CHAPTER – 15

OUR ENVIRONMENT
Environment means everything which surrounds us. It may include living
?
(biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. So, it may includes besides all
creatures, water & air also.
Environment affect the life and development of an organism in its natural
?
habitat & vice a versa.
Substances that are decomposed are called bio-degredable. Eg. organic
?
wastes while some substances like plastics, some chemicals (DDTs &
fertilizers) are inert and can’t be decomposed, are called Non-biodegradable
Actually non-biodegradable persist in the environment for a long time or may
?
harm the various members of the eco system.
ECO SYSTEM & ITS COMPONENT
All the interacting organisms in an area together with non living components form
an ecosystem. So an ecosystem consists of both biotic (living creatures) and
abiotic components like temperature, rainfall, wind, soil etc.
Ecosystem

Man-made Ecosystem Natural Ecosystem

Eg. Cropland, Aquarium etc.

Aquatic Ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystem

land Ecosystem
Eg. Forest,
Marine Fresh water Desert, Grassland etc.
Ecosystem Ecosystem
Eg. Sea, Oceans River, Lake,
Pond, pool

All living organisms are classified on the basis of the manner in which they
?
survive in the Ecosystem. These groups include
I Producers– All green plants, blue green algae can produce their food (Sugar
& starch) from in organic substance using light energy (Photosynthesis)

157 X-Science
II Consumers– Include organisms which depend on the producers either
directly or indirectly for their sustenance. In other word consumers consume
the food produced by producers.
CONSUMERS

Parasite
Herbivores Carnivores Live & feed Omnivores
– Gross eaters Flash Eaters on the host body Feed on both plant
and flesh.
Eg. Cow, dear Lion, Tiger Plasmodium Eg. Crow

III DECOMPOSERS– Fungi & Bacterias which break down (decompose) the
dead plant, animals complex compounds into the simpler one. Thus
decomposers help in the replenishment of the natural resources.
Food chain refers to an arrangement of different biotic groups in a sequence of
enery transfer. These biotic groups are producer herbivores, carnivores.
For Eg. T1 T2 T3
Grass DearA Lion
A 3-setp Food chain
In a food chain, these biotic components where transfer of energy takes place
?
is called a trophic level.
The green plants capture 1% of sunlight falls on their leaves.
?
The flow of energy is unidirectional in a food chain
?
There is gradual decrease in the amount of energy transfer from one trophic
?
level to next trophic level in a food chain
Tertiary
consumers
1kJ
Secondary ­
Consumer 10kJ
Primary ­
Consumer 100kJ
Producer
­
Energy Flow 1000 kJ TROPHIC LEVEL
Energy

So only 10% of Energy is transferred to next trophic level while 90% of energy is
used by present trophic level in its life processes.

158 X-Science
While the conc. of harmful chemical increases with every next trophic level in
?
a food chain. It is called Bio-magnification For Eg.
Grass Dear Lion
(10 ppm) (200 ppm) (5000ppm)
DDT DDT DDT
Maximum concentration of such chemicals accumulated in human bodies.
?
Naturally the food chains are inter-connected with each other forming a web
?
like pattern, which is known as FOOD WEB.
The loss of energy at each step (trophic level) is very high, so very little
?
amount of energy remains after four trophic levels.
There are gnerally a big population at lower trophic levels of an ecosystem.
?
For Eg. the population of the producer is higher than the consumer carnivore
(lion) population.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Changes in environment affect us and our activities change the environment
?
around us. This led to the slow degreadation of environment that arose many
environmental problems. Eg. depletion of the Ozone Layer and waste
disposal.
I Depletion of Ozone Layer
Ozone (O3) layer is largely found in the stratosphere which is a part of our
?
atmosphere from 12 km – 50km above sea level.
Ozone is a deadly poison at the ground level.
?
Ozone is formed as a result of a following photochemical reaction.
?

O2 hv O+O (Splitting of
(1800°A to 2000°A) molecular oxygen)
O2 + O O3 (Ozone)

Ozone layer is a protective blanket around earth which absorbs most of the
?
harmful U.V. (Ultraviolet) radiation of the Sun, thus protecting the living
beings of the earth from health hazards like skin cancer, cataract in eyes,
weaken immune system, destruction of plants etc.
The decline of Ozone layer thickness is Antartica was first discovered in 1985
?
and was termed as OZONE HOLE.

