Role of individual in conservation of natural

resources
Role of individual in conservation of natural
resources
 Conservation of energy

 Conservation of water

 Conversation of soil

 Conservation of food resources

 Conservation of forest
Reasons for rapid rate of consumption of natural
resources;

Population increase: About 80 million people are added every year

to the world's population. Global population may double every 30
years or so. This exponential growth of human population is causing
a great pressure on our resources.
Industrial revolution:
Growth and development through science, technology and
industrial expansion. This marked the beginning of the exponential
rate of consumption of natural resources.
EQUITABLE USE OF RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE
LIFESTYLES

 Reduction of the unsustainable and unequal use of resources and

control of our population growth
 Expand green grassland
 The clean water of a lake that supports so much life
 Magnify power of the oceans
ECOSYSTEM

 An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of ecology

where the living organisms interact with each other and the
surrounding environment.
 It is made up of living and non-living beings and their physical
environment.
 Structure of an ecosystem

 The structure of an ecosystem can be split into two main

components, namely:
• Biotic Components
• Abiotic Components
Biotic Components

It refer to all living components in an ecosystem.

Based on nutrition, biotic components can be categorised into
autotrophs, heterotrophs and saprotrophs (or decomposers).
• Producers include all autotrophs such as plants. They are
called autotrophs as they can produce food through the
process of photosynthesis. Consequently, all other
organisms higher up on the food chain rely on producers
for food.
• Consumers or heterotrophs are organisms that depend on other organisms
for food. Consumers are further classified into primary consumers,
secondary consumers and tertiary consumers.
• Primary consumers are always herbivores as they rely on producers for
food.
• Secondary consumers depend on primary consumers for energy. They
can either be carnivores or omnivores.
• Tertiary consumers are organisms that depend on secondary
consumers for food. It can also be carnivores or omnivores.

• Quaternary consumers are present in some food chains. These

organisms prey on tertiary consumers for energy. Furthermore, they
are usually at the top of a food chain as they have no natural predators.
 Decomposers include saprophytes such as fungi and
bacteria. They directly thrive on the dead and decaying
organic matter. Decomposers are essential for the
ecosystem as they help in recycling nutrients to be reused
by plants.
Abiotic Components
Abiotic components are the non-living component of an
ecosystem. It includes air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight,
temperature, nutrients, wind, altitude, turbidity, etc.
Functions of Ecosystem

 The functions of the ecosystem are as follows:

1. Itregulates the essential ecological processes, supports life
systems and renders stability.
2. It is also responsible for the cycling of nutrients .
3. It
maintains a balance among the various trophic levels in the
ecosystem.
4. It cycles the minerals through the biosphere.
5. Theabiotic components help in the synthesis of organic
components that involve the exchange of energy.
So the functional units of an ecosystem or functional components
that work together in an ecosystem are:
• Productivity – It refers to the rate of biomass production.
• Energy flow – It is the sequential process through which
energy flows from one trophic level to another.
• Decomposition – It is the process of breakdown of dead
organic material. The top-soil is the major site for
decomposition.
• Nutrient cycling – In an ecosystem nutrients are consumed
and recycled back in various forms for the utilisation by
various organisms
Types of Ecosystem

There are two types of ecosystem:

• Terrestrial Ecosystem
• Aquatic Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem
 These are land-based ecosystems.

1. Forest Ecosystem
2. Grassland Ecosystem
3. Tundra Ecosystem
4. Desert Ecosystem
 Forest Ecosystem
It consists of several plants, particularly trees, animals and microorganisms
that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment.
Grassland Ecosystem
The vegetation is dominated by grasses and herbs.
Eg: Temperate grasslands and tropical or savanna grasslands.
 Tundra Ecosystem
Are devoid of trees and are found in cold climates or where rainfall is
scarce. These are covered with snow for most of the year. It is found in the
Arctic or mountain tops.
 Desert Ecosystem
Deserts are found throughout the world. These are regions with little
rainfall and scarce vegetation. The days are hot, and the nights are cold.
Aquatic ecosystems are ecosystems present in a body of water. These can
be further divided into two types, namely:
1. Freshwater Ecosystem
2. Marine Ecosystem
 Freshwater Ecosystem
The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that includes lakes, ponds,
rivers, streams and wetlands. These have no salt content in contrast with the
marine ecosystem.
 Marine Ecosystem
The marine ecosystem includes seas and oceans. These have a more
substantial salt content and greater biodiversity in comparison to the
freshwater ecosystem.
Ecological Concepts

1. Food Chain
 The sun is the ultimate source of energy on earth. It provides
the energy required for all plant life. The plants utilise this
energy for the process of photosynthesis, which is used to
synthesize their food.
 During this biological process, light energy is converted into
chemical energy and is passed on through successive trophic
levels. The flow of energy from a producer, to a consumer and
eventually, to an apex predator or a detritivore is called the
food chain.
2. Ecological Pyramids
 Itis the graphical representation of the number, energy, and
biomass of the successive trophic levels of an ecosystem.

