VISION

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What are the different types of environment?

1. Natural Environment: It includes all living and non-living things that occur naturally. For example, the environment in a forest surrounding an animal.
2. Human-made/ Artificial Environment: It is the environment made by humans i.e. they don’t occur naturally.

What are the different components of an Environment?

What is an Ecosystem?

Generalised Classification of Ecosystem:

• Terrestrial: Forest, grassland and desert are some examples of terrestrial ecosystems.
• Aquatic: Pond, lake, wetland, river and estuary are some examples of aquatic ecosystems.

Structure of an Ecosystem

• Phototrophs: They derive their energy from the Sun – the primary source of energy on the planet. These are the green plants that make their own food by the process of photosynthesis.
• Chemotrophs: They obtain their energy from chemicals through a process called chemosynthesis and can make their own food. Example: Cyanobacteria

1. Micro Consumers / Saprotrophs / Osmotrophs: These are organisms that feed on dead organic matter generated from plants and animals (‘sapro’=rotten or decaying). They are again of two types:

• Decomposers: These are those microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi that feed on and decompose other dead organic material.
• Detritus feeders: These are small animals which feed on partially decomposed organic material. They contribute to the break down of detritus (remains of dead organisms). Examples: earthworms, mites etc.

2. Macro-consumers (Phagotrophs): These are consumers which feed on other living organisms for their source of energy. Phagotroph means nourishment by eating (phago=eating). They are of the following types:

• Primary consumers (Herbivores): They feed directly on plants. Example: Cow, goat, grasshopper etc.
• Secondary consumer (carnivore): They feed on primary consumers. They are the flesh-eating organisms. Example: fox, snakes, etc.
• Tertiary consumer (Top carnivore): They are the ones feeding on secondary consumers. Example: hawk, tiger, lion etc.
• Omnivores are those that eat both plants and animals. Some of us, (who are not vegetarians) are omnivores!!! Other examples include crow, rats etc.

1. Climatic and physical factors -air, water, soil and sunlight; rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil texture and geomorphic conditions.
2. Inorganic materials– Examples: carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, carbon-di-oxide, water, etc. These are involved in the cycling of materials in the ecosystems.

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