159 X-Science
Reason of Ozone Depletion :
Excessive use of CFCs (Chloro Flouro Carbon) a synthetic, inert chemical Eg.
Freon which are used as refrigerants and in fire extinguishers, caused Ozone
depletion in the upper atmosphere. A single chlorine atom can destroys 1,00,000
Ozone molecules. U.N.E.P. (United Nation Envrionment Programme) did an
excellent job in forging an agreement to freeze CFC production at 1986 levels
(KYOTO Protocol) by all countries.
Garbage Disposal
Industrialization and rise in demand of consumer goods have created a major
problem in the form of wastes/garbage accumulation and its disposal especially in
urban area.
The different methods of solid wastes disposal commonly used around the world
are.
1. Open dumping : A conventional method in which solid wastes dumped in
selected areas of a town. It actually cause pollution
2. Land fillings : Wastes are dumped in low living area and are compacted by
rolling with bulldozers
3. Composting : Organic wastes are filled into a compost pit (2m x 1m x 1m). It
is then covered with a thin layer of soil. After about three months the same
garbage filled inside the pit changes into organic manure.
4. Recycling : The solid wastes is broken down into its constituent simpler
materials. These materials are then used to make new items. Even non-bio
degradable solid wastes like plastic, metal can be recycled.
5 Reuse : A very simple conventional technique of using an item again & again.
For Eg. paper can be reused for making envelops etc.

160 X-Science
 EXERCISE
(Question Bank)
Very Short Answers (1 Mark)
1. Define Biomagnification
2. Expand the term CFC & U.N.E.P.
3. Define Ozone hole
4. Which of the following is/are Biodegradable plastic cups, cowdung,
Aluminium foil, cotton.
5. Define food web
6. Define Ecosystem
7. Differentiate between Biodegradable and non biodegradable wastes.
8. Use of Kulhads was not environment friendly idea. Why?
9. Draw an Energy Pyramid showing different trophic level.
10. What is the advantage of disposable paper cup use over plastic cups?
11. How can we help in reducing the the problem of waste disposal? Give any
two methods.
12. What is role of decomposer in Ecosystem.
13. Give any two ways in which non biodegradable substance would affect the
environment.
14. What are trophic levels? Give an example of a food chain and state the
different trophic levels in it.
15. What will happen if we kill all the organisms in one trophic level?
16. Study the food chain given below.
I Grass ®
Grasshopper ®
Frog
II Wheat ®
Rat ®
Snake ®
Hawk
Which of the two consumers frog/hawk will get more available energy and why?

161 X-Science
 Our Environment

IN CHAPTER QUESTIONS

PART - 1

Q1. Why are some substances biodegradable and some non-biodegradable?

S.No. Biodegr adable Waste Non-biodegr adable wast e

1 . They can be broken down into They can't be broken down into
simpler substances by the activity simpler and harmless products
of biological catalysts called because the biological catalysts
enzymes (present in surrounding called enzymes can't act upon
bacteria or other saprophytes). them. They can be acted upon
Physical processes like heat and only by some physical processes
temperature help in the like heat and pressure.
functioning of enzymes.
2 . They can enter the They cannot enter the
biogeochemical cycles. biogeochemical cycles.
3 . They become pollutants only They always act as pollutants
when they accumulate in large whether present in small or large
quantities and not degraded at quantity.
the right time.
4 . All the biodegradable wastes They can't be treated properly
should be treated properly before before discharging them into
Ans.
discharging them into water or water or soil. Instead, they can be
soil. either recycled or reused.
5 . They do not persist in the They persist in the environment
environment for a long time. for a long time.
6 . Examples : Urine and faecal Exam ples : Heavy metals like
matter, Sewage, Paper, Mercury, Lead, Arsenic,
Vegetable and fruit peels, Radioactive wastes like Uranium,
Agricultural residues, Wood and Plutonium, Insecticides and
Cloth. Pesticides like DDT and BHC.

Q2. Give any two ways in which biodegradable substances would affect the environment.

