C H A P T E R III

ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE,
ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH AND
Topic:
By:
SANITATION
Mrs. Sumana Yesu
ecosystem
Priya S H
Assistant
Professor
J S S College of
Nursing
• The meaning of the word ecology
was given by German Biologist
Haeckel in 1869.
• The word ecology is derived from
Greek words ‘Oikos’ meaning
house, habitat or place of living
and ‘Logos’ meaning to study.

• After that…. Danish botanist,

Eugenius Warming elaborated the
idea of Ecology.
Definition
• Ecology is the study of interactions
among organism or group of
organisms with their environment.
The environment consists of both
biotic components (living organisms)
and abiotic components (non – living
organisms).
• Ecology is the study of ecosystems.
 Ecology is study of
interactions between
Non-living components in the
environment…
• Light
• Water
• Wind
• Nutrients in soil
• Heat
• Solar radiation
Atmosphere, etc.

AND…
Living
organisms…
• Plants
• Animals
• Microorganis
ms in soil,
etc.
 Ecosystem
• The term Ecosystem was
first proposed by A.G.
Tansley in 1935.
• Ecosystem is the basic
functional unit of
Ecology.
• There are many examples
of ecosystems - a pond, a
desert, a forest, an
estuary, an ocean.
Definition
A group of organisms interacting among
themselves and with environment is known
as ecosystem. Thus an ecosystem is a
community of different species interacting
with one another and with their non living
environment exchanging energy and matter.

Example : Animals cannot synthesis their food

directly but depend on the plants either directly or
indirectly.
 STRUCTURE OF AN ECOSYSTEM

The term structure refers to the various

components of an ecosystem .
An ecosystem has two major
components
• Biotic (living) components
• Abiotic (non living) components
 BIOTIC COMPONENTS

The living organisms (or)

living members in an ecosystem
collectively called biotic
components (or) biotic community.
Ex: Plants, Animals, Microorganisms
 Classification biotic components
The members of biotic
components of an ecosystem are
grouped into three based on how
they get food.

1. Producer (Plants)

2. Consumer ( Animals)
 1. Producers ( Autotrophs)
Producers synthesize their food
themselves through photosynthesis.
Ex: All green plants, trees.
Photosynthesis
The green pigment called chlorophyll,
present in the leaves of plants, converts CO2 and
H2O in the presence of sunlight into
carbohydrates.
6CO2 + 6H2O ----> C6H12O6 + 6O2
This process is called photosynthesis
V.S.Saravana Mani, Head
& AP/ Chemistry,
2. Consumers also called
as Heterotrophs:
Consumers are further
classified as
(i) Primary consumers or
Herbivores or Plant eaters:
Primary consumers
are also called herbivores, they directly
depend on the plants for their food. So they
are called plant eaters.
Examples : Insects, rat, goat, deer, cow etc.
(ii) Secondary consumers (primary carnivores) (Meat
eaters):
Secondary consumers are primary carnivores,
they feed on primary consumers. They directly
depend on the herbivores for their food.
Ex: Frog, cat, snakes, small birds, etc.,

(iii) Tertiary consumers (Secondary

carnivores) (Meat- eaters)
Tertiary consumers are secondary carnivores,
they feed on secondary consumers. They
depend on the primary carnivores for their
food.
Omnivore: Organisms that feed both on
plants and animals. Ex: Human, birds.

Detritivore: They feed on dead organisms,

wastes of living beings and partially
decomposed matter.
Ex: Termites, earthworm, ants etc.
3. DECOMPOSERS
Decomposers
attack the dead bodies of
producers and
consumers, and
decompose them into
simpler compounds.
During the decomposition
inorganic nutrients are
released.
The inorganic
nutrients together with
other organic substances
are then utilized by the
producers for the
Abiotic (non-living)
components
The non-living components
(physical and chemical) of
ecosystem collectively form a
community called abiotic
components (or) abiotic community.
Ex: Climate, soil, water, air, energy
etc.,
1. Physical Components: Include the energy,
climate, nutrients and living space that
the biological community needs. They are
useful for the growth and maintenance of
its member.
Ex: Air, water, soil, sunlight, etc.,

