TS-5: ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Course Code: TS-5 Programme: BTS

Total Marks: 100 Assignment Code: TS-5/TMA/2022
Note: Attempt any five in about 600 words each. Each question carries 20 marks.
Send your TMA to the Coordinator of your Study Centre.

1. Discuss the concept of environment and its conservation in the Indian philosophical tradition. 20

2. What do you understand by Ecosystem? Explain the different components of the ecosystem. 20

3. What are the different Biomes of India? How can the biomes be used as a tool for Tourism Promotion?
Support your answer with suitable examples. 20

4. Define Biodiversity. Explain the relationship between Biodiversity and Tourism Industry with the help
of examples. 20

5. Differentiate between the following: 4 X 5=20

i) Abiotic and Biotic Environment
ii) Food Chain and Food Web
iii) Commensalism and Mutualism
iv) Temperate Deciduous Forests and Tropical Deciduous Forests
v) Hill Tourism and Coastal Resorts

6. What is resource partitioning? Explain its ecological significance with the help of examples. 20

7. What do you understand by the term ‘Community’ and ‘Regional Assets’? Explain the inter-
relationship between the two with the help of examples. 20

8. Explain the concept of Alternative tourism with appropriate examples. 20

9. Discuss the impact of tourism activities on the Environment. Suggest possible ways to minimize
negative environmental impact of tourism. 20

10. Write short notes on any two of the following: 2X10 = 20

i) Multiplier Effect
ii) Wetland
iii) Carrying Capacity
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TS-5: ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM

Course Code: TS-5 Programme: BTS
Total Marks: 100 Assignment Code: TS-5/TMA/2022
Note: Attempt any five in about 600 words each. Each question carries 20 marks.

Send your TMA to the Coordinator of your Study Centre.

1. Discuss the concept of environment and its conservation in the Indian philosophical tradition. 20

Ans :- Although human beings are considered the most smart lifestyles form on the earth, they're answerable
for most of the damage executed to planet earth.

In India and somewhere else, as recognition of smooth water needs, pollution of air, water and soil,
international warming, species extinction, and so forth creates urgency for motion, non secular thinkers and
activists have all started to reflect on how the values of Indian lifestyle might make contributions to fostering
greater take care of earth’s ecology.

Environmental in Indian idea isn't conceived as a physical, lifeless entity- it is very residing mechanism wherein
humans are one of the many living creatures. There is also a brilliant emphasis on variation as one of the guiding
principles for an interplay among human and non- human international.

It has been argued with the aid of historic Indian philosophers that guy being an wise creature have to have the
safety of surroundings as one of the fundamental responsibilities. The fragility of the environment has also been
carefully pressured in such discourses.

The principal cosmic-vision is absolutely included in one-of-a-kind but related traditions- the oral and textual.
While the reflections of the oral lifestyle are greater centered on exercise, the textual tradition gives a entire
and systemic evaluation of the universe.

The Indian textual way of life assumes that, just like the rest of the material international, man is manufactured
from elements which at loss of life disintegrate and dissolve into nature. At the maximum general ranges there
are nine tatvas or factors; Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Sky, Time, guidelines, Mind and Soil. Indian mythology explains
that elements originate in levels. Water, Earth and sky come first; aquatic animals and birds second; land 0.33;
air or wind fourth and eventually hearth.

Indian concept explains Environment as a given entity that is transcendental in nature. It perceives that there is
life in all kinds of things, it might be biotic or non-biotic cloth. There is more emphasis on mutual dependence
wherein residing in isolation become now not possible. Environment has been perceived as a friendly
homestead.It was considered very good to live in forest where one can experience environment in its purest
form. Living in urban centers, which is natural- man made living, was given secondary position. It was perceived
that nature can satisfy everybody’s need if one maintains harmony with the given environment.
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Even in different stages of human life in Hindu philosophy, shifting to forest in older age was given importance
which is commonly known as “Vanaprastha”. A Vanaprastha (Sanskrit ) is a person who is living in the forest as a
hermit after partially giving up material desires.