Ans. (i) If biodegradable substances are not degraded properly on right time , They will be
accumulated and will act as pollutant.
(ii) They are used in composting which forms humus that enhances soil fertility.

1
 Our Environment

Q3. Give any two ways in which non-biodegradable substances would affect the environment.

Ans. (i) Non-biodegradable substances contaminate soil and water resources as they cannot be
decomposed.
(ii) They may be radioactively active which have hazardous effects to human beings.

PART - 2

Q1. What are trophic levels? Give an example of a food chain and state thedifferent trophic
levels in it.

Ans. Trophic levels : The distinct sequential steps in the food chain where transfer of energy occurs
are referred to as different trophic levels.

Grass Deer (Herbivore) Lion

(Autotrophs) (Carnivore)

Bacteria and Fungi

(Decomposers)

Fig.2 A simple food chain

Q2. What is the role of decomposers in the ecosystem?

Ans. Decomposers are essential components of ecosystem. They decompose dead remains of plants
and animals and their waste organic products into simpler, inorganic substances. The latter are
released into the environment for their reuse as raw materials by the producers. Thus it maintains
balance in nature and play important role in ecosystem.

2
 Our Environment

PART - 3

Q1. What is ozone and how does it affect any ecosystem?

Ans. (i) Ozone is formed in atmosphere by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen gas.
(ii) The high energy ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) coming from the sun splits oxygen gas
into free oxygen atoms
Ultraviolet
O2   2O (oxygen atom)
radiations from sun
(iii) The free oxygen atoms are highly reactive. One oxygen atom reacts with an oxygen molecule
to form an ozone molecule.
O2 + O  O3 (Ozone molecule)

Q2. How can you help idegradable and non biodegradable waste before dumping

Ans. To reduce the problem of waste disposal we can :-

(i) Segregate the biodegradable and non biodegradable waste before dumping
(ii) Remove all materials which can be recycled. eg paper, glass.

3
 Our Environment

EXERCISES
Q1. Which of the following groups contain only biodegradable items?
(a) Grass, flowers and leather
(b) Grass, wood and plastic
(c) Fruit-peels, cake and lime-juice
(d) Cake, wood and grass

Ans. (c) Fruit-peels, cake and lime-juice

(d) Cake, wood and grass

Q2. Which of the following constitute food-chain ?

(a) Grass, wheat and mango
(b) Grass, goat and human
(c) Goat, cow and elephant
(d) Grass, fish and goat.

Ans. (b) Grass, goat and human.

Q3. Which of the following are environment friendly practices ?

(a) Carrying cloth-bags to put purchases in while shopping
(b) Switching off unnecessary lights and fans
(c) Walking to school instead of getting your mother to drop you on her scooter
(d) All of the above.

Ans. (d) All of the above.

Q4. What will happen if we kill all the organisms in one trophic level ?

Ans. If we kill all the organisms in one trophic level then transfer of energy as well as matter to next
higher level will stop. It will lead to over population at lower trophic level causing competition
amongst the individuals. This would seriously disturb the food chain and can cause even a collapse
of an ecosystem.

4
 Our Environment

Q5. Will the impact of removing all the organisms in a trophic level be different for different trophic
levels? Can the organisms of any trophic level be removed without causing any damage to the
ecosystem ?

Ans. Yes, the impact of removing all the organisms in a trophic level will be different for different
trophic levels.
For example : Consider the following food chain: Plants  Deer  Lion.
If all the lions are removed then the population of deer will increase to such a larger extent and
this may result in the following problems:
(i) Due to over-grazing caused by deers soil erosion can take place and forest area will get affected.
(ii) Due to large deer population competition for food will start.
Similarly, if deers are removed then carnivores will get affected. Whereas removal of producers
(plants) will affect both deers and lions.
This all suggests that all different organisms in a food chain are linked together and removal
of any organism will have different effect but it will cause an ill effect on the stability of that
ecosystem.

Q6. What is biological magnification ? Will the levels of this magnification be different at different
levels of the ecosystem ?

