Ecology : Ecology is concerned with the study of plants and animals in relation to their environment.
Ecological Spectrum
Under the heading of ecological spectrum we have to study the following aspects :
(1) Populations : In a given area we study plants and animals of one species. In other words population includes individuals of one particular species, in a given area.
(2) Communities (or Biocoenoses) : Under the communities head we study all the populations in a given area. The community comprises all types of organisms in a given area.
(3) The ecosystems : The ecosystem deals with the the communities and the abiotic environment in a given area. The interrelationships between the communities and the abiotic environment in a given area are shown in the study of the ecosystem. In the ecosystem, we study the organisms interaction with one another, and they also interact with the environment.
(4) Biosphere (or Ecosphere) : Biosphere deals with regions of the earth, where the ecosystems, operate, constitute the biosphere. In biosphere a study is made about the atmosphere, the lithosphere and the hydrosphere. The atmosphere contains the earth’s mantle up to 15 kms height from the surface of earth, containing the atmospheric ambient air. The lithosphere is the outer part of the earth’s crust, which is about 80 kms in thickness. The hydrosphere comprise the study of the organisms living in water. There are three divisions of the biosphere and are called biocycles, which are as follows :
(a) Terrestrial (or land) biocycle : This is concerned with the land areas including atmosphere. Plants and animals living on land are called terrestrial plants and animals respectively.
(b) Limnetic (or fresh water) biocycle : This biocycle is substantially negligible and is the smallest biocycle with fresh water formations.
(c) Marine (or seas biocycle) : This is the biggest biocycle. The seas constitute about ¾ of the surface area of the earth. Varieties of plants and animals are found in the different seas. The flora and fauna of the seas is very rich.
Branches of ecology
(1) Autecology : This branch is related with the study of individual species, and organisms in relation to their environment.
(2) Synecology (or community ecology) : It is related with the study of communities in relation to their environments.
(3) Population ecology : In population ecology the groups of organisms of the same species in relation to their environment are studied.
Species and population
The individual organism is a complete entity that can carry out its body functions independently and produce species to maintain continuity.
A population is defined as aggregation of individuals of one kind living in a definite area.
The individuals of one kind which morphologically and genetically resemble to each other and interbreed to produce a fertile offspring form a species.
Within a species the members may exhibit dimorphism (two distinct forms) or polymorphism (many distinct forms).
The polymorphism is exhibited in various stages of development, due to division of work among members or as morphological variations in size, height, colour etc.
A species may contain various breeds and races.
Two related species may breed under captivity to produce fertile or sterile offspring but do not interbreed in nature.
The new species get formed from pre-existing species produce new kind of species. When the members of species get separated due to any geographical or other barrier and do not interbreed for a long time, they evolve on two separate lines and form two distinct species.
There exists a cooperative or competitive interaction between all species of animals and plants. This is essential for reproduction and survival of a species.
The cooperation for sexual reproduction is shown by all but parental care, group formations or territories are exhibited only by some species.
A very restricted area around the individual’s or a group’s home is called a territory. The terrritories of two individuals never overlap.
A wide area where several members of a species or other species wander to find food and mate is called the homerange. These may overlap.
Communication between the members of a species is by sight. sound, touch, pheromones and specific dances or signals.
The competition for food, rank, territory or mate is often seen in a species.
Population density D=N/s
Where N = No. of individuals of a species.
S = Unit of space or area occupied at a specific time.
Natality, mortality, immigration, emigration, migration, abiotic and biotic factors affect the population density.
Population fluctuations are stabilised by nature through its own ways.
Human population is determined by number of climatic, socio-economic and demographic factors.
In a country, the pattern of growth varies in differnt countries and in different populations.
Interactions within communities
Commensalism : This is defined as a symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefited and the other is neither harmed nor benefited.
Community : A community is defined as a group of many different populations that interact with one another.
Competitive exclusion Principle : Competitive exclusion principle states that no two species can occupy the same niche.
Habitat : A habitat is defined as the conditions of the environment that affect an organism’s life activities and describe the location where the organism is able to survive and reproduce.
Mimicry : Mimicry is the superficial resemblance of one organism to other organism of a different species; often used to avoid predation.
Mututalism : A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.
Niche : The resources that an organism exploits to meet its energy, nutrient and survival demands.
