The natural environment is inclusive of all the living and the non–living things that occur naturally. The term environment covers the interaction of all the living species, climate, weather, and natural resources. All of these components have an impact on human survival and economic activities. The environment is responsible for nourishing the life that exists on the face of the earth.
The environment has a vital role to play in the existence of all life forms on this planet. The word environment finds its origin in the French word environment, which means “surrounding”. The concept of the natural environment can be classified into two significant components
The ecological units as a whole function as a natural system and is not intervened by human civilization. It is inclusive of all the vegetation, microorganisms, rocks, soil, atmosphere, etc. which occurs within their boundaries.
All the available natural resources and physical phenomena that do not have a clear and limited boundary. For instance air, water, radiation, climate, etc, and everything that does not find its origin in the actions of human civilization.
Importance of Environment
As we all know, the environment is the key to the existence of all and any life forms on Earth. However, factors like global warming, pollution, and the increasing number of industries have brought in environmental changes. There is a need to conserve the environment but for doing it first we need to understand why it is important.
Water- Which covers the largest portions of the Earth, is the essential medium for all the reactions and physiological processes of the body. If water gets contaminated with waste and toxins or microorganisms which cause diseases, then it will be a great risk drinking the same.
Soil- Another important component is soil which supports the growth of all the vegetation. It is also considered a vital source for metals, several chemicals, etc. Thus, it becomes important to conserve the soil for better living.
Plants- Plants and trees providers of oxygen without which neither animals nor humans can survive. They are the ones that can help in reducing the global warming component, CO2, from the environment and provide a clean environment. With the destruction of the environment around us, the plants are being destroyed too and immediate steps are necessary for their conservation.
Food, Shelter, and Clothing- The daily needs of food and shelter, which are very basic for all animals and humans, are derived from the environment around us. With the destruction of the environment, we are also destroying the source of all our basic needs.
Ecosystems and its Types
The ecosystem is the term used for a natural unit that includes all the plants, animals, and microorganisms in a particular area. All the living factors of the ecosystem function together with the non–living (physical) factors of the environment. The basic idea which acts as the center of the concept of ecosystem is that the living organisms are interrelated with all the other elements of the environment. The term ecosystem is also applicable to the human-made environment, like the human ecosystem or human-influenced ecosystems.
There are mainly two types of ecosystems – natural ecosystems and artificial ecosystems. The natural ecosystem can be segregated into “biomes”. The three major types are discussed below:
Aquatic Biomes- The aquatic biomes are the ones that are related to the water bodies like oceans, rivers, seas, lakes, ponds, etc. The aquatic biome is further divided into –
Pond Ecosystem- The pond ecosystems are small and consist of amphibians and insects. Fishes are also found in this type of ecosystem.
River Ecosystem- This kind of ecosystem includes fish, marine plants, amphibians, and insects. The birds that hunt and survive on the food available in the water are also a part of this ecosystem.
Shallow water Ecosystem- The components of this kind of ecosystem are small fish and corals.
Deepwater Ecosystem- this kind of ecosystem can be found in the bottom of seas and oceans and is occupied by large sea creatures like whales and sharks.
Terrestrial Biomes- Terrestrial ecosystems include lands with forests, deserts, tundras, coasts, etc. The division of this ecosystem is as follows:
Rainforests- The rainforest ecosystems are very densely populated due to the large variety of organisms living in them.
Tundra- It is a simple ecosystem as due to the harsh and cold conditions, not many life forms can survive here.
Deserts- The deserts are the exact opposite of the Tundra ecosystem. The temperature here is very high and vegetation is scarce.
Forests- There exist various types of forests around the globe, like deciduous or coniferous forests. Forests are a complex ecosystem supporting a variety of life forms.
Lentic Biomes- This type of ecosystem is known for supporting both aquatic and terrestrial life forms, for instance, swamps.
Artificial Ecosystem- It is the artificial environment that has been created and maintained by man such as gardens, aquariums etc.
Structure of Ecosystem- The structure of an ecosystem is the description of the organisms and physical features of the environment. This also includes the quantity and distribution of energy in the environment. It can be divided into –
Abiotic Component- The abiotic component encompasses the inorganic elements and compounds like air, water, calcium carbonates etc. which are the – products of organic activities.
Biotic Component- The biotic components take into consideration all the living organisms present in an ecosystem.