Ans. The accumulation of harmful chemicals in the body of living organisms at different trophic levels
in a food chain is called biological magnification. Yes, the concentration of these harmful chemicals
will be different at different trophic levels. It will be maximum at the last trophic levels which
is mostly of the top carnivores (quaternary consumers).

Q7. What are the problems caused by the non-biodegradable wastes that we generate ?

Ans. (i) Non-biodegradable waste persist in the environment for a long time and cause greater harm
to the various members of the ecosystem by causing biological magnification.
(ii) Non-biodegradable waste such as fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, etc., changes the soil
chemistry. This inturn affects the fertility of soil and subsequently reduces the crop yield.

Q8. If all the waste we generate is biodegradable, will this have no impact on the environment ?

Ans. Biodegradable waste will be recycled easily by the decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. It
will have only this bad impact on our environment that, many of the gases released during
decomposition process may result in global warming.

5
 Our Environment

Q9. Why is damage to the ozone layer a cause for concern? What steps are being taken to limit this damage?

Ans. The ozone shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. These
radiations are highly damaging as they can cause cancer in both plants and animals, damage
to eyes and immune system.
They can also lead to variations in global rainfall, ecological disturbances and dwindling of global
food supplies.
Due to these reasons, damage to the ozone layer is a major cause for concern.
Steps which are taken to limit this damage:
(i) To decrease the use of synthetic chemicals like chloro fluorocarbons (CFCs) which are used
as refrigerants and in fire extinguishers.
(ii) In 1987, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) succeeded in reaching an
agreement to freeze CFC production at 1986 levels.

6
CHAPTER – 15
OUR ENVIRONMENT
 Introduction
We have the word
environment often being
used on the television, in
newspapers and by people
around us. Environment (F.
environ – about ) is the
sum total of all external
factors, substances, living
beings, and conditions that
surround an organism and
influence the same without
becoming its part. It
consists of both living and
non- living components,
each of which has several
sub-components which are
interlinked and
interdependent on each
other. In this chapter, we
shall be studying how
various factors in the
environment interact with
each other and how we
impact the environment.
 Sub-Concept 15.1
What happens when we
add our waste to the
environment?
Effect of adding waste to
the environment
 Human activities produce
a lot of waste materials
which are thrown away
into the environment.
These wastes cause
pollution of air, water
and soil. The waste
materials produced are
of two main types. They
are biodegradable
wastes and non
biodegradable wastes.
i)Biodegradable wastes: are
wastes which are
decomposed into harmless
substances by
microorganisms. E. g.
vegetables, fruits, pulses,
cereals, cotton, jute, wool,
wood, leather, paper,
animal dung, animal bones
ii) Non biodegradable
wastes :- are wastes which
are not decomposed by
microorganisms. E. g.
polythene bags, plastics,
synthetic fibres, glass,
metals, synthetic rubber,
insecticides, pesticides
etc.
 Sub-Concept 15.2
Eco-system – What
are its components?
Ecosystem : An ecosystem
consists of all the living
organisms in an area along
with the non living
components and their
interaction.
There are different types of
ecosystems. They are :-
i)Natural ecosystems :- like
forests, deserts, grass lands,
mountains, ponds, lakes,
ii) Artificial ecosystems :-
like gardens, parks, crop
fields, aquarium, zoo etc.
Components of an
ecosystem:
An ecosystem consists of
two main components. They
are biotic and abiotic
components.
i) Biotic components :- are
the living components like
plants, animals
and microorganisms. They
consist of producers,
consumers and decomposers.
Producers :- are green
plants which produce food by
photosynthesis.
 Consumers :- are
herbivores which get their
food directly from plants,
carnivores which get their
food indirectly from plants
and omnivores which get
their food directly or
indirectly from plants.
 Decomposers :- are
microorganisms which
decompose dead plants and
animals. They decompose
complex organic substances
into simple inorganic
substances in the soil which
are again used by plants.
ii) Abiotic components :- are
the non living components
like air, water, soil,
minerals, sunlight ,
temperature, wind etc.
Food chain :
A food chain is the flow of food
energy from one organism to
the next and to the next and so
on. They usually start with a
producer (plants) and end with
a carnivore. In a food chain an
organism gets food from one
group of organisms.
Eg: Grass Deer Lion
(producer) (1 consumer) (2 consumer)

Grass Insects Frog Snakes

(producer) (1 consumer) (2 consumer) (3 consumer)

Grass Moth Frog Snake Hawk

 Food web :
Food web is a group of
several interconnected food
chains. In a food web an
organism gets food from
more than one group of
organisms.