Parasitism : This has parasite and host. It is a symbiotic relationship in which one species (parasite) benefits in terms of growth and reproduction to the harm of the other species (host).
Symbiosis : A relationship produced when two different species live together in a unique way; it may be beneficial, neutral or detrimental to one and/or the other species.
Ecosystems : The flow of energy and the cycling of materials
Biogeochemical Cycle : This cycle is defined as the circulating pathway of an element through the biotic and abiotic components of the environment.
Carnivore : A carnivore is an animal who in a food chain eats other animals.
Consumer : Consumer is an organism that feeds on another organism in a food chain; primary consumers eat plants and secondary consumers eat animals.
Decomposer : Decomposer is an organism, usually a bacterial or fungal species, that breaks down large organic molecules into elements that can be recycled in the environment.
Detritus : These are the decomposed remains of plants and animals found in soil and on the beds of bodies of water.
Ecological Pyramid : It is a pictorial graph in a food web representing biomass, organism number, or energy content of each trophic level—from the producer to the final consumer populations.
Ecology : Ecology is concern with the study of interaction of organisms with their living and physical environment.
Ecosystem : A biological community together with the associated abiotic environment.
Food Chain : It is a chain of organisms in an ecosystem that are linked by an energy flow and by the order of who eats whom.
Food Web : A complex pattern of interlocking and criss-crossing food chains.
Herbivore : A herbivore is a plant eater. It is a primary consumer in a food chain.
Nitrogen fixation : Nitrogen fixation is defined as the process in which free atmospheric nitrogen is converted into compounds, such as ammonium and nitrates, usually by soil bacteria.
Omnivore : A living being in a food chain who feeds on both plants and animals is called a omnivore.
Producer : A living being at the start of a food chain that makes its own food (e.g., green plants on land and algae in water).
Succesion : An orderly sequence of community replacement—one following the other—that leads eventually to a climax community.
Trophic Level : Eating level of one or more populations in a food web.
Benthic Division : The ocean floor, which supports a unique set of organisms in contrast to the pelagic division is known as the Benthic division.
Biome : A biome is defined as a terrestrial community characterized by certain climatic conditions and dominated by particular types of plants.
Biosphere : Biosphere is a thin sphere of air, land and water around the earth that supports life.
Desert : A desert is a treeless area where the annual rainfall is less than 25 cm. The rain that does fall is subject to rapid evaporation.
Estuary : Estuary is the end of a river where fresh water and salt water mix as they meet.
Pelagic Division : The portion of the sea which is open is called pelagic division.
Plankton : Plankton are fresh water and marine organisms that float on or near the surface of the water.
Prairie : These are found in USA. Terrestrial biome that is a temperate grassland, changing from tallgrass prairies to short-grass prairies when travelling east to west across the Midwest of the United States.
Savanna : Terrestrial biome that is a tropical grassland in Africa, and has a few trees and a severe dry season.
Taiga : Terrestrial area of coniferous forest extending in a broad belt across northern Eurasia and North America.
Tundra : Treeless terrestrial region of cold climates is called Tundra. It is found on high mountains and in polar regions.
Environmental concerns
Acid Deposition : Acid rain is the return to earth as rain or snow of the sulphate or nitrate salts of acids produced by industrial activities.
Aquifer : Aquifer is an underground river that lies between two nonporous layers of earth.
Biological Magnification : It is defined as the process by which substances become more concentrated in living beings in the higher trophic levels of the food chain.
Desertification : The change of marginal lands to desert conditions is called desertification.
Ozone Shield : Formation of ozone from onigen in the upper atmosphere is termed as ozone shield. It of ozone from oxygen protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation.
Photochemical Smog : Smog is a kind of air pollution which contains nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. They react to produce ozone and PAN (peroxyacetyl nitrate).
Pollutant : A substance which when gets added to the environment and leads to harmful effects for living beings is called a pollutant.
Subtainable World : A world wide living of people that can continue indefinitely because the economic needs of all people are met while still protecting the environment.
Thermal Inversion : Thermal inversion is the temperature inversion that traps cold air and its pollutants near the earth with the warm air above it.
Aestivation : It is also called as summer sleep. To protect itself from excess heat the animal undergoes a dormant condition called aestivation.
