Energy, Ecology and Environment

Dr. Satyananda Kar

Department of Energy Science and Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
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 Syllabus
Interrelation between energy, ecology and environment, Concepts
of ecosystems and environment, Characteristics and types of
ecosystems, Mass and energy balance equation (Sun as source of
energy and nature of its radiation), Biological energy flow in
ecosystems, Feedback, Food chain, Trophic webs, Population
dynamics, Nutrient cycles, Sources of energy, Environmental issues
related to harnessing energy sources and alternate aspects, Global
effects and climate change
Air and water pollution, Pollution from stationary and mobile
sources, Biological effects of radiation, heat and radioactivity
disposal, Global warming and greenhouse gases, Ozone layer
depletion. 2
 Suggested Books
• Edward H. Thorndike, Energy and Environment: A Primer for
Scientist and Engineers, Addison – Wesley Publishing Co. (1978).
• Gilbert M. Masters, Introduction to Environmental Engineering
and Science, Prentice Hall of India (1994).
• Richard Wilson and William J. Jones, Energy Ecology and the
Environment, Academic Press Inc. (1974).
• David Coley: Energy and Climate Change, John Wiley and Sons,
Ltd (2008).
• J. L. Chapman and M. J. Reiss, Ecology: Principles and
Applications, Cambridge University Press (1999).
• Robert A. Ristinen and Jack J. Kraushaav, Energy and the
Environment, John Wiley and Sons Inc. (1999). 3
 Course Structure
3–1-0
Minor 1 Exam = 30 marks
Major Exam = 40 marks
Surprise Quiz = 15 marks
Assignment = 5 marks
Term Paper = 10 marks
Attendance = Institute policy
Audit = 40% (must have ≥ 75% attendance)

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 Environment and Ecology

“the sum total of water, air and land and the inter-relationships that exist
among them and with the human beings, other living organisms and
materials.” 5
Energy, Ecology & Environment (E3)
All energy either derived or
captured from the
environment.
Once used (by man:ecology),
eventually returned to
environment as harmless
byproduct and harmful
emissions or waste
More usage of energy (by
man) more harmful to
environment.
So clean energy
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Lecture - II

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Importance of Ecology and Environmental Study

 Ecology and biodiversity

 Human population and environment
 Environmental pollution and control
 Provides facts on the interdependence between the natural
world and people
 Natural resources—their conservation and management
 Social issues in relation to development and environment

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 Scope of Environmental Study
1. Research & Development (R & D) in environment: Skilled environmental scientists have an
important role to play in examining various environmental problems in a scientific manner
and carry out R & D activities for developing cleaner technologies and promoting
sustainable development.
2. Green advocacy: With increasing emphasis on implementing various Acts and Laws related
to environment, need for environmental lawyers has emerged, who should be able to
plead the cases related to water and air pollution, forest, wildlife etc.
3. Green marketing: While ensuring the quality of products with ISO mark, now there is an
increasing emphasis on marketing goods that are environment friendly. Such products
have ecomark or ISO 14000 certification. Environmental auditors and environmental
managers would be in great demand in the coming years.
4. Environment consultancy: Many non-government organisations (NGOs), industries and
government bodies are engaging environmental consultants for systematically studying
and tackling environment related problems.
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Lecture - III

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Global Importance of Environment
Issues like global warming, depletion of ozone layer, dwindling forests and energy
resources, loss of global biodiversity etc. which are going to affect the mankind as a whole
are global in nature and for that we have to think and plan globally.
Local Importance of Environment
Impact of mining or hydroelectric project in an area, problems of disposal and management
of solid waste, river or lake pollution, soil erosion, water logging and salinization of soil,
fluorosis problem in local population, arsenic pollution of groundwater etc., we have to
think and act locally.
Individualistic Importance of Environment (Public awareness)
Like dealing with safe and clean drinking water, hygienic living conditions, clean and fresh
air, fertile land, healthy food and sustainable development.

If we want to live in a clean, healthy, aesthetically beautiful, safe and secure environment
for a long time and wish to hand over a clean and safe earth to our children, grandchildren
and great grandchildren, it is most essential to understand the basics of environment.
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 Introduction of Ecology
Oikos – House + logos - study
Old Definition of Ecology

Study of animals and plants interacting

with their habits and habitats.

Fungi, Bacteria, New Definition of Ecology

Protoctists, Human
beings, plants,
animals, etc
Study of organisms interacting with
their surroundings in which they live.
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 Autecology

Study of an individual organism or species with

the environment

Synecology

If all the species living together are studied

as a community with the environment.

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 Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a self-regulating group of biotic communities of species
interacting with one another and with their non-living environment exchanging
energy and matter. Now ecology is often defined as ‘‘the study of ecosystems’’.

The ecosystem is the functional unit in ecology as it consists of both the biotic
community (living organisms) and the abiotic environment.

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(Habitat)

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 Life of an
Interlocking Jigsaw organism can be
affected by
these factors
also:
Predator Prey
1.Time of year
2. Quality of
nesting
Disease
3. Climate
4. Soil
Organism
Offspring

Weather

Mate
Living place
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 Nature of Ecology

How many organism survives, reproduces and interacts

with other organisms?

1) Observe and record the organism in its natural environment (or field)
2) Experiment in the field, how the organism reacts to certain changes in its
surroundings
3) Experiments in a controlled environment in laboratory

Check the experiments and analysis are correct.

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 Study of Ecology

then

1) Why does this organism live or grow here and not there?
2) How does the organism obtain its food?
3) Is a particular nutrient limiting its growth or numbers?
4) Is something else limiting its growth or number?
5) Does it reproduce in this site and if so how?
6) Is it absent from parts of the site due to some factor?
7) How and when do the young disperse?
8) What cause the death of the organism?
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 Types of Ecology

1) Behavioral Ecology (how organisms react with biotic or abiotic factors in their
environment)
2) Population Ecology (structure and dynamics of population)
3) Community Ecology (interaction between organisms, like who’s feeding, who
helps whom, who competes with whom)
4) Ecosystem Ecology (living of different species (plants, animals, microbes) with
abiotic factors in their surrounding)
5) Habitat Ecology
A. Aquatic Ecology
B. Terrestrial Ecology

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 Characteristics of a Community ecology

1)Trophic structure (flow of energy and material from plants to

herbivores to carnivores)
2)Dominance (one or more species which occur in large
number)
3)Structure (determining the density, frequency and abundance
of species)
4)Diversity (different size but growing in a uniform
environment)
5)Periodicity (growth, reproduction, etc in various seasons)
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