 Trophic levels :-
 Each step in a food chain
where transfer of food
energy takes place is called
trophic level.
 The first trophic level
consists of producers.
 The second trophic level
consists of primary
consumers.
 The third trophic level
consists of secondary
consumers.
 The fourth trophic level
consists of tertiary
consumers.
Since the transfer of food
energy decreases at every
trophic level, the number
of trophic levels are limited
and do not exceed four or
five.
 Energy flow in trophic
levels
Green plants (producers)
absorb about 1% of solar
energy falling on the
leaves and stores it as
food energy during
photosynthesis.
During the transfer of food
energy from one trophic
level to the next, 90% of the
energy is lost to the
environment and only 10%
is transferred to the next
trophic level.
So there is a decrease in
the amount of food energy
transferred at every trophic
level by 10%. This is
known as the 10% law.
 Biological magnification
(Biomagnification)
Harmful chemicals like
insecticides and pesticides
which are used to protect
crops from insects and pests
are absorbed by plants and
enter the food chain. Since
these chemicals are non
biodegradable, they get
accumulated at every
trophic level and their
concentration increases.
Since human beings occupy
the highest trophic level,
the concentration of these
harmful chemicals is
maximum in our bodies.
The increase in
concentration of harmful
chemicals in the bodies of
organisms at higher
trophic levels is called
biological magnification.
Sub-Concept: 15.3
How do our activities
affect the
environment?
Depletion of ozone layer in
the atmosphere:
Ozone molecule contains
three oxygen atoms (O3). At
higher levels in the
atmosphere the UV radiation
splits some oxygen
molecules (O2) into free
oxygen atoms which
combines
with oxygen molecules (O2)
to form ozone. It is highly
poisonous.

UV radiation

O2 O + O
O2 + O O3
The ozone layer present in
the higher layer of the
atmosphere protects the
earth from the harmful UV
radiation from the sun. UV
radiation causes skin cancer
in humans.
The ozone layer is being
damaged by the use of
chemicals like chloro fluoro
carbons (CFCs) used in
refrigerators and fire
extinguishers. So the use of
CFCs is now being reduced
to protect the ozone layer.
Managing the garbage we
produce :
The household waste is
called garbage. Some of
the garbage is
biodegradable and some
are non biodegradable.
Garbage causes pollution
of air, water and soil. So
it should be disposed
properly.
Some of the methods of
garbage disposal are :-
i) Land fills
ii) Recycling
iii) Production of biogas
and manure
iv) Preparation
of compost
v) Incineration
vi) Sewage
treatment
Sewage treatment

Sewage treatment
 Summary
 The various components
of an ecosystems are
interdependent.
 The produces make the
energy from the sunlight
available to rest of the
ecosystem.
 There is a loss of energy
as we go from one tropic
level to the next this
limits the number of
tropic levels in a food
chain.
 Human actvisists have an
 The use of chemicals like
CFCs has endangered the
ozone layer.
 The disposal of waste we
generate is causing
serious environmental
problems.
NAVODAYA VIDYALAYA SAMITI, NOIDA
E-CONTENT FOR CLASS X SCIENCE
OUR ENVIRONMENT

