Environmental Studies : Environmental Studies Dr. Nishith Dharaiya
Department of Life Sciences
HNG University, Patan Environment : Environment Our Surrounding!
The sum total of all the conditions and influences that affect the development and life of organisms.
Every organism lives in their own environment.
For us, Environment consists of Air, Water and Land.
Our existence on the Earth is depend up on the maintenance of symbiotic equilibrium with our environment. Why Study Environment??? : Why Study Environment??? Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects a living organism.
It is applied science, as it seeks practical answers to the increasingly important question of how to make human civilization sustainable on the Earth’s resources.
Integration of all the field of knowledge.
Essential to study to overcome “Environmental Crisis” Slide 4: Why for IT student? Development of data base
Environmental management system
RS and GIS
Eco-Informatics an emerging area
Think for environment when develop new technology
General awareness…. Slide 5: Major Components of Environment Air Water Soil
Atmosphere : Virtual Ocean of Air
Hydrosphere : The surface of Earth filled with any form of Water
Lithosphere : Outer shell of the Earth composed of crust and the rigid outer most mantle
Biosphere : The place on earth where life exists Slide 6: Branches of Environmental Science Biology : Environmental Biology
Chemistry : Environmental Chemistry
Management : Environmental Management
Env. Risk Assessment
Env. Impact Assessment
Education : Environmental Education
Law : Environmental Law
Engineering : Environmental Engineering
Medicine : Environmental Health Slide 7: Ecology (Environmental Biology) Branch of Biology which deals with Environmental components
Systematic and scientific study of the interaction among all the components of Environment
The word first given by a German Scientist E. Hackle (1869) and become very popular in 1900 Earth’s Environment A biotic Components Biotic Components Interaction = ECOSYSTEM Slide 8: Diverse and Dynamic by their size, structure and function
Natural Man made
Terrestrial Aquatic Agricultural field
Forests Fresh- Marine Range land
Deserts water Urban area
Grass land River Garden, Dams
Mountain Marsh Etc.
Etc. Lake Ecosystem Slide 9: Components Inorganic Components:
Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Water, Carbon Dioxide, etc.
Protein, Carbohydrates, Lipid, etc.
Temperature, Pressure, Light, Humidity, etc. Slide 10: Components Producers:
Animals (Herbivores and Carnivores)
Bacteria, Fungi, other microorganisms Slide 11: Functions Flow of Energy
Diversity by time and geographic location
Development, Growth and Evolution
Control on all above functions Slide 12: Conservation of Ecosystem Important for Environmental Protection
Maintenance of Balance
System must run!
Conserve for all
If disturbed… our existence may be under threat!!! Slide 13: Biodiversity Also termed as biological diversity – is the variety of all these living things and their interactions.
Biodiversity = Microorganisms +Plants +Animals found on Earth
Biodiversity organizes on three levels – Species, Genetic and Ecosystem diversity Slide 14: Biodiversity Species: Group of organisms with same characteristics
An individual of a species can reproduce successfully, creating fertile offspring, only with another member of the same species Slide 15: Known Species 12,000 species of amphibians and reptiles
4,000 species of bacteria
4,500 species of mammals
5,000 species of viruses
10,000 species of birds
22,000 species of fish
70,000 species of fungi
270,000 species of plants
400,000 species of invertebrates (Without insects)
960,000 species of insects, approximately 600,000 of which are beetles 24 Slide 16: Genetic Diversity Biodiversity is much more than the variety of species. It also includes the genes that every individual inherits from its parents and passes on to the next generation.
you and your siblings might have different eye and hair colours, body shapes and heights.
Genetic variation is extremely important to the survival of species. Slide 17: Ecosystem diversity Genes determine the traits of the individuals that form populations of a species
Populations and the non-living environmental components – such as water or minerals – surrounding them interact dynamically to form an ecosystem
Species are not evenly distributed around the globe. Ecosystems like tropical forests and coral reefs are very complex and host a large number of species. Slide 18: The importance of Biodiversity Food
Fuel, timber, fire and other resources
Air and Water purification
Economic value Slide 19: Biodiversity Loss 1 to 10 species go extinct as part of natural processes every year
A growing human population, increased human consumption, and the growth of technology are placing tremendous stress on Earth’s natural systems
The leading causes of biodiversity loss at present include land-use changes, changing levels of atmospheric CO2, changing climate, invasive species and air pollution. Slide 20: Biodiversity Loss Most of these stresses will cause degradation and loss of habitat
Factors leading to biodiversity loss
Overuse of resources
Global Climate Change Slide 21: Conservation of Biodiversity Sustainable use of resources
In situ Conservation
Creating Protected Areas
Ex situ Conservation
Sperm banks… Slide 22: Protecting Biodiversity Our duties…
Research and Monitoring
Live sustainable life Slide 23: Examples of Biodiversity Slide 24: Asiatic Wild Ass- The species only found in India The Pride of Asia- Asiatic Lion : The Pride of Asia- Asiatic Lion A Lioness on Hunt…. : A Lioness on Hunt…. Leopard : Leopard Sambar- The largest Deer : Sambar- The largest Deer Reptiles : Reptiles Ecosystems… : Ecosystems… Slide 31: Dr. Nishith Dharaiya Save wildlife for Our life