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Notes - Ecology And Environment

  Ecology and Environment   Ecosystem 
  • The term ‘ecosystem’ was proposed by a British ecologistG. Tansley (1935). It represents the basic fundamental, functional unit of ecology which comprises of the biotic community together with its abiotic (non-living) environment.
  • Ecosystem is the functional unit of nature where livingorganisms interact with each other and with their
  • Ecosystems can be recognized as self-regulating and self-sustaining units of landscapes that may be terrestrial or Forests, grasslands and deserts are examples of terrestrial ecosystems. The aquatic ecosystems can be either fresh water (ponds, lakes, streams) or salt water (marine estuaries) type.
  • Ecosystem may be natural (forest, sea), if developed under natural conditions or artificial (garden, aquarium, agriculture) if created by man.
  • Ecosystem is normally an open system because there is a continuous and variable entry and loss of energy and Ecosystem is known by different terms more...
Catgeory: UPSC

Notes - Biodiversity

  Biodiversity   Introduction Biodiversity mean us diversity of heterogeneity at all levels of biological organisation, i.e from micro molecules of the cells to the biomass. The word biodiversity was postulated by the sociologist E.D. Wilson. Biodiversity is commonly used to replace the more clearly and long established terms, species diversity and species richness. Biologist define biodiversity in “totality of genes”, species and ecosystems of region.       This results in existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species in their natural environments, which is the conservationists. Who are mainly concerned about indiscriminate destruction of rainforests and other habitats?   Important Levels of Biodiversity
  • Genetic diversity
    • It is the diversity at genetic level, or at sub-species level below species level, in a single species. The more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Environmental Issues

      Environmental Issue   Introduction Environmental issues are harmful effects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism. Our environment is constantly changing, which no one can deny. With these great environment changes, it becomes highly important for us to become increasingly aware of the environmental problems as well. With a monumental inundation of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather forms and much more, people should be aware of what types of environmental problems our earth is facing. Our planet is on the verge of a severe environmental crisis. Current environmental problems make us susceptible to disasters and tragedies, now as well as in the future. We are in a phase of planetary emergency, with environmental problems blooming around us. Unless we address the various issues proactively more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Hazards And Disaster Management

      Hazards and Disaster Management   Introduction to Disaster Management Objectives of this chapter The main objective of this chapter is to have a basic understanding of various concepts used in disaster management. The concepts explained here are: Disaster, Hazard, Vulnerability, Capacity, Risk and Disaster Management Cycle. Apart from the terminologies, the chapter also tries to explain various types of disasters. After reading this chapter students will have a basic understanding about the concepts and should be able to differentiate between them with suitable examples.                         Background The global context Disasters are as old as human history but the dramatic increase and the damage caused by them in the recent past have become because of national and international concern. Over the past decade, the number of natural and manmade disasters has climbed inexorably. From 1994 to 1998, reported disasters average was 428 per year more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Climate Change

      Climate Change   Introduction The year 2015-16 was important for climate change both at domestic and global level. It was started with the groundwork of the third National Communication (NATCOM) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the release of the Biennial Update Reports (BURs). It has been clear that human influence is there in the climate system and the recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems.   Change in the Climate System Warming of the climate system is clear and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are:
    • atmosphere and ocean have warmed
    • the amounts of snow and ice have diminished
    • sea level has rise
    • Each of the last three decades has been successively more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Environment Management

      Environment Management   Introduction Environmental management system (EMS) refers to the management of an organization's environmental, programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner. It includes the organizational structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing and maintaining policy for environmental protection. More formally, EMS is "a system and database which integrates procedures and processes for training of personnel, monitoring, summarizing, and reporting of specialized environmental performance information to internal and external stakeholders of a firm.   Environment Management System The most widely used standard on which an EMS is based International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. Alternatives include the EMAS. An environmental management information system (EMIS) is an information technology solution for tracking environmental data for a company as part of their overall environmental management system. An EMS can also be classified as
    • a system which monitors, tracks and more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Sustainable Development

      Sustainable Development   Introduction Sustainable development aims at meeting the basic needs of all people in general and the poor majority in particular- their employment, food, energy, water, housing, etc., by ensuring the growth of agriculture, manufactures, power and services with due consideration for environmental concerns. Over the past two decades, economic growth has lifted more than 660 million people out of poverty and has raised the income levels of millions more, but too often it has come at the expense of the environment and poor communities. Through a variety of market, policy, and institutional failures. Earth's natural capital has been used in ways that are economically inefficient and wasteful, without sufficient reckoning of the true costs of resource depletion. The burning of fossil fuels supported rapid growth for decades but set up dangerous consequences, with climate change today threatening to roll back more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Terms, Conventions, Policies And Reports

      Terms, Conventions, Policies & Reports   Important Terms Adaptive radiation: Evolutionary diversification of a generalized ancestral form with production of a number of adaptively specialized forms. Closely related species look very different, as a result of having adapted to widely different ecological niches. Agro forestry: An ecologically based farming system that, through the integration of trees in farms, increases social, environmental and economic benefits to land users. Alien's Rule: Warm-blooded animals (endotherms) from colder climates usually have shorter limbs than do endotherms from warmer climates. Anthropogenic climate change: Climate change with, the presumption of human influence, usually warming. Alpha diversity: In ecology, alpha diversity (a-diversity) is the mean species diversity in sites or habitats at a local scale. The term was introduced by R. H. Whittaker together with the terms beta diversity (p-diversity) and gamma diversity (y-diversity). Allee effect: Concept in more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Current Ecological Developments

      Current Ecological Developments   Introduction There have been several ecological developments in India and around the world. The ecological changes have profound impact on the flora and fauna of terrestrial and aquatic environments. Ecological balance is necessary for achieving sustainable environment. In this chapter, we will discuss the current ecological developments in India and around the world. Ecological balance is a theory which highlights that natural conditions, including numbers of various animal and plant species, remain stable on their own through variations over time. The theory, also known as balance of nature, also holds that natural equilibrium can be changed significantly by new species entering an ecosystem, the disappearance of some species, man-made changes to the environment or natural disasters. Ecological Imbalance in India is governed by the following factors: (a) Conservation of Land and Soil (b) Forest density (c) Utilization of water more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

    Notes - Constitutional Framework and Citizenship

      Constitutional Framework and Citizenship   Introduction The term constitution is derived from latin word “constituere” which means to “to establish”. Constitution means a document having a special legal sanctity, which sets out the framework, principles and functions of the government. The idea of constitutionalism suggests ways and means to work out a government form, which exercises power and ensures, at the same time, individuals freedom and liberty.                               HISTORICAL BACKGROUND  
    more...
    Catgeory: UPSC

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