PREPARED BY
SATHYASEELAN ASARI C
PGT BIOLOGY JNV UDUPI
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• 1.Students should know the various components of environment.
• 2.Students should understand the concepts of food chain, food
web, trophic level, ecological pyramids, ozone layer ozone hole
etc.
• 3.Students should able to identify the functions of different biotic
components of an ecosystem.
• 4.Students should be able to appreciate the relationship between
the different trophic levels of food chain and significance of
maintaining it.
• 5.Students should develop love towards nature.
• 6.Students should be able to develop effective techniques to
dispose garbage.
• 7.Students should realise their responsibility in protecting
environment.
• 8. They should understand the significance of protecting ozone
layer etc.
• Every organism have to depend other
objects for one or other purpose for it’s
successful survival.
• An organism is surrounded by many
things on earth.
• With these things an organism interact
in it’s daily life.
• Thus all those things surrounding an
organism , to which it interact is called
the environment
Effect of adding waste to
the environment
▪Human activities produce
a lot of waste materials
which are thrown away
into the environment.
These wastes cause
pollution of air, water
and soil. The waste
materials produced are
of two main types. They
are biodegradable
wastes and non
biodegradable wastes.
i)Biodegradable wastes: are
wastes which are
decomposed into harmless
substances by
microorganisms. E. g.
vegetables, fruits, pulses,
cereals, cotton, jute, wool,
wood, leather, paper,
animal dung, animal bones
ii) Non biodegradable
wastes :- are wastes which
are not decomposed by
microorganisms. E. g.
polythene bags, plastics,
synthetic fibres, glass,
metals, synthetic rubber,
insecticides, pesticides
etc.
 Sub-Concept 15.2
Eco-system – What
are its components?
• All organisms such as plants, animals, micro
organisms and human beings as well as the
physical surroundings interact with each other
• All the interacting organisms in an area
together with the non-living constituents of
the environment form an ecosystem.
• The components of an ecosystem can be
placed under two groups, they are biotic
(living) and abiotic ( non living) components.
COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
• Biotic components of the ecosystem can
be sub divided in to different groups
• 1.Producers: these are the organisms
that are able to prepare their food. Eg.all
green plants and certain bacteria as they
contain photosynthetic pigments.
• 2. Consumers : these are the organisms
that consume food produced either
directly from producers or indirectly by
feeding on other consumers. Eg. Leaf
insect, deer, Fox etc.
• Consumers can be further classified as primary
consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers
(carnivores), omnivores and parasites.
• Herbivores eat directly on plant materials , eg.
Parrot, deer, cow etc.
• Carnivores eat on other animals, eg. Fox, tiger etc.
• Omnivores eat both plant and animal matter, eg.
crow, Cat etc.
• Parasites are those animals that live inside or
outside the body of other organisms and get food
from them eg. Tape worm, Round worm etc.
• As a part of biotic components there are
micro organisms in every ecosystem.
• Microbes, bacteria and fungi break down the
dead remains and waste products of
organisms.
• These micro organisms are the decomposers
as they break down the complex organic
substances into simple inorganic substances
that go into the soil and used up by plants
• This helps in the replenishment of soil
nutrients.
Action of decomposer
 FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS
• In an ecosystem we can see that one organism
feed on another. Eg. Ina garden grass is eaten
by grass hopper, frog eats grass hopper, snake
eat frog like that.
• Grass----> grass hopper---> frog-----> snake
• This series of organisms feeding on one
another form a food chain.
• Each step or level of the food chain forms a
trophic level
FOOD CHAIN
• Autotrophs or the the
producers are the first
trophic level.
• Herbivores or the primary
consumers come at the
second level.
• Small carnivores or the
secondary consumers at
the third level.
• Larger carnivores or the
tertiary consumers form
the fourth trophic level
