere and the other biological component of the environment
or biosphere are the basic components of environment.

Biotic Components

All the living organisms in an environment like plants and animals is


responsible to form biotic components. Biotic components depend on how
they nourish themselves and on the basis of this living things can be splited
into three groups, i.e, producers, consumers and decomposers. These are as
follows:
1. Producers: The green plants who makes their own food with the
help of photosynthesis are known to be producers. Green plants are
well known to adapt and utilize solar energy. Few elements are
essential for the formation of food in the process of photosynthesis
such as water, minerals, sunlight and carbon dioxide.
2. Consumers: This category is dependent on producers and other
organisms for the food. Consumers are further divided into two types
on the basis of their food taking criteria and they are primary and
secondary consumers. Primary consumers includes snails, rabbits,
etc. And secondary consumers include snakes, frogs, small fish, etc.
3. Decomposers: Decomposers are the microorganisms that feed
themselves by living on dead and decaying matter. It has a
saprophytic nature. Examples of decomposers are bacteria and fungi.

Abiotic Components

The abiotic components or abiotic factors of the environment are those which
are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that somehow
affects the functioning of ecosystems and the living organisms. Examples of
abiotic components are sunlight, water, air, soil, etcetera. Biotic factors have
to depend on abiotic components for their survival and existence on the planet.

Importance of Environment
The environment has a crucial impact on humans as well as in the continuation
of life on the earth. Earth is shelter to variety of living species and we all rely
on it for food, water, air and other necessary things for life. Hence, it is
important to protect the environment not only for this generation but for the
upcoming generation too. By doing this the next generation would also be able
to explore the beauty of nature and live in a clean and healthy environment.

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