Environmental Science &

Sustainability

Dr. Ruchi Singhal

Associate professor
 Unit- 1
Environmental Studies Meaning,
Nature, Scope, Importance and
Limitations
 Ecosystems
• An ecosystem is a dynamic community of living organisms and their physical
environment interacting as a functional unit. It includes all living and non-living
components of a specific environment, such as a forest, a lake, or a grassland.
Understanding ecosystems is essential to understand how natural systems function
and how they can be managed sustainably.

Structure of Ecosystems:
• An ecosystem is made up of two main components: biotic and abiotic. The biotic
component includes all living organisms within the ecosystem, such as plants,
animals, and microorganisms. The abiotic component includes all non-living
components, such as soil, water, air, and climate.
• Within an ecosystem, organisms interact with each other and with their
environment in various ways. These interactions can be categorized into three main
types: producers, consumers, and decomposers.
 Ecosystems
• An ecosystem is a dynamic community of living organisms and their physical
environment interacting as a functional unit. It includes all living and non-living
components of a specific environment, such as a forest, a lake, or a grassland.
Understanding ecosystems is essential to understand how natural systems function
and how they can be managed sustainably.

Structure of Ecosystems:
• An ecosystem is made up of two main components: biotic and abiotic. The biotic
component includes all living organisms within the ecosystem, such as plants,
animals, and microorganisms. The abiotic component includes all non-living
components, such as soil, water, air, and climate.
• Within an ecosystem, organisms interact with each other and with their
environment in various ways. These interactions can be categorized into three main
types: producers, consumers, and decomposers.
 Ecosystems
• Producers: Producers, or autotrophs, are organisms that can produce their food
using energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis. They are the
foundation of the food chain and provide energy for all other organisms within the
ecosystem. Examples of producers include plants, algae, and some bacteria.
• Consumers: Consumers, or heterotrophs, are organisms that consume other
organisms to obtain energy. There are three types of consumers: herbivores,
carnivores, and omnivores. Herbivores feed on plants, while carnivores feed on
other animals. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Examples of consumers
include lions, rabbits, and humans.
• Decomposers: Decomposers, or saprotrophs, are organisms that break down dead
organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. They play a crucial
role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem by returning essential nutrients to
the soil and water. Examples of decomposers include fungi and bacteria.
 Ecosystems
• Functions of Ecosystems:

Ecosystems provide several critical functions that support life on Earth. These
functions can be categorized into four main types: provisioning, regulating,
cultural, and supporting.
• Provisioning Services: Provisioning services include the goods and resources that
ecosystems provide, such as food, water, timber, and medicinal plants. These
services are essential for human survival and well-being.
• Regulating Services: Regulating services include the processes that ecosystems
perform that regulate environmental conditions, such as air and water quality,
climate, and natural hazards. These services are essential for maintaining a healthy
and functional ecosystem.
 Ecosystems
• Cultural Services: Cultural services include the non-material benefits that
ecosystems provide, such as recreational opportunities, aesthetic value, and
spiritual significance. These services contribute to human well-being and quality of
life.
• Supporting Services: Supporting services include the processes that underpin all
other ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, soil formation, and pollination.
These services are essential for the functioning and productivity of ecosystems.
 Ecosystems
• Threats to Ecosystems :
• Ecosystems around the world are facing numerous threats that are causing
significant ecological and social impacts. These threats can be categorized into
several main types: habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation
of resources, and invasive species.
• Habitat Destruction: Habitat destruction occurs when natural habitats are altered
or destroyed, usually by human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and
agriculture. This threatens the survival of many species and can lead to the
collapse of entire ecosystems.
• Pollution: Pollution can take many forms, including air pollution, water pollution,
and soil contamination.
 Ecosystems
• Threats to Ecosystems :
• Climate Change: Climate change is caused by human activities that increase the
concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming
and changes in precipitation patterns. This can have significant impacts on the
functioning of ecosystems, including changes in species distribution, changes in
timing of seasonal events, and increased frequency and severity of natural
disasters.