 ENERGY FLOW
• The interactions among various components
of the environment involves flow of energy
from one component of the system to another
• The autotrophs capture the energy present in
sunlight and convert it in to chemical energy.
• From autotrophs energy goes to the
heterotrophs and decomposers. When one
form of energy is changed to another , some
energy is lost to the environment in the forms
which cannot be used again.
• The flow of energy between various components
of the environment follow the following
conditions
The green plants capture about 1% of the energy
of sunlight that falls on their leaves and convert it
in to chemical energy.
When green plants are eaten by primary
consumers, a lot of energy is lost as heat to the
environment some amount goes in to doing work
and rest goes towards growth and reproduction.
An average 10%of the food eaten is turned in to
it’s own body and made available for the next
level of consumers.
Therefore , 10% can be taken as the average value
for the amount of organic matter that is present at
each step and reaches the next level of
consumers.
Since little energy is available for the next level of
consumers, food chain generally consists of only
three or four steps.
There are generally greater number of individuals
at at the lower trophic levels of an ecosystem.
The length and complexity of food chains vary
greatly. Each organism is generally eaten by
several other organisms. So instead of straight line
food chain , the relationship can be shown as a
series of branching lines called a food web.
FLOW OF ENERGY
FOOD WEB
• From the energy flow diagram two
things become clear.
• 1.The flow of energy is unidirectional
• 2.The energy available at each
trophic level gets diminished
progressively
 BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION
• Harmful chemicals in our body through the food
chain.
• We use several pesticides and other chemicals to
protect our crops from diseases and pests.
• These chemicals are washed down into the the soil or
in to the water bodies.
• From the soil it is absorbed by plants along with water
and minerals.
• From the water these are taken up by aquatic plants
and animals.
• As these chemicals are non- biodegradable , these get
accumulated progressively at each trophic level.
• The maximum concentration of these
chemicals get accumulated in our bodies.
• This progressive accumulation of harmful
chemicals in the body of organisms through
food chain is called biological magnification.
BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION IN A POND
 OZONE LAYER AND IT’S DEPLETION
• Ozone is a protective layer of the atmosphere.
• It is located in the lower portion of the
stratosphere from approximately 15-35 km. above
earth.
• Ozone (O3) is a molecule formed by 3 atoms of
oxygen. Ozone is a deadly poison, how ever at the
higher levels of the atmosphere, ozone performs
an essential function.
• It shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet
radiations from the sun.
• UV radiation is highly damaging to organisms.
• It is known to cause skin cancer, mutations,
damage to eye etc.
• Ozone is formed by the action of UV radiation
on oxygen. The UV radiation split apart some
molecular O2 into free oxygen (O)atoms.
• These atoms then combine with molecular
oxygen to form ozone.
OZONE LAYER
 MANAGING GARBAGE
• In our daily life we use to throw away many
solid materials which are not useful to us.
• All these left out solid waste constitute
garbage.
• In our experience many of these waste
materials disappear after some time, where as
others will remain in our surrounding with out
any change indefinitely.
• These materials may become harmful to the
various members of the ecosystem.
• They may cause mechanical injury to us,
reduce the soil quality, prevent percolation of
water in to the soil, health problems to cattle
and other wild animals.
• Many methods can be suggested to dispose
garbage.
• These include Recycling, reuse, repurposing,
Refuse, incineration, segregation etc.
• Improvement in our life style have resulted in
greater amount of waste material generation.
Change in our attitude also have a role to play,
with more and more things we use becoming
disposable.
• Changes in packaging have resulted in much of
our waste becoming non biodegradable.
THANK YOU
CHAPTER - 15

