What is Environment?

The environment refers to the natural and physical surroundings in which an

organism lives, including both living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components. The
environment encompasses everything from the air we breathe, the water we drink,
and the soil we stand on, to the plants and animals that share our planet with us. It is
a complex and interconnected system, and changes in one part of the environment
can have far-reaching impacts on other parts of the system.

The environment can be broadly divided into two categories: natural and human-
made (anthropogenic). Natural environments include ecosystems such as forests,
deserts, and oceans, while human-made environments include cities, agricultural
areas, and industrial sites. Human activities can have a significant impact on the
environment, often leading to environmental degradation and a loss of biodiversity.
Protecting the environment and promoting sustainable practices are critical to
ensuring the long-term health and well-being of both human societies and the
natural world.

What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms found in an ecosystem, including
plants, animals, microorganisms, and the genetic diversity within each of these
groups. It encompasses not only the number of different species present in an
ecosystem, but also the genetic diversity within each species and the variety of
different habitats and ecosystems that exist.

Biodiversity is essential for the healthy functioning of ecosystems and the services
they provide, including the provision of food, clean air and water, and regulating the
climate. It also plays a crucial role in human well-being, providing important
resources such as medicine, building materials, and fuel.

However, biodiversity is currently under threat due to human activities such as

deforestation, pollution, and climate change, which are causing habitat loss and
fragmentation, species extinction, and genetic erosion. Protecting and conserving
biodiversity is therefore essential for the long-term sustainability of our planet and
the well-being of all its inhabitants.

1.1 Classification of Environment

The environment can be classified in different ways depending on the
criteria and perspective used. Here are some common classifications of the
environment:
1. Natural Environment: It includes all living and non-living components
of the earth's biosphere such as air, water, land, forests, animals, plants,
rocks, soil, and minerals.
2. Built Environment: It comprises human-made structures such as
buildings, roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructures.
3. Social Environment: It encompasses the social, cultural, and economic
aspects of human life, including people's interactions with one another,
their values, beliefs, and customs.
4. Physical Environment: It includes the natural and built environment as
well as the physical conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air
quality that affect human health and well-being.
5. Biological Environment: It refers to the living organisms that inhabit
the natural environment, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.
6. Economic Environment: It comprises the economic factors that
influence human activity, such as natural resources, industry, and markets.
7. Political Environment: It encompasses the political factors that affect
human activity, such as laws, regulations, and government policies.
8. Cultural Environment: It includes the cultural aspects of human life
such as customs, beliefs, and traditions that shape the way people interact
with the environment.

These classifications are not mutually exclusive, and there can be overlaps
between them. Nonetheless, they provide a framework to better
understand the complex and interconnected nature of the environment.

1.2 Environmental descriptors

An environmental descriptor is a term or phrase used to describe the physical,
chemical, and biological characteristics of a particular environment or
ecosystem. It can include factors such as climate, geography, soil type,
vegetation, wildlife, water quality, and other natural or human-made features
that influence the overall ecological condition of an area. Environmental
descriptors are often used by scientists, researchers, and policy-makers to
better understand the ecological processes and potential impacts of human
activities on the environment. They can also be used to assess the health of an
ecosystem and to develop strategies for its conservation and management.
Define ecosystem:
An ecosystem is a complex network of living organisms, their physical
environment, and the interactions between them. It is a dynamic system in
which every living organism is interdependent on others and their
environment, and together, they form a self-sustaining and self-regulating
community. Ecosystems can be as small as a pond or a single tree or as large as
a biome or an entire planet. They are characterized by the flow of energy and
matter through various food webs and nutrient cycles, and they provide
essential services such as water and air purification, carbon sequestration, and
habitat for biodiversity.