This word is generally used to denote a particular phase of life in the Vedic ashram system when a person is
between the ages of 50 and 74. In this phase of life, the person is in a retreat from worldly life. He lives away
from the city, in a jungle as a hermit, with as little material possessions as possible. This stage denotes a
transition phase from material to spiritual life.

When a householder is considered to be older or advanced in years, perceiving his skin become wrinkled, his
hair turns gray, and has grandchildren, the time is said to have come for him to enter the third stage of life, or
vanaprastha. It is said that he should now disengage himself from all family ties, except that his wife may
accompany him, if she chooses.

Ancient Indian felt Brahman (not caste) presence in everything around them. Since these divine forces sustained
all living creatures and organic things on this earth, to please God, they felt they must live in harmony with His
creation including earth, rivers, forests, sun, air, and mountains. This belief spawned many rituals that are still
followed by traditional Indians. For example, before the foundation of a building is dug, a priest is invited to
perform the Bhoomi Pooja in order to worship and appease mother earth and seek forgiveness for violating her.
Certain plants, tries and rivers were considered sacred, and worshipped in festivals.

Oral traditions form the basic method by which we come to know about the knowledge which has not been
codified. They also help us to understand those societies, for which we have very limited textual information.
Day-to-day human conversation carries the glimpses of ancient past.

In oral tradition in India, environment has been perceived as a living being which breathes, feels, protects etc.
Environment is a friendly entity.

The animals and forms are one of the basic components of tales and oral tradition in India had created. Various
attributes of animals were identified and were used as if they are natural characteristics. Plant life provided the
base of different stories. It was always kept in mind that human survival was possible only with the conservation
of entire flora and fauna. It is also reflected in the religious practices as different animals and plants were
worshipped at different times so as to ensure their survival.

Environment in Philosophical treatises-

The Indian textual tradition conceives environment as a system with life which has synchronized the complex
inter-relationship of numerous living and non-living entities. Even the abiotic world has been perceived as a
living creature with a soul. It is a very significant concept as it placed man as equal to every other element of our
environment. The Indian thought greatly emphasizes upon a very cordial relationship among all the elements of
our world. To highlight the importance of various components of our environment, various rituals have been
institutionalized. These rituals ensured that we treated even the non-living world with great care and maintain a
harmony.
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2. What do you understand by Ecosystem? Explain the different components of the ecosystem. 20

Ans :- An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and
landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems contain biotic or living, parts, as well as abiotic
factors, or nonliving parts. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and other organisms. Abiotic factors include
rocks, temperature, and humidity.

Every factor in an ecosystem depends on every other factor, either directly or indirectly. A change in the
temperature of an ecosystem will often affect what plants will grow there, for instance. Animals that depend on
plants for food and shelter will have to adapt to the changes, move to another ecosystem, or perish.

Ecosystems can be very large or very small. Tide pools, the ponds left by the ocean as the tide goes out, are
complete, tiny ecosystems. Tide pools contain seaweed, a kind of algae, which uses photosynthesis to create
food. Herbivores such as abalone eat the seaweed. Carnivores such as sea stars eat other animals in the tide
pool, such as clams or mussels. Tide pools depend on the changing level of ocean water. Some organisms, such
as seaweed, thrive in an aquatic environment, when the tide is in and the pool is full. Other organisms, such as
hermit crabs, cannot live underwater and depend on the shallow pools left by low tides. In this way, the biotic
parts of the ecosystem depend on abiotic factors.

The whole surface of Earth is a series of connected ecosystems. Ecosystems are often connected in a larger
biome. Biomes are large sections of land, sea, or atmosphere. Forests, ponds, reefs, and tundra are all types of
biomes, for example. They're organized very generally, based on the types of plants and animals that live in
them. Within each forest, each pond, each reef, or each section of tundra, you'll find many different ecosystems.

The biome of the Sahara Desert, for instance, includes a wide variety of ecosystems. The arid climate and hot
weather characterize the biome. Within the Sahara are oasis ecosystems, which have date palm trees,
freshwater, and animals such as crocodiles. The Sahara also has dune ecosystems, with the changing landscape
determined by the wind. Organisms in these ecosystems, such as snakes or scorpions, must be able to survive in
sand dunes for long periods of time. The Sahara even includes a marine environment, where the Atlantic Ocean
creates cool fogs on the Northwest African coast. Shrubs and animals that feed on small trees, such as goats, live
in this Sahara ecosystem.

