Environmental Sciences Book B.Pharm 2nd Semester

Unit 1: Introduction to Environmental Studies

1.1.

Environment

13

1.1.1.

Meaning and Definition of Environment

13

1.1.2.

Nature of Environment

13

1.1.3.

Spheres of Environment

14

1.1.4.

Elements of Environment

16

1.1.5.

Importance of Environment

16

1.2.

Environmental Studies

17

1.2.1.

Meaning and Definition of Environmental Studies

17

1.2.2.

Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies

17

1.2.3.

Constituents of Environment Studies

20

1.2.4.

Scope of Environmental Studies

21

1.2.5.

Objectives of Environmental Studies According to UNESCO (1971)

22

1.2.6.

Need for Environmental Science/Public Awareness

22

1.2.7.

Importance of Environmental Studies

23

1.2.8.

Challenges of the Environmental Studies

24

1.3.

Natural Resources

25

1.3.1.

Introduction

25

1.3.2.

Classification of Natural Resources

26

1.3.3.

Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

27

1.3.4.

Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources

29

1.3.5.

Types of Natural Resources

31

1.4.

Forest Resources

31

1.4.1.

Introduction

31

1.4.2.

Functions of Forests

32

1.4.3.

Use and Importance of Forests

32

1.4.4.

Associated Problems of Forests

33

1.4.4.1.

Deforestation

33

1.4.4.2.

Timber Extraction

34

1.4.4.3.

Mining

36

1.4.5.

Forest Conservation and Management

37

1.5.

Water Resources

38

1.5.1.

Introduction

38

1.5.2.

Types of Water Resources

39

1.5.3.

Use and Over-exploitation of Surface & Ground Water

39

1.5.4.

Associated Problems with Water Resources

41

1.5.4.1.

Floods

41

1.5.4.2.

Drought

41

1.5.4.3.

Conflicts over Water (International and Inter-State)

41

1.5.5.

Water Conservation and Management

42

1.6.

Mineral Resources

43

1.6.1.

Introduction

43

1.6.2.

Types of Mineral Resources

43

1.6.3.

Uses and Exploitation of Mineral Resources

44

1.6.4.

Environmental Effects of Extracting and Using Mineral Resources

45

1.6.5.

Associated Problems with Mineral Resources

46

1.6.6.

Minerals Conservation and Management

46

1.7.

Food Resources

47

1.7.1.

Introduction

47

1.7.2.

Causes of Scarcity of Food Resources

48

1.7.3.

Associated Problems with Food Resources

49

1.7.3.1.

Overgrazing

49

1.7.3.2.

Agriculture

49

1.7.3.3.

Fertilizer Problems

49

1.7.3.4.

Pesticide Problems

50

1.7.4.

Food Conservation and Management

51

1.8.

Energy Resources

52

1.8.1.

Introduction

52

1.8.2.

Classification of Energy Resources

52

1.8.3.

Associated Problems with Energy Resources

53

1.8.4.

Conventional Energy Resources

54

1.8.4.1.

Fossil Fuels

54

1.8.4.2.

Nuclear Energy

55

1.8.4.3.

Hydroelectric Energy

55

1.8.5.

Non-Conventional Energy Resources

56

1.8.5.1.

Wind Energy

56

1.8.5.2.

Bio-Fuel

57

1.8.5.3.

Solar Energy

58

1.8.5.4.

Tidal Energy

59

1.8.5.5.

Hydrogen Fuel Energy

59

1.8.5.6.

Geothermal Energy

60

1.8.6.

Energy Conservation and Management

61

1.9.

Land Resources

63

1.9.1.

Introduction

63

1.9.2.

Land as a Resource

63

1.9.3.

Land Degradation: Associated Problems with Land Resources: Land Degradation

64

1.9.3.1.

Landslides

65

1.9.3.2.

Soil Erosion

66

1.9.3.3.

Desertification

68

1.9.4.

Conservation of Land Resources

69

1.10.

Exercise

70

Unit 2: Ecosystem

2.1.

Ecosystem

71

2.1.1.

Concept of an Ecosystem

71

2.1.2.

Difference Between Biome and Ecosystem

71

2.1.3.

Structure of Ecosystem

72

2.1.3.1.

Abiotic Components

72

2.1.3.2.

Biotic Components

72

2.1.4.

Functions of Ecosystem

74

2.1.5.

Energy Flow in the Ecosystem

75

2.1.6.

Ecological Succession

76

2.1.6.1.

Factors of Ecological Succession

76

2.1.6.2.

Stages of Ecological Succession

77

2.1.6.3.

Types of Ecological Succession

78

2.1.7.

Ecological Pyramids

79

2.1.7.1.

Pyramid of Number

80

2.1.7.2.

Pyramid of Biomass

80

2.1.7.3.

Pyramid of Energy

81

2.1.8.

Food Chains

82

2.1.8.1.

Types of Food Chains

83

2.1.8.2.

Importance of Food Chains

84

2.1.9.

Food Webs

85

2.1.9.1.

Kinds of Food Webs

85

2.1.9.2.

Difference between Food Web and Food Chain

86

2.2.

Types of Ecosystem

86

2.3.