Autotroph : Autotroph is the process of organisms which can produce food on their own through photosynthesis.
Benthic : The organisms which live at the bottom of the pond are called benthic.
Biotic Potential : Biotic potential is the reproductory potential of an organism meant to increase in the power of population when the age ratio is stable.
Cyclomorphism : Cyclomorphism is the change in the morphology according to the temperature variations of seasonal variations.
Euryhaline : Organisms which can tolerate a wide range of salinities.
Euphotic Zone : Shallow water zone and open water zone together are known as euphotic zone.
Epilimnion : Upper warm and O2 rich circulating water layer in the littoral zone is epilimnion.
Eurythermal : Organisms which can withstand the wide range of temperatures.
Food chain : Interdependency of organisms on food is called food chain. (Producers—Herbivores—Primary carnivores. Secondary carnivores).
Heterotroph : Organisms which utilizes the food produced by autotrophs.
Homeothermal : Organisms, which can regulate the temperature irrespective of external medium.
Hypolimnion : Non-circulating cold water with poor O2 present in the sub-littoral zone.
Lotic waters : Running water is called lotic waters, such as streams, rivers etc.
Lentic waters : Still water habitat, such as lake, pond etc.
Organisms and Population
Age Composition : Relative abundance of the individuals of different ages in the population.
Biotic Potential : Inherent capacity of the population to increase under optimal environmental conditions.
Carrying Capacity : The upper limit of an ecosystem upto which it can fulfil the basic needs to a population under given set of condition is called carrying capacity.
Communication : Methods of exchanging information among the members of species of animals.
Competition : The interaction between two or more species or between individuals of a single species, in which a required source is in limited supply and as a result one or both of the competitors fight for their survival.
Demography : Study of human population is called demography.
Dimorphism : The occurrence of two forms among the organisms of the same kind.
Ecology : It deals with the study of organism in relation of physical and living environment.
Edaphic Factors : Soil related factors are called edaphic factors.
Emigration : Going out of individuals from a population.
Environmental resistance : All the inhibitory factors of the environment added together to increase in population called environmental resistance.
Exponential Phase : The phase of rapid increase in population is called exponential phase.
Herds : A number of breeding groups is called herds.
Home Range : A defined area of a species in search of food and mates is called home range.
Immigration : Moving in of individuals from outside in a population is called iminigration.
Interaction between Population and Environment :
(1) An iteraction between the population and the environment always exists.
(2) An increase in the size of a population is controlled by environmental factors such as food, shelter and space.
(3) With the growth of population, there is less availability of food, shelter and space.
(4) The size of the population is controlled due to the occurrence of sudden natural calamities such as flood, earthquake, forest fire, drought etc.
Lag Phase : An initial phase of slow increase in a population is called lag phase.
Monogamous : Once a male and female come together, the partnership lasts throughout life.
Mortality : It refers to death.
Mortality Rate : Number of deaths per 1,000 individuals in a population per year is called mortality rate.
Pheromone : A pheromone is a chemical substance which passes through the environment from one animal to another.
Polymorphism : Occurrence of many forms of individuals with the same kind of organism.
Population : Population is a collection of individuals of same species.
Population Crash : The fast decrease in the population is known as population crash.
Population Density : It is defined as the number of individuals present in a unit area at a given time.
Reproductive Isolation : This is defined as the inability to interbreed.
Species : Species is a group of organisms which is genetically different and isolated in its breeding from other organisms.
Territory : An area of land occupied by a single animal or a group of animals and actively defended by them often by the acts of display.
Biotic Community
Biotic Succession : A series of changes until a group of organisms is established which can live and reproduce most successfully.
Camouflage : Camouflage is the blending of colour and patterns of animals with their environment so as to minimize the risk of predation.
Climatic Climax : This is defined as the stage in the development of an ecosystem where there is no further net growth in biomass.
Dominant Species : Species of an organism which are most influential in stable vegetation.
Omnivorous : An animal which eats both plants and animals is called omnivorous.
Parasitism : An organism which is totally dependent upon another organism. It may or may not cause disease in the host.
Predation : Animal which feeds on other animals i.e., predator kills the prey.
Primary Succession : It includes the changes that occur when living things become established on a sterile area.
Secondary Succession : Regeneration of community takes place after an early community has been damaged.