OUR
ENVIRONMENT
Ecosystem and its components
A) ECOSYSTEM A N E COSYST E M C O NSI STS O F A L L T H E L I V I NG
O RGA N I SMS I N A N A R EA A LO NG W I T H T H E N O N L I V I N G C O MPONE NTS.

B) COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
A N E COSYST EM C O NS I STS O F T WO M A I N C OMPON EN TS. T H EY A R E B I OT I C
A N D A B I OTI C C O MPONE NTS.
I ) BIOTIC COMPONENTS A R E T H E L I V I NG CO MPON ENTS L I K E P L A NTS,
A N I MA LS A N D M I CROORGA NI SMS . T H EY C O NSI ST O F P RODU CERS ,
C O NS UMERS A N D D ECOMPOSERS .
. I I) ABIOTIC COMPONENTS A R E T H E N O N L I V I NG C OMPON EN TS L I K E A I R ,
WAT ER, S O I L , H U MI DI T Y, M I N E R A L S, S U N L I GHT , T E MPE RAT URE, W I N D E TC .
Food chain

A FO OD C H A I N I S T H E S E R I ES T H AT S H OWS WH O E AT S WHOM I N A N
E COSYST EM. T H E Y U S UA L LY S TART W I T H A P RODU C ER ( P L A NTS ) A N D E N D
W I T H A C A R N I VOR E.
Food web
FOOD WEB I S A NETWORK OF SEVERAL I NTERCONNECTED FOOD
CHAINS.. I N AN ECOSYSTEM ONE ORGANISM CAN BE EATEN BY
SEVERAL OTHER ORGANISMS
Trophic levels
E ACH S T E P O R L E V EL I N A FO OD C H A I N I S C A L L E D T ROPHI C L E V EL .
T HE F I RST T R OPH I C L E VE L C O NS I STS O F P R ODUC ERS .
T HE S ECOND T R OPH I C L E VE L C O NSI STS O F P R I MA RY C O NSUMERS .
T HE T H I RD T R OPH I C L E VE L C O NSI STS O F S ECON DA RY C O NS UMERS.
T HE F O URT H T R OPH I C L E VE L C O NSI STS O F T ERT I A RY C O N SUMERS .
Energy flow in trophic levels
GREEN PL ANTS ( PRODUCERS) ABSORB ABOUT 1% OF SOLAR ENERGY
FALLING ON THE L EAVES AND STORES I T AS FOOD ENERGY DURING
PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
DURING THE TRANSFER OF FOOD ENERGY FROM ONE TROPHIC
LEVEL TO THE NEXT, A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY I S LOST AS HEAT TO
THE ENVIRONMENT, SOME AMOUNT GOES I NTO DIGESTION AND I N
DOING WORK AND THE REST GOES TOWARDS GROWTH AND
REPRODUCTION. AN AVERAGE OF 10% OF THE FOOD EATEN I S TURNED
I NTO I TS OWN BODY AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT L EVEL OF
CONSUMERS.
Biological magnification

HARMFUL CHEMICALS L IKE I NSECTICIDES AND PESTICIDES WHICH ARE

USED TO PROTECT CROPS FROM I NSECTS AND PESTS ARE ABSORBED BY
PL ANTS AND ENTER THE FOOD CHAIN. SINCE THESE CHEMICALS ARE
NON BIODEGRADABLE, THEY GET ACCUMULATED AT EVERY TROPHIC
L EVEL AND THEIR CONCENTRATION I NCREASES PROGRESSIVELY WITH
EACH TROPHIC L EVEL. SINCE HUMAN BEINGS OCCUPY THE HIGHEST
TROPHIC L EVEL, THE CONCENTRATION OF THESE HARMFUL CHEMICALS
I S MAXIMUM I N OUR BODIES.
THE I NCREASE I N CONCENTRATION OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS I N THE
BODIES OF ORGANISMS PROGRESSIVELY WITH EACH TROPHIC L EVEL I S
CALLED BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION.
Human activities affect the environment
A) DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER IN THE ATMOSPHERE
OZONE MOLECULE CONTAINS THREE OXYGEN ATOMS ( O 3 ). AT
HIGHER L EVELS I N THE ATMOSPHERE THE UV RADIATION SPLITS SOME
OXYGEN MOLECULES ( O 2 ) I NTO FREE OXYGEN ATOMS WHICH
COMBINES WI TH OXYGEN MOLECULES ( O 2 ) TO FORM OZONE. I T I S
HIGHLY POISONOUS .

THE OZONE L AYER PRESENT I N THE HIGHER L AYER OF THE

ATMOSPHERE PROTECTS THE EARTH FROM THE HARMFUL UV
RADIATION FROM THE SUN. UV RADIATION CAUSES SKIN CANCER I N
HUMANS.
THE OZONE L AYER I S BEING DAMAGED BY THE USE OF CHEMICALS
L IKE C HLORO FLUORO CARBONS ( C FCS) USED I N REFRIGERATORS AND
FI RE EXTINGUISHERS. SO THE USE OF CFCS I S NOW BEING REDUCED TO
PROTECT THE OZONE L AYER.
Managing the waste we produce
THE HOUSEHOLD WASTE I S CALLED GARBAGE. SOME OF THE
GARBAGE I S BI ODEGRADABLE AND SOME ARE NON BIODEGRADABLE.
GARBAGE CAUSES POLLUTION OF AI R, WATER AND SOIL. SO I T SHOULD
BE DISPOSED PROPERLY.
SOME OF THE METHODS OF MANAGEMENT OF GARBAGE D ISPOSAL
ARE
I ) REUSE
I I) RECYCLING
I II) PRODUCTION OF BI OGAS AND MANURE
I V) PREPARATION OF COMPOST