Ecology and Environment: Introduction, Definition and Important Facts

Ecology encompasses how organisms interact with both their physical surroundings and other living entities within those environments. Organisms and their environments have a mutual reliance, where alterations in the environment impact organisms, and conversely, organisms influence their surroundings.

An ecosystem serves as the fundamental operational and structural entity of ecology. It comprises a community of living organisms interconnected with non-living components, engaging in energy exchanges and the circulation of nutrients.

Key Terms: Biotic, abiotic, conservation, ecosystems, environment, ecology

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Components of Ecosystem and Environment

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Following are the different components of the Ecosystem and Environment.

1. Biotic Components:

Biotic components include all the living things that exist on the Earth and helps the ecosystem to balance the life cycle. The important factors of biotic components that balance the life cycle and food chain on Earth are as follows:

Producers: All the plants and the sources that produce food by using the photosynthesis process are called Producers.

Consumers: Consumers are divided into two groups i.e. Herbivorous and Carnivorous. Herbivorous are directly dependent upon producers and carnivorous are dependent upon herbivorous.

Decomposers: Decomposers play a vital role in the whole life cycle and food chain on the earth as they synthesize the dead animals.

2. Abiotic Components:

Abiotic components include the following inorganic factors:

• Air
• Water
• Soil

​Read more: Difference between Biome and Ecosystems

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Types of Ecosystem

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Following are the two types of ecosystems.

1. Terrestrial Ecosystem:

The terrestrial ecosystem is only found on the mainland of the earth. The terrestrial ecosystem is again reduced to several sub ecosystems as follows:

• Mountain ecosystem
• Desert ecosystem
• Forest ecosystem
• Grassland ecosystem

2. Aquatic Ecosystem:

An aquatic ecosystem is only found in the water. An aquatic ecosystem is further divided into two sub ecosystems as follows:

• Freshwater Ecosystem: It is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and dams.
• Ocean Ecosystem: It is found in seas and oceans.

Read more: biomes

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Terms used in Ecology and Environment

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Following are the different terms used in Ecosystem and Environment.

1. Organisms:

Organisms are living things that perform various functions to keep the food chain progressive and alive. Many organisms act as a decomposer to convert the dead bodies in the form of gases like nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Sometimes organisms also spread different diseases.

2. Population:

Ecosystem and environment are comprised of different populations including biomes and organisms. Students should pay more attention to different population interaction theories, attributes, habitat, and ecological adaptation during their preparation.

100. Ecosystem:

The ecosystem is a geographical functional area where living things and nonliving things or organic or inorganic materials collaborate to maintain the life cycle and food chain. Following are the important key points of the ecosystem that students should study well:

• Patterns and components of the ecosystem
• Pyramids of numbers, biomass, and productivity
• Primary and secondary ecological succession
• Ecological services

500. Biodiversity:

Biodiversity is the biological variety present on the earth which consists of all organisms, animals, plants, and humans. There are four different types of biodiversity as follows:

• Genetic diversity
• Species diversity
• Ecosystem diversity
• Functional diversity

5. Conservation

Nowadays, deforestation, pollution, and bushfire are at their peak. Every day millions of trees are cut down by humans. So, the conservation of biodiversity is a prime responsibility of all human beings.

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Important Topics in Ecology and Environment

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Following are the important topics in Ecology and Environment for the preparation for the 12th board exam.

• Environmental Issues
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Ozone Depletion
• Greenhouse 
• Effects and Global Warming
• Agrochemicals and their effects
• Solid Waste Management

Read more: Mutation 

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Preparation Tips

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Following are the preparation tips for the 12th Board exam students to prepare Ecology and Environment:

All the students should solve the previous year's question papers of Ecology and Environment and keep practicing different forms of questions.

Study from multiple sources so that ample information will be available to understand the different concepts of Ecology and Environment.

Visit the website of United Nations to know more about the current affairs regarding climate change.

Students should thoroughly read the textbook frequently to prepare well for the exams.

Read More:

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Previous Years Questions

1. Which is wrong with respect to our responsibility as a human being to protect our environment? [JEE Mains 2019]
2. BOD stands for? [JEE Mains 2016]
3. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) value can be a measure of water pollution caused by the…? [JEE Mains 2016]
4. Ozone is destroyed by CFCs in the upper stratosphere Ozone holes increase the amount of UV…? [JEE Mains 2019]
5. Addition of phosphate fertilisers to water bodies causes? [JEE Mains 2015]
6. A water sample has ppm level concentration of the following metals…? [JEE Mains 2019]
7. Energy transfer from one trophic level to other...[NEET 1999]
8. the rate of production of organic matter by consumers….​[NEET 2012]
9. About 70% of total global carbon is found in...[NEET 2008]