Even similar-sounding biomes could have completely different ecosystems. The biome of the Sahara Desert, for
instance, is very different from the biome of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China. The Gobi is a cold desert,
with frequent snowfall and freezing temperatures. Unlike the Sahara, the Gobi has ecosystems based not in
sand, but kilometers of bare rock. Some grasses are able to grow in the cold, dry climate. As a result, these Gobi
ecosystems have grazing animals such as gazelles and even takhi, an endangered species of wild horse.
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Even the cold desert ecosystems of the Gobi are distinct from the freezing desert ecosystems of Antarctica.
Antarcticas thick ice sheet covers a continent made almost entirely of dry, bare rock. Only a few mosses grow in
this desert ecosystem, supporting only a few birds, such as skuas.

• Biotic components are the dwelling matters which have a right away or oblique have an impact on on
different organisms in an surroundings. For example flowers, animals, and microorganisms and their
waste materials.
• Abiotic components of an surroundings include all chemical and physical elements i.E. Non-residing
components. Abiotic components can range from region to vicinity, from one environment to some
other. They particularly soak up the position of lifestyles supporter. They decide and limit the populace
boom, wide variety, and variety of biotic factors in an atmosphere. Hence, they're known as restricting
elements.
• A terrestrial surroundings includes abiotic factors like weather, form of soil or rock, altitude,
temperature, vitamins, and minerals, whereas abiotic additives in an aquatic atmosphere encompass
dissolved gases, intensity of water, salinity, pH of water, light depth and many others.

3. What are the different Biomes of India? How can the biomes be used as a tool for Tourism
Promotion? Support your answer with suitable examples. 20

Ans :- 1. Tropical Rain Forest Biome:

In warm and wet climates of the tropics, this biome exits with most majestic and dense vegetation. Species
diversity and richness of life forms are maxi-mum in this biome. The species diversity is so high that often
difficult to find two individu-als of same species in close vicinity. There are lots of full trees with epiphytic growth
of mosses, ferns and orchids. The litter fall and their decomposition rate is very high in the forest. The forest is
multitier with dense canopy cover.

Tropical rain forests are common in equatorial belt in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hawaii, Amazonia, and
also in Central Africa particu-larly in Zaire basin region. In India, the rainforests are confined to North-East in
Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur. Similarly rainforest also exits in South Western
region of India, like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

2. Tropical Deciduous Forest Biome:

In tro-pics, deciduous forest is very much prominent component, where forest shed their leaves be-fore winter
onset. New flush of leaves appear after 2-3 months. These forests are not so dense as that of rainforest. There
are places, where the deciduous forest may be dry and thorny.

In India, deciduous forest biome is very much predominant in various parts. Tropical sal forest or sal with other
deciduous species is quite common. Ground cover vege-tation in deciduous forest is very significant.

3. Temperate Forest Biome:

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In mid-altitude of mountains temperate forest biome exits. It extends up to tree line of upper elevation. In
temperate region mostly broad leaved ever-green forest or needle leaved coniferous for-est or a mixture of
species prevailed. The cli-mate have high humidity and thus having epi-phytes, mosses, ferns and other lower
groups of plants.

In Himalayas, the rich biodiversity is prevailed in temperate biomes. There are a good num-ber of endemic
species of various groups which prevail in this region. In many coun-tries, plantation cups were introduced in
tem-perate climate by removing natural forest cover and there by destroying the rich endemic germplasm.

4. Boreal Coniferous Forest Biome:

This is a specialised temperate coniferous forest biome found in high mountains of Canada and Alaska. The plant
community have low statured forests mostly coniferous species with ectomycorrhizae in the roots. Soil is
somewhat acidic (4.5 to 5.0 pH) due to decomposition of needle leave litter. Often these forest also called Taiga.
Forest floor have swamps and pit bogs.

