Table of Contents
- What is the Environment?
- Types of Ecosystem
- Importance of Environment
- Impact of Human Activities on the Environment
What is the Environment?
An Environment is everything that is around us, which includes both living and nonliving things such as soil, water, animals and plants, which adapt themselves to their surroundings. It is nature’s gift that helps in nourishing life on Earth.
The environment plays an important role in the existence of life on the planet earth. The word Environment is derived from the French word “Environ” which means “surrounding.” An ecosystem refers to all the living and non-living things present in the environment and it is a foundation of the Biosphere, which determines the health of the entire planet earth.
Ecology and Environmental science are the branches of life science, which mainly deal with the study of organisms and their interactions with other organisms and their environment.
Types of Ecosystem
There are two main types of ecosystems. Listed below are the types and examples of the ecosystem.
- Natural ecosystem – It is a naturally produced biological environment found in nature. It includes deserts, forests, grasslands, lakes, mountains, ponds, rivers, oceans, etc.
- Artificial ecosystem – It is an artificial environment which is created and maintained by man. It includes an aquarium, crop fields, gardens, parks, zoo, etc.
The components of the environment are mainly divided into two categories.
- Biotic environment–It includes all living organisms such as animals, birds, forests, insects, reptiles and microorganisms like algae, bacteria, fungus, viruses, etc.
- Abiotic environment– It includes all non-living components such as air, cloud, dust, land, mountains, rivers, temperature, humidity, water, water vapour, sand, etc.
Also refer:Biotic and Abioticcomponents
Importance of Environment
Environment plays an important role in healthy living and the existence of life on planet earth. Earth is a home for different living species and we all are dependent on the environment for food, air, water, and other needs. Therefore, it is important for every individual to save and protect our environment.
Impact of Human Activities on the Environment
There are different types of human activities which are directly attributed to the environmental disasters, which include- acid rain, acidification of oceans, change in the climate, deforestation, depletion of an ozone layer, disposal of hazardous wastes, global warming, overpopulation, pollution, etc.
Also read:Environmental Issues and Solutions
Important Questions
- What is a Natural Ecosystem?
- Why is the ecosystem important?
- Why should we conserve biodiversity short answer?
This was a brief introduction to Our Environment. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more about Environment, Environmental Issues, Ecosystem, Components of the Environment and other related topics atBYJU’S Biology
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
Define the Environment.
Environment is everything that is around us. It can be living or non-living things. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces. Living things live in their environment. They constantly interact with it and adapt themselves to the conditions in their environment.
Q2
What is an Ecosystem?
Ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work together.
Any changes in the environment such as increased temperature or heavy rains can have a big impact on an ecosystem.
Q3
Difference Between Environment and Ecosystem.
Environment refers to the surroundings, whereas, an ecosystem is an interaction between the environment and the living organisms. The environment is the area where living organisms live. An ecosystem is a community where the biotic and abiotic elements interact with each other.
Q4
What are the types of ecosystems?
The types of ecosystems are:
a) Terrestrial ecosystems:
Forest Ecosystem
Grassland Ecosystem
Tundra Ecosystem
Desert Ecosystem
b) Aquatic Ecosystem:
Freshwater Ecosystem
Marine Ecosystem