2. Chemical Components: They are the sources

of essential nutrients.
• Organic substances: Protein, lipids,
carbohydrates, etc.,
• Inorganic substances: All micro ( Al, Co,
Zu, Cu) and macro elements (C,H, O, P, N,
P, K) and few other elements.
 TYPES OF
ECOSYSTEM
1. Natural ecosystem
2. Terrestrial ecosystem
3. Aquatic ecosystem
• Fresh water ecosystem
• Marine ecosystem
4. Man – made (or) Artificial ecosystems
 Cont…..
1. Natural ecosystem: These operate themselves
under natural conditions. Based on habitat
types, it can be further classified into three
types.
2. Terrestrial ecosystem: This ecosystem is
related to land.
Ex: Grassland ecosystem, forest ecosystem,
desert ecosystem, etc.,
 Cont……
3. Aquatic ecosystem: This ecosystem is related
to water. It is further sub classified into two
types based on salt content.
• Fresh water ecosystem

(a) Running water ecosystems. Ex:

Rivers, Streams…
(b) Standing water ecosystems Ex:
Pond, lake…
 Cont….

4. Man – made (or) Artificial

ecosystems Artificial ecosystem is
operated (or) maintained by man himself.
Ex: Croplands, gardens…
 FUNCTION OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The function of an ecosystem is to allow
flow of energy and cycling of nutrients.
• Primary function: The primary function of all
ecosystem is manufacture of starch
(photosynthesis).
• Secondary function: The secondary function of
all ecosystem is distribution of energy in
the form of food to all consumers.
• Tertiary Function: All living systems diet at a
particular stage. These dead systems are
decomposed to initiate third function of
ecosystems namely “cycling”.
 The functioning of an
ecosystems may be
understood by:
Studying the following terms.
• Energy and material flow.
• Food chains
• Food webs
• Food pyramids
 ENERGY FLOW IN THE ECOSYSTEMS

• Energy is the most essential

requirement for all living organisms.
• Solar energy is the only source to
our planet earth.
• Solar energy is transformed to
chemical energy in photosynthesis
by the plants (Primary producers).
 Cont….
• Some amount ofchemical
energy is used by the plants for
their growth and the remaining is
transferred to consumers by the
process of eating.
• Thus the energy enters the
ecosystems through photosynthesis
and passes through the different
tropic levels or feeding levels.
Hea Hea
t t

Hea
t
 The flow of energy in an ecosystem follows the
laws of thermodynamics.
I law of thermodynamics - “Energy neither can be
created nor destroyed, but it can be converted from one
from to other”.
Energy for an ecosystem comes from the sun. It is
absorbed by plants, it is converted into chemical
energy. This chemical energy utilised by consumers
transform into heat.
II law of thermodynamics - “Whenever energy is
transformed, there is a loss of energy through the
release of heat”.
Energy is transferred between tropic levels in the form
of heat as it moves from one tropic level to another
Flow of energy and nutrient cycling from abiotic to
biotic and vice versa.
FOREST ECOSYSTEM
A forest is an area with a high density of
trees. A forest ecosystem is one in which tall trees
grow that support many animals and birds. The forests
are found in undisturbed areas receiving moderate to
high rainfall. The forest occupies nearly 31% of the
world’s land. In India it is only 19% of total land area.
Types of forest ecosystem
Based upon the climate conditions, forests are
classified into
• Tropical Rain forests.
• Tropical deciduous forests.
• Tropical scrub forests.
• Temperate rain forests.
• Temperate deciduous forests.
 Characteristics of forest ecosystems
• Forests are characterised by warm temperature and
adequate rainfall, which make the generation of
number of ponds, lakes etc.,
• The forest maintains climate and rainfall.
• The forest support many wild animals and
protect biodiversity.
• The soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients
which support the growth of trees.
 Structure and Function of forest ecosystem
I. Abiotic components
The abiotic components include basic inorganic &
organic compounds present in the soil & atmosphere.
In addition minerals, the occurrence of litter is
characteristic
features of majority of forests.