5. Temperate Grassland Biome:

It is well known that grasslands are the most extensive formations of vegetation types found all over the world
and in all ranges of climates from mesic to xeric and from cold to warm condi-tions. The temperate grasslands
are however extensive in the North America and are called as prairies.

They may be tall grass prairie, mid grass prairie and short grass prairie depend-ing upon the height of the
herbage portion. In many countries, the natural grassland is largely converted to grazing land or croplands. The
temperate grassland is dominated by graminoids followed by sedges and forbs or the non-graminoids like dicot
weeds.

Type # 6. Tundra Biomes:

These are extremely cold con-dition with alpine or subalpine habitats. Only herbs and dwarf shrubs are grown
along with mosses, lichens and creepers. Because of ex-treme cold, the soil moisture is frozen at a depth of few
centimeter from the top. This is called permafrost.

There are two kinds of tundra “Arctic tundra” in the extreme northern latitudes (north of 60ON latitudes) and
alpine tundra on mountain tops even at lesser latitudes. The re-gions is snow covered for sometime in a year.
Soils are rich in organic matter because of very slow decomposition rate.

7. Temperate and Tropical Desert Biomes:

These are two kinds of desert habitats cold desert and warm or hot desert. Rainfall is very scanty (less than 500
mm per annum) in hot desert, while frost and snow are common in cold desert. Cold desert often noticed in
temperate to subalpine region, with grasses and succulents, where as hot desert found in tropics where thorny
forest, scrubs and succulents are grown.
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West Indian desert which is a part of Thar desert is very well known hot desert, while in the Siberian region cold
desert prevails.

Ecotourism a leading way for developing countries to generate revenue by preserving their rainforests. Eco-
tourists pay to see a country's natural beauty, not the destruction caused by short-run exploitation. Money
spent directly in the local economy helps put a monetary value on forest preservation. Local people, along with
the government, can see the importance of keeping the forest intact. And many tourists are willing to pay
directly for preservation in the forms of park entrance fees and donations.

Ecotourism can provide local people with economic assistance by offering employment opportunities as wildlife
guides, park rangers, and service workers in hotels, restaurants, and lodges. With eco-tourism, income is earned
from preserving the ecosystem, and forest clearing is discouraged because it is detrimental to income. Similarly,
ecotourism can reduce the need for poaching and hunting of forest animals for income. For example, in West
Africa, former poachers are hired as park rangers since they have intimate knowledge of local animal wildlife.
Ecotourism also provides opportunities for education that might not otherwise be available, both directly in the
form of training and indirectly through conservation funds contributed to local schools.

4. Define Biodiversity. Explain the relationship between Biodiversity and Tourism Industry with the help
of examples. 20

Ans :- Biodiversity describes the richness and type of existence on earth. It is the most complicated and critical
feature of our planet. Without biodiversity, existence might not maintain.

The time period biodiversity became coined in 1985. It is essential in herbal as well as artificial ecosystems. It
offers with nature’s variety, the biosphere. It refers to variabilities among plants, animals and microorganism
species.

Biodiversity includes the variety of various organisms and their relative frequencies in an atmosphere. It also
reflects the corporation of organisms at one-of-a-kind levels.

Biodiversity holds ecological and financial significance. It gives us with nourishment, housing, fuel, garb and
several different sources. It additionally extracts monetary blessings via tourism. Therefore, it is very essential to
have an excellent expertise of biodiversity for a sustainable livelihood.

There are the following three different types of biodiversity:

• Genetic Biodiversity
• Species Biodiversity
• Ecological Biodiversity

Species diversity

Species diversity refers to the variety of different types of species found in a particular area. It is the biodiversity
at the most basic level. It includes all the species ranging from plants to different microorganisms.
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No two individuals of the same species are exactly similar. For example, humans show a lot of diversity among
themselves.

Genetic diversity

It refers to the variations among the genetic resources of the organisms. Every individual of a particular species
differs from each other in their genetic constitution. That is why every human looks different from each other.
Similarly, there are different varieties in the same species of rice, wheat, maize, barley, etc.

Ecological diversity

An ecosystem is a collection of living and non-living organisms and their interaction with each other. Ecological
biodiversity refers to the variations in the plant and animal species living together and connected by food chains
and food webs.