The Ecosystem
Abyssal : Deep ocean area with darkness is called abysal.
Agroecology : To understand the relation between agricultural crops and environment.
Agroecosystem : Crop land ecosystem created by man.
Biome : A major global ecological unit or type of flora and fauna formation.
Consumer : Consumers are the animals which consume energy as food.
Decomposers : An organism which depends upon dead organism as an energy source.
Ecosystem : An interacting system constituted by biotic community with physical environment.
Estuary : The channel of river submerged in the sea due to rise of sea levels.
Eutrophication : Enrichment of a habitat with nutrient elements.
Glaciation : Land forms created by the moving ice.
Habitat : Habitat is the place within which a particular organism live.
Limnology : To understand about the organisms found in ponds and lakes.
Monoculture : It is defined as raising of one crop at a time.
Neritic : Organic shallow water.
Pardogenesis : It is the formation of soil.
Pedology : It is the study of soil.
Photic zone : Depth in the sea where the sunlight can penetrate and can bring photosynthesis.
Phytopianktos : Planktons capable of synthesizing the food in the presence of sunlight.
Topography : Surface configuration of an area.
Autotrophs : Autotrophs are green plants which manufacture their own food.
Atmosphere : Blanket of air that surrounds the earth is called atmosphere.
Biological Fixation : The fixation of free atmospheric nitrogen by bacteria and some algae is known as biological fixation.
Bioluminescene : It is the emission of light by living organisms.
Biome : A major global ecological unit or type of flora and fauna formation as Savannah grassland.
Cycles of Matter : The exchange of materials between living and non-living world is defined as cycles of matter.
Community Productivity : The contribution of all the autotrophs in a community towards gross and net primary productivity.
Decomposer : An organism which relies upon the dead bodies of other organisms as an energy source : in using this energy it liberates nutrients from those tissues into the environment.
Greenhouse Effect : The accumulation of gases, such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which prevent infrared radiation leaving the earth and hence cause increase in global temperature.
Habitat : The locality within which a particular organism is found, usually including some description of its character.
Hibernation : Hibernation is the passing of winter in a state of reduced metabolism, when all body processes, including respiration and excretion, are reduced to a minimum.
Hydrosphere : It is defined as the global water mass, including atmospheric surface and subsurface waters.
Lithosphere : The upper part of the earth composed of rocks is called lithosphere.
Microclimate : The climate of a small area, such as a valley or even a hollow log.
Nutrient Cycle : It is the movement of elements around the ecosystem between living and non-living components.
Productivity : The amount of weight gained by an individual, a species or an ecosystem per unit area per unit time.
Secondary Productivity : It is defined as the rate of increase of biomass of heterotrophy.
Scavenger : An animal which lives on other animals to kill or collect food and then takes advantage of the unwanted remains.
Trophic Level : The feeding status of a living being such as plant, herbivore and carnivore.
Vegetation Formation : The major vegetation of the world, defined by life-forms, e.g., coniferous forest, temperate grassland, tundra, desert etc.
Water Availablity : The ease with which water can be obtained by a plant from the soil.
Wind Currents : Wind current is the pattern of air mass movements resulting from the uneven heating of the earth’s surface.
Natural resources and their utilisation:
Biomass : The weight or volume of living organisms of one animal or plant species-per unit area, or of all the species in a community is called biomass.
Biosphere : Biosphere is the part of earth and its atmosphere that is inhabited by living organisms.
Cultigen : The organisms which would become extinct without human help.
Environment : Environment is defined as the complete range of external conditions under which organisms live.
Ionosphere : Part of upper atmosphere which contains large number of ions and free electrons.
Interstices : Fine spaces between soil particles.
Inquilines : Animals which share their abode.
Noosphere : Human dominated environment.
Environmental pollution
Acid Rain : When gases like SO2 or SO3 react with water to form sulphuric acid or sulphurous acid and falls as rain, it is called acid rain.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): It is the amount of oxygen taken up by microorganisms living in water.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): Amount of oxygen required to decompose all the wastes in one litre of water.
Desertification : Formation of deserts mainly due to soil erosion.
Ecological Boomerang : After a long time the negative effects caused by weedicides.
Fly ash : Fly ash is the mineral ash discharged by coal.
Green Muffler : Growing of green plants along roadside to decrease noise pollution is called green muffler.