II. Biotic components

1. Producers: In a forest, the producers are mainly
trees produce food by photosynthesis. Apart from
trees, climbers, epiphytes, shrubs and ground
vegetation. Dominant species of trees in forest are
Dalbergia, Tectona grandis, Lichens, Fern, Pine, Cedar.
2. Consumers
• Primary consumers (herbivores): They directly
depend on the plants for their food.
Ex: Ants, flies, insects, mice, deer, squirrels. Larger
animals such as Elephants, Deer, Giraffe etc.
• Secondary consumers (primary carnivores):They
directly depend on the herbivores for their
food.
Ex: Lizards, snakes, birds, fox.
• Tertiary consumers :They depend on the primary
carnivores for their food.
Ex: Animals like tiger, lion, etc.,

3.Decomposers
They decompose the dead plant and animal
Producers.- OíPerent tree s ecies

Consumer in a Ëoresf Ecosystem

decomposers in a Forest ecosysfem

GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM
Grassland occupies about 20% of
earth’s surface. In addition to grass some
trees and shrubs are/also present in
grasslands. Limited grazing helps to improve
the net primary production of the
grasslands. But, overgrazing leads
degradation of these grasslands resulting in
desertification.
 Types of grassland ecosystem
Depending upon the climate conditions

grassland are classified into three

types

• Tropical grasslands

• Temperate grasslands

• Polar grasslands
 Features of different types of
grassland
Tropical grasslands
They are found near the borders of tropical rain
forests. Characterised by high temperature
and moderate rainfall. It is also known
as Savanna type. Tall grasses with scattered shrubs
and stunted trees and animals like zebras, giraffes,
antelopes, etc., are observed here.
Temperate grasslands
They are usually found in the centres of
continents, highly sloped hills. They are
characterised by very cold winters and hot
summers: Intense grazing
Polar grasslands
They are found in arctic polar regions.
They are characterized by severe cold and
strong winds along with ice and snow. In
summers several small annual plants grow.
There are animals like arctic wolf, weasel,
arctic fox, etc.,

Characteristics of Grassland Ecosystems

• Grassland ecosystem is a plain land
occupied by grasses.
• Soil is veryrich in nutrients and organic
matter.
• Since it has tall grass, it is ideal place
for grazing animals.
 Structure and function of the
grassland Ecosystems

Abiotic components
• Nutrients, H, 0, N, P, S, etc.,
• These abiotic components are
supplied by C02, H2O, C, Nitrate,
phosphates and sulphates.
Biotic Components
Producers: They produce
food. Ex: Grasses, Herbs and
shrubs. Consumers:
• Primary consumers
(herbivores) They depend
on grasses for their food
Ex: Insects, cows, buffaloes,
deer, sheep, etc.,
• Secondary consumers (carnivores):
They feed on herbivores. Examples: Lizards, birds,
Snakes, jackals, fox, etc.,
• Tertiary consumers: They feed on secondary
consumers Ex: Hawks, eagle, etc.,
Decomposers :They decompose the dead organic
matter Ex: Fungi and bacteria.
Importance:
• Grasslands are of vital importance for raising
livestock for human consumption and for milk
and other dairy products
• Grasslands provided home to many different
animals that were hunted and domesticated.
• They are used as grazing area for cattle
• Protects restored habitat for many plants
and animals including pheasant, ducks,
songbirds and endangered species
 DESERT ECOSYSTEMS
Desert occupies about 14% of our world’s land
area. It is characterised by less
than 25 cm rainfall. The atmosphere is dry
and hence it is a poor insulator .

Types of desert ecosystems

Based on the climatic conditions, deserts are
classified into three types.
• Tropical deserts.

• Temperate deserts.

• Cold deserts.
Features of different types of
deserts
Tropical desert is an environment of extremes, it is the
driest and hottest place on earth. Rainfall is
sporadic and in some years no measurable
precipitation falls at all.
• Africa: Sahara desert.
• Rajasthan: Thar desert.

Temperate desert is a barren area of land where little

precipitation occurs (less than 10%), characterised by
very hot summer and very Winter time. Ex: Atacama,
Mojave.

Cold deserts have hot summers but extremely cold

Characteristics of Desert ecosystem
The desert air is dry and the climate is hot.
Annual rainfall is less. The soil is very poor in
nutrients and organic matter, Vegetation is poor.