Forest Ecosystem

87

2.3.1.

Introduction

87

2.3.2.

Characteristics/Features of Forest Ecosystem

88

2.3.3.

Structure of Forest Ecosystem

88

2.3.4.

Functions of Forest Ecosystem

89

2.3.5.

Types of Forests

90

2.4.

Grassland Ecosystem

91

2.4.1.

Introduction

91

2.4.2.

Characteristics/Features of Grassland Ecosystem

91

2.4.3.

Structure of Grassland Ecosystem

92

2.4.4.

Functions of Grassland Ecosystem

93

2.4.5.

Types of Grassland Ecosystem

93

2.5.

Desert Ecosystem

93

2.5.1.

Introduction

93

2.5.2.

Characteristics/Features of Desert Ecosystem

94

2.5.3.

Structure of Desert Ecosystem

95

2.5.4.

Functions of Deserts Ecosystem

96

2.5.5.

Types of Desert Ecosystem

96

2.6.

Aquatic Ecosystem

97

2.6.1.

Introduction

97

2.6.2.

Features of Aquatic Ecosystem

97

2.6.3.

Structure of Aquatic Ecosystem

98

2.6.4.

Functions of Aquatic Ecosystem

99

2.6.5.

Types of Aquatic Ecosystem

100

2.6.5.1.

Pond Ecosystem

100

2.6.5.2.

Stream and River Ecosystem

101

2.6.5.3.

Lake Ecosystem

101

2.6.5.4.

Ocean Ecosystem

101

2.6.5.5.

Estuaries Ecosystem

102

2.6.5.6.

Marine Ecosystem

102

2.7.

Bio-Diversity

103

2.7.1.

Meaning and Definition of Bio-Diversity

103

2.7.2.

Levels of Bio-diversity

103

2.7.2.1.

Genetic Diversity

104

2.7.2.2.

Species Diversity

104

2.7.2.3.

Ecosystem Diversity

104

2.7.3.

Importance of Bio-Diversity

105

2.7.4.

Biodiversity Conservation

106

2.7.4.1.

In-situ Method of Conservation of Bio-diversity

106

2.7.4.2.

Ex-situ Method of Conservation of Bio-diversity

107

2.8.

Nutrient/Biogeochemical Cycle

109

2.8.1.

Definition of Biogeochemical Cycle

109

2.8.2.

Types of Nutrient Cycle

109

2.8.3.

Carbon Cycle

109

2.8.4.

Nitrogen cycle

110

2.8.5.

Oxygen Cycle

110

2.8.6.

Hydrologic or Water Cycle

111

2.9.

Exercise

112

Unit 3: Environmental Pollution

3.1.

Pollution

113

3.1.1.

Meaning and Definition of Pollution

113

3.1.2.

Effects of Pollution

113

3.1.3.

Role of an Individual in Prevention of Pollution

114

3.1.4.

Types/Kinds of Pollution

114

3.2.

Air Pollution

115

3.2.1.

Introduction

115

3.2.2.

Air Pollutants

116

3.2.3.

Causes of Air Pollution

116

3.2.4.

Effects of Air Pollution

117

3.2.5.

Control Measures for Air Pollution

118

3.3.

Water Pollution

118

3.3.1.

Introduction

118

3.3.2.

Water Pollutants

119

3.3.3.

Causes of Water Pollution

120

3.3.4.

Effects of Water Pollution

120

3.3.5.

Control Measures for Water Pollution

122

3.3.6.

Wastewater Management

122

3.3.6.1.

Types of Wastewater

123

3.3.6.2.

Wastewater Treatment System

123

3.4.

Soil Pollution

124

3.4.1.

Introduction

124

3.4.2.

Soil Pollutants

124

3.4.3.

Causes of Soil Pollution

125

3.4.4.

Effects of Soil Pollution

126

3.4.5.

Control Measures for Soil Pollution

127

3.5.

Noise Pollution

127

3.5.1.

Introduction

127

3.5.2.

Causes of Noise Pollution

128

3.5.3.

Effects of Noise Pollution

129

3.5.4.

Control Measures for Noise Pollution

129

3.6.

Green House Effect

130

3.6.1.

Introduction

130

3.6.2.

Process of Greenhouse Effect

132

3.6.3.

Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and their Sources

132

3.6.4.

Causes of the Greenhouse Effect

133

3.6.5.

Control Measures for Green House Effect

133

3.7.

Acid Rain

134

3.7.1.

Introduction

134

3.7.2.

Causes of Acid Rain

135

3.7.3.

Control Measures for Acid Rain

135

3.7.4.

Impact of Acid Rain

135

3.7.4.1.

Impact of Acid Rain on Human Communities

135

3.7.4.2.

Impact of Acid Rain on Agriculture

136

3.8.

Global Warming

137

3.8.1.

Introduction

137

3.8.2.

Causes of Global Warming

137

3.8.3.

Effects of Global Warming

138

3.8.4.

Control Measures for Global Warming

139

3.9.

Ozone Layer Depletion

140

3.9.1.

Introduction

140

3.9.2.

Causes of Ozone Layer Depletion

140

3.9.3.

Control Measures of Ozone Layer Depletion

141

3.10.

Exercise

141