IAP : Short form of Indices of air pollution.
IWP : Short form of Indices of water pollution.
Jhuming : Jhuming is the raising of crops on the resulting ash due to fire of trees.
ODSS : Short form of Ozone depleting substances.
Photochemical Smog : Photochemical smog are the products of incomplete combustion of petrol and diesel undergo photochemical reaction with oxide of nitrogen and generate foggy smoke.
Physical Pollution : Pollution due to changes in physical properties of water e.g., change in temperature, turbidity, etc.
Smog : Smog is formed by the combination of smoke and fog.
Soot : The gaseous and particulate pollutants produced by the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons is called soot.
Synergism : Synergism is the increase in toxicity from primary pollutants to secondary pollutants.
Third Pollution : Soil pollution caused by solid wastes.
Wild life-forest conservation
Biosphere Reserve : A protected area where multiple use of the land is permitted by dividing into certain zones.
Conservation : Conservation is defined as the national management of forests and care for the biosphere in order to avoid the creation of imbalance resulting in the destruction of habitats and the extinction of species.
Deforestation : Destruction of forest area is called deforestation.
Endangered Species : The species which are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlilkely are called endangered species.
Extinction : Complete elimination of a population.
Exotic Species : Powerful species brought in a country from another country.
Forest : A forest is a community of trees, shrubs and woody climbers bounded by a canopy.
Improvement Cutting : Removal of old, diseased, non-commercial and damaged plants by cutting for the improvement of desired plants.
National parks : A National Park is a protected area meant for the betterment of wild life but where human activites are not permitted.
Red Data Book : A book containing record of endangered animal species.
Sanctuary : A protected area meant for conservation of animals and where certain human activities are also permitted.
Selective Cutting : Cutting of less vigorous plants to promote the growth of healthy plants.
Rare Species : Species with small population in the world. At present not endangered and vulnerable but are at risk.
Silviculture : Silviculture is the branch dealing with management of forests.
Threatened Species : Species which are greatly reduced in number or whose natural habitats have been disturbed and so are near extinction.
Vulnerable Species : The species likely to move into the endangered category are called vulnerable species.
Wildlife : All living plants and animals other than cultivated plants and domesticated animals come under the category of wildlife.
Environmental Legislation
(i) History
(a) United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in in June 1972. In this India participated and took appropriate steps for the protection and improvement of human environment.
(b) In this conference to maintain ecological balance for better living “New Wildlife Protection Act” was passed.
(c) For controling the pollution in India the following Acts are enacted by Parliament under article 252 of the constitution.
(i) The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act of 1974.
(ii) The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981.
(iii) The Environmental Protection Act of 1986.
(ii) Environmental Protection Act, 1986 : The main rules of this act are:
(a) Environmental pollutants form industries in excess of specific standards should not be discharged into environment.
(b) The Act empowers the officers to take samples of water, soil, air or any substances of factories for analysis if they think they endanger the environment.
(c) Central government may appoint an analyst for the purpose of analysis of samples collected from the places which may be considered to cause pollution.
(d) This Act empowers the officers to prosecute the persons who directly or indirectly produce pollution in the surroundings. The persons producing pollution may be punished with imprisonment for five years or a fine of five lakhs of rupees or both.
Rio Summit : In June 1992, a 12-day duration United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held at Rio de Janerio, Brazil. This conference was attended by 160 nations. Problems related to pollution of earth were discussed in this conference. Hence it is called ‘Earth Summit.’ The resolutions passed at Rio conference to protect earth and its environment for 21st century are called Agenda-21.
Wildlife Protection Laws:
(i) Wildlife protection forms a part of environmental protection.
(ii) Wild Birds and Animal Protection Act was passed in 1887 and repeated in 1912. Its main aim was to bring ecological balance by prohibiting the killing of endangered species.
(iii) Wildife Protection Act, 1972:
(a) Hunting and trade of the products obtained from useful animal wildife should be stopped.
(b) Trade related to rare and endangered species should be banned.
(c) National parks and sanctuaries should be raised and maintained.
(iv) Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1992 :
It bans the hunting of all wildlife specified in schedules I, II, III and IV of this Act.
Thus government of India has plans to protect wildlife through legislation.