1.3 Environmental quality and descriptive parameters

Environmental quality refers to the state of the natural environment, including
air, water, and soil, and how well it can sustain human and other living beings.
Descriptive parameters are specific measures or indicators that are used to
assess the quality of the environment. Some examples of descriptive
parameters include:
1. Air quality: measured by the concentration of pollutants such as carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter in the
air.
2. Water quality: measured by the level of dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity,
temperature, and the presence of pollutants such as heavy metals,
pesticides, and bacteria in water bodies.
3. Soil quality: measured by the levels of nutrients, organic matter, pH, and
the presence of pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and bacteria
in soil.
4. Biodiversity: measured by the number of species and their distribution in
an area.
5. Habitat quality: measured by the suitability of an area for supporting
different types of plants and animals.
6. Noise pollution: measured by the level of noise in decibels (dB) in a
particular area.
7. Land use: measured by the percentage of land that is used for different
purposes such as agriculture, industry, urbanization, and forests.
These descriptive parameters are important for monitoring and evaluating the
environmental quality of an area and identifying areas where improvements
are needed.

1.4 Ecology: Definition and classification

DEFINITION:

Ecology is the scientific study of the relationships between living organisms

and their environment, including the physical, chemical, and biological factors
that affect the distribution and abundance of organisms. It involves the study
of interactions between organisms, as well as between organisms and their
physical and biotic environments. The ultimate goal of ecology is to understand
how ecosystems function, how they are structured and how they respond to
changes in their environment, including human impacts. Ecology encompasses
a broad range of topics, from the smallest organisms and individual
populations to entire ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole.

CLASSIFICATION:

Ecology can be broadly classified into several sub-disciplines based on the

different levels of organization and the focus of the research. Some of the
major sub-disciplines of ecology are:
1. Organismal ecology: It deals with the study of how individual organisms
interact with their environment, including their physiological, behavioral,
and morphological adaptations to the environment.
2. Population ecology: It deals with the study of how populations of
organisms interact with each other and their environment, including
their growth, reproduction, and interactions with other species.
3. Community ecology: It deals with the study of how different species
interact with each other within a given ecosystem or community,
including their roles in food webs, competition, and predation.
4. Ecosystem ecology: It deals with the study of how energy and nutrients
flow through an ecosystem, including the interactions between biotic
and abiotic factors and their effect on ecosystem processes.
 5. Landscape ecology: It deals with the study of how ecosystems are
structured and interconnected over large spatial scales, including the
effects of fragmentation, connectivity, and landscape heterogeneity.
6. Global ecology: It deals with the study of how the biosphere and its
components, such as climate, soil, and biota, interact to maintain the
Earth's life-supporting systems, including the effects of global change on
the biosphere.
These sub-disciplines are interrelated and often overlap, and many ecological
studies may involve more than one sub-discipline.

1.5 Environmental impact on Ecology

The environment has a significant impact on ecology, as ecological systems

depend on a variety of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors for
their survival and functioning. Here are some of the ways in which the
environment can impact ecology:

1. Climate: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter

the distribution and abundance of species, affect migration patterns, and
lead to changes in ecosystem productivity.
2. Habitat destruction and fragmentation: Human activities such as
deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture can destroy or fragment
habitats, which can lead to the loss of biodiversity and the disruption of
ecosystem functioning.
3. Pollution: The release of pollutants into the environment can have
toxic effects on plants, animals, and microorganisms, leading to a decline in
their populations or even their extinction.
4. Invasive species: The introduction of non-native species into an
ecosystem can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem and outcompete
native species for resources, leading to their decline or extinction.
5. Overexploitation: Overfishing, hunting, and harvesting of resources
can lead to the decline or extinction of species and disrupt the functioning
of the ecosystem.
6. Natural disasters: Natural disasters such as floods, fires, and
earthquakes can disrupt ecosystems and lead to the loss of biodiversity and
ecosystem functioning.
7. Climate change: Climate change is altering the timing and duration of
seasonal events such as migration, flowering, and breeding, which can lead
to mismatches between species and their resources, and ultimately lead to
declines in populations and ecosystem functioning.

In summary, the environment has a crucial impact on ecology, and changes

in the environment can lead to disruptions in the functioning of ecological
systems and the loss of biodiversity.