It is the diversity observed among the different ecosystems in a region. Diversity in different ecosystems like
deserts, rainforests, mangroves, etc., include ecological diversity.

importance Of Biodiversity

Biodiversity and its maintenance are very important for sustaining life on earth. A few of the reasons explaining
the importance of biodiversity are:

Ecological Stability

Every species has a specific role in an ecosystem. They capture and store energy and also produce and
decompose organic matter. The ecosystem supports the services without which humans cannot survive. A
diverse ecosystem is more productive and can withstand environmental stress.

Economic Importance

Biodiversity is a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, cosmetic products and pharmaceuticals.

Crops livestock, fishery, and forests are a rich source of food.

Wild plants such as Cinchona and Foxglove plant are used for medicinal purposes.

Wood, fibres, perfumes, lubricants, rubber, resins, poison and cork are all derived from different plant species.
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The national parks and sanctuaries are a source of tourism. They are a source of beauty and joy for many
people.

Ethical Importance

All the species have a right to exist. Humans should not cause their voluntary extinction. Biodiversity preserves
different cultures and spiritual heritage. Therefore, it is very important to conserve biodiversity.

Biodiversity in India

India is one of the most diverse nations in the world. It ranks ninth in terms of plant species richness. Two of the
world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots are found in India. It is the origin of important crop species such as pigeon pea,
eggplant, cucumber, cotton and sesame. India is also a centre of various domesticated species such as millets,
cereals, legumes, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic crops, etc.

6. What is resource partitioning? Explain its ecological significance with the help of examples. 20

Ans :- Resource Partitioning refers back to the division of resources to avoid interspecific opposition for
restrained resources in an surroundings. It is an evolutionary edition that allows various species coexist in an
ecological community.

Resource partitioning studies assist in figuring out the effect of the addition or removal of a species in a
particular habitat and the functioning of an ecosystem.

In an ecosystem, organisms require assets which includes nutrients and habitats to develop, reproduce and live.
There are constrained resources present in a habitat for which all organisms compete. An environment holds
hundreds of species and keeps wealthy biodiversity.

There are major types of competition; Interspecific and Intraspecific. Interspecific opposition refers back to the
competition for assets amongst people of different species, whereas intraspecific opposition refers back to the
competition within a species. Similar species have similar necessities and compete for sources.

In interspecific opposition, if two species compete for the identical resources, then both the weaker species end
up extinct or occupy a one-of-a-kind niche.

Niche is the useful or ecological position performed with the aid of an organism in an environment. It defines
the set of situations including food, environmental elements, interactions, and so forth. Required for a species
to live on. If two species compete for a restrained useful resource and utilise it within the same way, i.E. Occupy
the identical area of interest, then they can not coexist.

Resource partitioning is an evolutionary adaptation to reduce opposition and favours coexistence.

Examples of Resource Partitioning

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Resource partitioning helps in dividing limited resources so that different species utilise the different parts of a
resource, slightly different resources or the same resource at different times or at different places in order to
meet their requirements.

Habitat Partitioning

It refers to occupying different microhabitats within a habitat to reduce competition for resources by different
species. E.g. Different anole lizard species found on the island of Puerto Rico have similar requirements for food.
They occupy different areas of habitat such as some live on forest floors and some on the trees, shrubs, etc. This
way, resource partitioning helps in reducing interspecific competition and helps in their coexistence.

Food Partitioning

Different species may consume different parts of a food resource, e.g. some may eat the leaves or stem and
some may eat fruits or nectar of plants. Thus, different species coexist and are able to satisfy their needs from
the limited resources present. Some species are active during the daytime and some are more active during the
night. Thus, resource partitioning helps in the coexistence of different species.

E.g. Different species of bumblebees present in the mountains of Colorado are adapted to derive nectar from
flowers of different species of plants based on the length of the corolla. The length of the proboscis of different
species of bumblebee species is in accordance with the corolla length to facilitate nectar consumption.

Therefore, resource partitioning helps in the coexistence of species in the same habitat. This explains how
similar species survive the competition in an ecological niche and do n