1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 : It has been enacted by the Parliament under Article 252 of the Constitution with a view to control the pollution of rivers and streams which is of considerable inportance and urgency in recent years as a result of increasing industrialisation and urbanisation. The Act is intended to make sure that the domestic and industrial wastes should not be allowed to be discharged into any water course without adequate treatment. According to the provisions of the Act, the Cental and State Governments have to provide funds to the Central and State Boards for prevention and control of water pollution and for implementing the provisions of the Act. However, due to pressure on limited source, the State Governments are not able to provide adequate funds to the State Boards for their effective functioning. It is, therefore proposed to levy a cess on local authorities. The cess proposed to be levied will be on the basis of the water consumed by such local authorities and industries.
2. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 : According to this Act :
(1) The State Government has powers to declare area of air pollution control in consultation with State Boards.
(2) The State Goverment has powers to give instructions to the registration of motor vehicles for maintaining standards for emission from automobiles.
(3) The State Government may banned the use of certain industrial plants which may cause air pollution.
(4) Persons running some industry should not allow emission of air pollutants in excess of the standards laid down by the State Board.
(5) State Government officials have the power to enter any industrial area, for inspection.
(6) The State Board is empowered to take the air or emitted material from the notified area for analysis.
(7) State Government has the right to appoint an expert to analyse the samples collected.
(8) The report signed by the expert may be used as evidence of the facts stated therein in any proceeding under this Act.
(9) Any person not agreeing with this order may appeal within thirty days from the date of which the order is communicated.
Some Facts about Environment
1. Atmospheric air contains 78% of nitrogen.
2. Major source of air pollution is motor transport.
3. CO SO2 particulate material, hydrocarbons, NO2 and radioactive material form primary air pollutants.
4. Pollutants producing pollution are expressed in terms of parts per million.
5. The major air pollutant is CO (47%).
6. Tissue starvation for O2 is due to CO.
7. SO2 referred to as phytotoxic pollutant.
8. The coal combustion is the major source of SO2 emission.
9. Limestone, white papers become yellow due to SO2.
10. Methane is the most abundant hydrocarbon of all the pollutant.
11. Methane is the principle hydrocarbon of natural gas used domestically and industrially.
12. Smog is produced by hydrocarbons.
13. 80% of the lead emission into the atmosphere is through exhaust pipes of vehicles.
14. Lead causes anaemia and kidney disorders.
15. CO2 gets confined exclusively to troposphere.
16. Heating up of the atmosphere called greenhouse effect is due to excess CO2.
17. PAN, ozones are formed as secondary pollutants through hydrocarbons.
18. O3 in the stratosphere acts as a protective layer for ultraviolet light.
19. Particulate materials of less than one micron in diameter are aerosols.
20. Aerosols such as freeon gas destroy O3 protective layer.
21. NEERI established air monitoring stations in Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Nagpur.
22. If the pollution standard index is 100, air is pure.
23. Water pollutant which can be destroyed by biological methods is bio-degradable.
24. Non-biodegradable pollutants magnify through food chain.
25. Non-biodergradable pollutants are fat soluble.
26. Enrichment of the medium with nutrients is called eutrification.
27. Amount of O2 used for the biochemical oxidation by the micro organisms in a unit volume of water is called Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.).
28. B.O.D. is used as a measure to find the degree of water pollution.
29. Chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT, B.H.C., Eldrin are non-biodegradable.
30. Mercury when reaches the water becomes CH3 Hg (or) (CH3)2 Hg which is highly toxic.
31. Mercury was responsible for Mina-Mata disease in Japan.
32. D.D.T. causes reproductive failures among certain carnivores.
33. Nitrates in drinking water causes Methemoglobinemia, in babies (Blue babies).
34. Indo-Dutch project is at work to remove fluorine in water.
35. Indo-French collaboration worked to purify the river Ganga.
36. Temperature beyond 330C is lethal to aquatic organisms.
37. Radioactive pollutants decay very slowly.
38. Cadmium, Zinc, Lead, Copper, Arsenic and Nickel are the main soil pollutants.
39. Tiger is associated with India.
40. White bear is associated with Russia.
41. Giant panda is associated with China.
42. Kangaroo is associated with Australia.
43. Kiwi is associated with New Zealand.
44. Spiny cock is associated with South Africa.
45. ‘Save the Crocodile’ project was launched in 1975.