Structure and functions of the

desert ecosystems
I. Abiotic Components

Intense solar radiation, lashing winds, and

little moisture . The nutrient cycling is also very
low. The characteristic feature of the abiotic
component is lack of organic matter in the soil and
scarcity of water.
II. Biotic Components
Producers: In deserts mostly Succulent (e.g., cacti)
plants are found available. They have water inside them to
stay alive, waxy coating to prevent intense heat, thorn on
the outside to protect them from being eaten.
Ex: Succulents, Shrubs, bushes, some grasses and
few trees.

Consumers: These animals dig holes in the ground to live

in. They come out at night to find food. Most of the
animals can extract water from the seeds they eat.
Ex: Locust, scorpions, snakes, camel, elk etc.

Decomposers: Desert has poor vegetation with a very

low amount of dead organic mater.
They are decomposed by few fungi and bacteria.
Ex: Fungi and bacteria
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
The aquatic ecosystem deals with water
bodies. The major types of organisms
found in aquatic environments are
determined by the water’s salinity.

Types of aquatic life zone

Aquatic life zones are divided into two types.
1. Fresh water life zones
Eg. Ponds, streams, lakes, rivers.
2. Salt water life zones
Eg. Oceans, estuaries.
 FRESH WATER ECOSYSTEM
POND ECOSYSTEMS
A pond is a fresh water aquatic ecosystems, where
water is stagnant. It receives enough water during
rainy season. It contains several types of algae,
aquatic plants, insects, fishes and birds.

Characteristics of pond
• Pond is temporary, only seasonal.
• It is a stagnant fresh water body.
• Ponds get polluted easily due to limited
amount of water.
• Pond ecosystems are lentic ecosystems – i.e.
they involve stagnant or standing water.
 Structure and functions of
pond ecosystems
Abiotic components
Ex: Temperature, light, water and organic and
inorganic compounds
Biotic Components
Producers
These include green photosynthetic organism. They are
of two types.
Phytoplankton: These are microscopic marine plants,
which freely float on the surface of water.
Ex: Floating plants like Nostoc, Anabena, Consmarium.
• Microphytes are microscopic algae
Ex: Floating plants and submerged plants like
hydrilla, Jussiaea, wolfia, demna.
Consumers
Primary consumers (Zooplanktons): These are
microscopic animals which freely float on the
surface of water.
Zooplanktons are found along with phytoplankton.
They feed on plants (phytoplankton).
Ex: Protozoa, very small fish, ciliates,
flagelaltes Secondary consumers
(Carnivores):They feed on zooplankton Ex:
Insects like water beetles and small fish.
Tertiary consumers :They feed on smaller
fish Ex: Large fish like game fish.
Decomposers: They decompose the dead plant and
animal matter and their nutrients are released
and reused by the green plants.
Importance of pond ecosystems.
1.Biodiversity: Pond ecosystems are very important
habitats for so many different types of fish, birds,
plants as well as insects such as dragonflies, damsel
flies and pond skaters.
2.Ubiquity: Pond ecosystems can be found on
every continent on the planet.
3.Abundance: Pond ecosystems are very
abundant. Not only can they be found almost
everywhere, they can be found plentifully.
4.Source of hydration: A watering hole in a prairie
or desert many species of animals will come to pond.
Humans can also use these ecosystems as a source of
water.
LAKE ECOSYSTEM
Lakes are large natural shallow water bodies.
Lakes are used for various purposes. Lakes are
supplied with water from rainfall, melting snow and
streams.

Types of lakes
Some important types of lake are
Oligotrophic lakes : They have low nutrient
concentrations Eutrophic lakes : They are
overnourished by nutrients like N and P
Dystrophic lakes : They have low pH, high
humic and content and brown waters.
Volcanic lakes : They receive water from magma
Zones of Lake
Depending upon their depth and
distance from the shore, lakes consists of four
distinct zones.

• Littoral zones: It is the top layer of the

Lake. It has a shallow water.
• Limnetic zone: Next to the littoral zone
is limnetic zone, where effect
penetration of solar. light takes place.
• Profundal zone: The deep open water,
where it is too dark.
• Benthic zone: This zone is found, at the
bottom of the lake.
 LiJtora
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Characteristics of lake
ecosystem
• Lake is a shallow fresh water body;
• It is a permanent water body with large
Water resources.
• It helps in irrigation and drinking.

