13. Our Environment
The chapter explores the interconnections within ecosystems and the impact of human activities on the environment. It delves into the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers while highlighting the importance of maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Additionally, it examines the issues of ozone layer depletion and waste management, emphasizing the significance of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste on environmental health.
Enroll to start learning
You've not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Sections
Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.
What we have learnt
- The various components of an ecosystem are interdependent.
- The producers make the energy from sunlight available to the rest of the ecosystem.
- There is a loss of energy as we go from one trophic level to the next, which limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain.
- Human activities have an impact on the environment.
- The use of chemicals like CFCs has endangered the ozone layer. Since the ozone layer protects against ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, this could damage the environment.
- The waste we generate may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable.
- The disposal of the waste we generate is causing serious environmental problems.
Key Concepts
- -- Ecosystem
- A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their physical environment.
- -- Trophic Levels
- Levels in a food chain where organisms are grouped based on how they obtain energy, such as producers and consumers.
- -- Biological Magnification
- The process whereby harmful substances accumulate in the bodies of organisms at increasing levels as one moves up the food chain.
- -- Biodegradable
- Substances that can be broken down by biological processes, thus preventing harm to the environment.
- -- Nonbiodegradable
- Substances that do not break down naturally and can accumulate, posing environmental hazards.
Additional Learning Materials
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.