 The biomass, number, and energy of organisms ranging from

the producer level to the consumer level are represented in the
form of a pyramid; hence, it is known as the ecological
pyramid.
For example, Grasshoppers feed on crops such as cotton and
wheat, which are plentiful. These grasshoppers are then
preyed upon by common mouse, which are comparatively
less in number. The mice are preyed upon by snakes such as
cobras. Snakes are ultimately preyed on by apex predator s
such as the brown snake eagle.
Grasshopper →Mouse→ Cobra → Brown Snake Eagle
3. Food Web
Food web is a network of interconnected food chains. It
comprises all the food chains within a single ecosystem. It
helps in understanding that plants lay the foundation of all
the food chains.
Characteristics of Ecosystem
 It is major structural and functional unit of biosphere.
 The structure of an ecosystem is related to its species
diversity, more complex ecosystem has high species diversity.
 The function of the ecosystem is related to energy flow and
material cycling through and within the system.
Forest Ecosystem

 It is an ecosystem of forests and resources. Forests are

renewable natural resources.
 Forests are formed by a community of plants that are
predominantly structurally defined by their trees, shrubs,
herbs, climbers and ground cover.
 Soil, animals, insects, microorganisms and birds are the most
important interacting units of a forest ecosystem. In India, the
forests occupy about 20% of the total land area.
 1. Abiotic components of the forest include inorganic
and organic components present in the soil along with
temperature, rainfall, light, etc.
 2. Biotic components are represented by producers.
consumers and decomposers.
Types of forest ecosystems
Tropical evergreen rainforest:
 Only a small percentage of tropical forests are rainforests where
average rainfall is 80-400 inches in a year.
 Characterised by deep and dense vegetation consisting of tall trees
reaching different levels.
Tropical deciduous rainforest:
 are broad-leaved trees along with dense bushes, shrubs, etc.
 Two main seasons summer and winter are distinctly visible
there.
 This type of forest is found in many parts of the world.
 A large variety of flora and fauna are found here.
Temperate evergreen forest:
 characterized by a smaller number of trees but an adequate
number of ferns and mosses.

Temperate deciduous forest:

 evolves in the moist temperate region with sufficient rainfall.
 Here also, winter and summer are well defined and trees shed their leaves
during winter.
 Dominant trees are maple, oak, peach, etc
Taiga/ boreal:

 Situated just south of the Tundra, Taiga is characterized by

evergreen conifers. The average temperature is below the
freezing point for almost half of the year.
Components of forest ecosystem

Producers: All green plants are considered producers of the

ecosystem as they convert sunlight into the chemical energy of
food.

Primary consumers: Since the consumers can not prepare their

own food, they depend on producers. Herbivorous animals get
their food by eating the producers directly.
 Secondary consumers: Secondary consumers draw their food
from primary consumers.
 Decomposers: The decomposers of the forest ecosystem break
down dead plants and animals, returning the nutrients to the soil
so that they can be used by the producers. Millipedes and
earthworms also help to break down dead matter.
Characteristics of forest ecosystem

 Forests are characterised by warm temperature and

adequate rainfall,which make the generation of a number
of ponds, lakes etc.,
 The forest maintains climate and rainfall.
 The forest supports many wild animals and protects
biodiversity.
 The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients, which
support the growth of trees.
 Functions of forest ecosystem
 Goods obtained from forests:
• honey, wild meat, fruits, mushrooms, palm oil and wine,
medicinal plants, etc, obtained from forests.
• Other than edible parts, we can obtain timber, wood biomass,
cork, etc.,
 Ecological functions: Forests play an important role in
maintaining ecological factors such as climate, carbon storage,
nutrient cycling and rainfall.

 Culture and social benefits: The tribal people who live in the
forests treat forests as nature goddesses. The traditional beliefs
and spirituality saves wild animals .Few modern people visit
forests for recreation.
Grassland ecosystem

Grasslands are dominated by grasses.They occupy

about20% of the land on earth surface.Grasslands
occur in both tropical and temperate regions where
rainfall is not emough to support the growth of forest.
Functions of grassland ecosystem

 Energy flow through the food chain

 Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)
 Ecological succession or ecosystem development
 Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms
 To increase the fertility of the soil and to regulate the productivity
of the ecosystem
 To reduce the leaching of minerals due to low rainfall
Classification of grasslands

Those that occur in the temperate region and those that

occur in the tropical regions.
Tropical grasslands:

 These occur on either side of the equator and extend to the tropies
 This vegetation grows in areas of moderate to a low amount of rainfall
 The grass can grow very tall, about 3 to 4 metres in height.
 Elephants, zebras, giraffes, deer, leopards are common in tropical
grasslands.
Temperate grasslands

These are found in the mid latitudinal zones and in the

interior part of the continents.Usually, the grass here is short
and nutritious.Wild buffaloes, bison, antelopes are common
in the temperate region.
Desert Ecosystem

Desert is one of the most dried land areas on this planet that
receives very little precipitation annually. It is a land with
very less rainfall throughout the year measured less than 50
cm a year.
Desert ecosystem characteristics

 Aridity: Aridity simply implies the deficiency of moisture's or dryness.