Structure and function of lake

ecosystem
I.Abiotic components
Temperature, light, proteins and
lipids, O2 CO2
II.Biotic Consumers
Producers: They are green plants, may be
submerged, free floating and amphibious
2. Consumers
Primary Consumers (Zooplanktons): They feed
on phytoplankton Ex: Ciliates, protozoans,
etc.
Secondary consumers (carnivores) : They feed
on zooplankton. Ex Insects and small
fishes.
Tertiary consumers: They feed on smaller
fish
Ex: Large fishes like game fish.
 RIVER (or) STREAM ECOSYSTEM
The running water of a stream or a river is

usually well oxygenated, because it absorb’s

oxygen from the air. The number of animals
are low in river or stream.

Characteristics of River or Stream.

• It is a fresh water, and free flowing water
systems.
• Due to mixing of water, dissolved oxygen
content is. more. River deposits large amount
 Structure and function of River or
Stream Ecosystem
Abiotic components
Examples : River, Light, Temperature, Chemistry,
Substrate

Biotic Components
Producers: Phytoplankton, algae, water grasses,
aquatic masses other amphibious plants.
Consumers
1.Primary consumers: They feed on
phytoplankton.
Ex : Water insects, snails, fishes:
2. Secondary consumers: They feed on primary
consumers
 SALT WATER ECOSYSTEMS.
OCEAN (MARINE) ECOSYSTEMS
Oceans cover more than two thirds
of the earth’s surface. Ocean
environment is characterised by its
high concentration of salts and
minerals. It supplies huge variety
of products and drugs. It also
provides us iron, magnesium, iron,
 Zones of Oceans
The oceans have two major life zones.
Coastal zone: It is relatively warm, nutrient
rich shallow water. It has high primary
productivity because of high nutrients and
sunlight.
Open sea: It is the deeper part of the
ocean. It is vertically divided into three
regions.
• Euphotic zone: It receives
abundant light and shows high
photosynthetic activity.
• Bathyal zone: It receives dim light
and is usually geologically active.
•
V.S.Saravana Mani, Head
& AP/ Chemistry,
Characteristics of Ocean Ecosystem

• It occupies a large surface area with

saline water. Since ship, submarines
can sail in ocean, commercial activities
may be earned out.
• It is rich in biodiversity.
• It moderates the- temperature
 Structure and function
Ecosystems

Abiotic components
Examples : Temperature, light, NaCl, K, Ca,
and Mg Salts alkalinity

Biotic components
1. Producers :
Phytoplanktons (diatoms, unicellular algae,
etc., ) and marine plants (sea weeds,
chlorophycela, phaeophyceae).
2.Consumers
These are heterotrophic macro consumers. They
depend on producers for their nutrition.
Primary consumers (herbivores) :They feed on
producers Ex: Crustaceans, molluscs, fish
Secondary consumers (carnivores) : They
feed on herbivores
Ex: Herring, mackerel, etc.,
Tertiary Consumers: They are the top consumers.
They feed on small
Ex: Cod, Haddock, - etc.,
3. Decomposers: They
decompose the dead organic
matter. Ex: Bacteria and some
fungi.
ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEM
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal
area at the’ mouth of a river, where sea
water mixes with freshwater. It is strongly
affected by tidal action.
Estuaries are generally : abundant of
nutrients. Estuaries are useful to human
beings due to their high food potential. It is
essential to protect the estuaries from
 Characteristics of Estuarine
ecosystem
• Estuaries are transition zones, which are
strongly affected by tides of the sea.
• Water characteristics are periodically
changed.
• The living organism in estuarine
ecosystems have wide tolerance.
• Salinity remains highest during the
 Structure and function of Estuarine
Ecosystem
Abiotic Components
Examples :Temperature, pH, sodium and potassium salts
and various nutrients.
Biotic Components
Producers
Examples :Marsh grasses, seaweeds , sea-grasses and
phytoplankton.
Consumers
Examples :Oysters, crabs, seabirds, small fishes
Decomposers
Thank
You