Summary
The natural environment is inclusive of all the living and the non–living things that occur naturally.
The environment is very crucial for the existence of the living life forms and thus, needs to be conserved.
The ecosystem is the term used for a natural unit that includes all the plants, animals, and microorganisms in a particular area.
There are mainly two types of ecosystems – natural ecosystems and artificial ecosystems.
There are two components of the ecosystem – biotic and abiotic.
FAQs on Our Environment
1. What are the effects of global warming?
A large multinational team of scientists is increasingly studying the consequences of global warming. These researchers are becoming increasingly concerned about the long-term repercussions of global warming on our natural environment and the planet. Climate change and global warming-induced anthropogenic, or human-generated, releases of greenhouse gases, most notably carbon dioxide, are of particular concern because they can interact and have negative consequences for the planet, its natural environment, and human existence. It is undeniable that the world is warming, and rapidly. This is due to the greenhouse effect, which is created by greenhouse gases that trap heat inside the Earth's atmosphere due to their more complicated chemical structure, which allows them to vibrate and trap heat before releasing it back to the Earth. This warming is also causing the extinction of natural ecosystems, resulting in a decrease in wildlife populations. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a group of the world's top climate experts) has released a report predicting that the earth will warm by 2.7 to nearly 11 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 to 6 degrees Celsius) between 1990 and 2100.
2. What is the human effect on water?
Humans have an impact on water in a variety of ways, including damming rivers and channelizing streams, urbanization, and deforestation. Lake levels, groundwater conditions, water pollution, thermal pollution, and marine pollution are all affected by these factors. Humans alter rivers by modifying the channels directly. Dams and reservoirs are built, and rivers and water paths are manipulated. Dams can be used to build reservoirs and generate hydroelectric power. Reservoirs and dams, on the other hand, may hurt the environment and wildlife. Dams obstruct fish migration and creature movement downstream. Due to deforestation and changing lake levels, groundwater conditions, and other factors, urbanization has an impact on the environment. Deforestation and urbanization are inextricably linked. Flooding decreased streamflow, and changes in riverfront vegetation may all result from deforestation. When trees do not receive enough water, they begin to decay, resulting in a reduction in the amount of food available to wildlife in a given region.
3. What is meant by biomes?
Biomes, which are climatically and geographically defined areas of ecologically similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, are commonly referred to as ecosystems and are terminologically similar to the idea of ecosystems. Plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, and savanna), and climate are all used to describe biomes. Biomes are not characterized by genetic, taxonomic, or historical similarities, unlike biogeographic domains. Ecological succession and climax vegetation patterns are frequently used to identify biomes.
4. What are the physical effects of climate change?
The climate system has warmed, according to a wide range of evidence. The graphs (below right) from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration demonstrate evidence of global warming (NOAA). Some of the graphs show a positive tendency, such as rising temperatures on land and at sea, as well as rising sea levels. Other graphs show a negative trend, such as falling Arctic sea ice and decreased snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere, both of which are signs of global warming. Warming is also visible in living (biological) systems, such as shifts in vegetation and animal distribution towards the poles.
Warming caused by humans has the potential to cause large-scale, rapid, and/or permanent changes in physical systems. The melting of ice sheets is an example of this, as it contributes to sea level rise and will continue for thousands of years. With the rate, size, and duration of climate change, the likelihood of unintended consequences grows.
5. What are the steps needed to be taken to protect our natural environment?
The steps needed to be taken to protect our natural environment are:
Pollution and toxicants in the air, water, soil, buildings, manufactured items, and food must be eliminated.
Biodiversity preservation and endangered species conservation. Water, land, air, energy, raw materials, and natural resources are all subject to conservation and sustainable use.
Stopping human-caused global warming, which causes pollution, threatens biodiversity, and puts human populations at risk.
Pollution, global warming, and sustainability are all addressed by switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy in electricity, heating and cooling, and transportation. This might include public transportation and distributed generating, both of which provide traffic-calming and electric-reliability benefits.
To help minimize biodiversity loss and climate change, people are switching from meat-intensive diets to mostly plant-based diets.
Nature reserves should be established for recreational interests as well as ecosystem maintenance.
Waste reduction (or even zero waste), reuse, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy, and anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge are all examples of sustainable and less polluting waste management.
Reducing wasteful consumption and enforcing laws against illicit fishing and logging
Human population growth is slowing and stabilizing.
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