Desert experience very less rainfall and thus result in aridity.

 Less rainfall/ precipitation:.The rainfall in deserts is seasonal and occurs

only for a limited duration. The annual rainfall that a desert receives every
year is just 25-30 centimeters.

 Extreme temperature: It experience extreme temperatures during day and

night. The days are very hot and the nights can be extremely cold.
 Velocity of wind: It tends to be very high in a desert ecosystem.
This is the reason deserts experience sandstorms/ dust storms of
high intensity resulting in the formation of huge sand dunes.

 Scarcity of water: Due to less rainfall, there is a shortage of water in

a desert ecosystem. So it has to face the situation of drought half of
the year.

 Humidity: The humidity level in a desert ecosystem is very low in

the daytime and relatively high at night.
 The quality of the soil: In deserts is very low to grow vegetation. It is
dry, rocky, thin, sandy, mainly grey in colour and has no organic contents
like nitrogen, phosphorus etc. which are essential for the growth of
plants.

 Biodiversity in a desert ecosystem: The survival in a desert ecosystem is

very hard but despite the fact, deserts are home to various plants and
animals. The plants and animals have adapted to survive in the harsh and
extreme conditions of the desert.

 The population density: Density Is very low in deserts and nearby areas
as there is there a scarcity of water, food and climatic conditioner are too
harsh.
Types of desert ecosystem:

 Hot and dry

 Semi-arid
 Coastal
 Cold desert
Hot and dry desert ecosystem

 They have hot and dry climatic conditions through the air
and have very low annual rainfall.
 The hot desert ecosystem is basically found in central
america, south asia, north america, africa, australia etc.
 There are extreme variations in temperature and soil is
rough and harsh.
 Semi-arid desert ecosystem:

This is quite similar to the hot and dry desert ecosystem.

It has hard rocks, stable ground, less sand dunes .eg:Great basin

Coastal desert ecosystem:

Found near the coastal lines of big water bodies like oceans and seas and
are generally affected by the ocean currents.
Winter fogs are common here.
 Cold desert ecosystem

It comprises of abundant rainfall throughout the winters

and less in summers and generally has chilling winters
with snowfall. The summers are short, moderately hot and
moist here.
Eg: greenland, antarctica etc…
Aquatic Ecosystem

 The aquatic ecosystem definition states it is a water-based

environment, wherein, living organisms interact with both
physical and chemical features of the environment.
 These living creatures whose food, shelter, reproduction
and other essential activities depend on a water-based
environment are known as aquatic organisms.
Types of aquatic ecosystem:

 Marine ecosystems
 Freshwater ecosystems.
Both marine and freshwater ecosystems are further divided
under different aquatic ecosystems.
 Marine water ecosystem: This particular ecosystem is the largest
aquatic ecosystem and covers over 70% of the carth's total
surfaces well-adsystem is relatively more concentrated in terms
of salinity.

 Freshwater ecosystem: This aquatic ecosystem covers less than

1% of the earth's surface and is broadly divided into - wetlands,
lentic and lotic ecosystems.
Functions of aquatic ecosystem

 Facilitates recycling of nutrients

 Helps to purify water

 Recharges ground water

 A network of links between living and non-living components
makes up an ecosystem.
 Ecological energetics is the study of the movement of energy
through an ecosystem.
 The sun provides all the energy that living beings require. Even
still, green plants merely absorb around 1% of total radiant energy
for distribution across the ecosystem.
 Despite its small size, this quantity is adequate to maintain all life
on Earth.
 Animals can use energy in two forms radiant and fixed energy.
 Organisms that can fix radiant energy can take advantage
of inorganic substances to produce organic molecules are
called autotrophs.
 Organisms that cannot obtain energy from an abiotic
source but depend on energy-rich organic molecules
synthesized by autotrophs are called heterotrophs.
 Those who obtain energy from living organisms are
called consumers and those who obtain energy from dead
animals are called decomposers.
 Trophic level
The producers and consumers in an environment can be
organized into several feeding groups, each known as
trophic level (feeding level).
1.Producers represent the first trophic level.
2. Herbivores represent the second trophic level.
3. Primary carnivores represent the third trophic level.
4. Top carnivores represent the last level.
 Importance of energy flow in ecosystem :

• All organisms in an ecosystem function due to the energy

they get from the energy flow.
• The very functioning of the ecosystem is dependent on
the process of flow of energy and the cycling of materials.
• The ecosystem maintains itself and has stability through
the process of energy flow. The more the levels in the food
chains, the lesser the energy available at the top.