46. The first crocodile sanctuary was started near Lucknow.
47. Great Indian bustard is one of the largest flying birds in the world.
48. Gir lion sanctuary project was started in 1972.
49. In 1973 ‘Project Tiger’ was launched.
50. Update information about rare animals and the animals in danger of extinction is seen in Red Data Books (RDB).
51. Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act was passed in 1887 and repeated in 1912.
52. Forest Act XVI was enacted in 1927.
53. Indian Boards for Wildlife was established in 1952.
54. New Wildife Act was passed in 1972.
55. In June 1972, the first conference on human environment was held at Stockholm.
56. The Environmental Protection Act was passed in 1986.
57. Rio Summit held in June 1992.
58. Rio Summit is also referred to as ‘Earth Summit.’
59. Rio summit to protect earth and its environment, for 21st century is called ‘Agenda-21.’
60. ‘The Water and Air pollution (Prevention and Control) Act’ was passed in 1974 and 1981 respectively.
Biosphere reserves
In India following 14 sites have been identified as potential biosphere reserves together with their locations—
Biosphere Reserve—State(s)
1. Nilgiri—Kerala, Karnataka and
Tamilnadu.
2. Namdapha—Arunachal Pradesh
3. Nanda Devi—Uttaranchal
4. Uttarakhand (Valley of flowers)—
Uttaranchal
5. North islands of Andamans
(Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
6. Gulf of Mannar—Tamil Nadu
7. Kaziranga—Assam
8. Sunderbans—West Bengal
9. Thar Desert—Rajasthan
10. Manas—Assam
11. Kanha—Madhya Pradesh
12. Nokrek (Tura range)—Meghalaya
13. Great Nicobar—Andaman and Nicobar.
14. Little Rann of Kutch—Gujarat
National parks and sanctuaries in India
There are 62 national parks and more than 400 sanctuaries in India. The important ones are given below :
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
1. Marine National Park.
2. Middle Button Island National Park (Andaman)
3. Mount Harriet National Park
4. North Button Island National Park (Andaman)
5. Saddle Peak National Park (Andaman)
6. South Button Island National Park (Andaman)
7. Barren Island Sanctuary (Bay of Bengal)
8. Narcondam Sanctuary (Bay of Bengal)
9. North Reef Island Sanctuary (Bay of Bengal)
10. South Sentinel Island Sanctuary (Bay of Bengal) + 90 Sanctuaries
Andhra Pradesh
1. Coringa Sanctuary (East of Godavari)
2. Eturnagarm Sanctuary (Warangal)
3. Kawal Sancturay (Adilabad)
4. Kinnersani Sanctuary (Khammam)
5. Kolleru Sanctuary (West Godavari)
6. Lanjamadugu Sanctuary (Adilabad and Karimanagar)
7. Majira Sanctuary (Medak)
8. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Sanctuary (Guntur, Kurnool)
9. Neelapattu Sanctuary (Nellore)
10. Pakhal Sanctuary (Warangal)
11. Papikonda Sanctuary (East and West Godavari) + 5 Sanctuaries
Arunachal Pradesh
1. Moiling National Park
2. Namdapha National Park
3. Itanagar Sanctuary
4. Lali Sanctuary
5. Mehao Sanctuary
6. Pakhui Sanctuary
Assam
1. Kaziranga National Park (Sibsagar and Nowgong)
2. Manas National Park (Barpeta)
3. Barnadi Sanctuary
4. Garampani Sanctuary +5 Sanctuaries
Bihar
1. Palamau National Park (Dalten Ganj)
2. Bhimbandh Sanctuary
3. Dalma Sanctuary
4. Hazaribagh Sanctuary (Hazaribagh)
5. Nagi Dam Sanctuary
6. Nakti Dam Sanctuary
7. Rajgi Sanctuary + 9 Sanctuaries
Chandigarh
1. Sukhna Sanctuary
Delhi
1. Indira Priyadarshini Sanctuary
Goa
1. Bhagwan Mahavir National Park
2. Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary
3. Bondla Sanctuary
4. Cotigao Sanctuary
Gujarat
1. Bansda National Park (Balsad)
2. Gir National Park (Junagarh)
3. Marine National Park (Jamnagar)
4. Velavadar National Park (Bhavnagar)
5. Barda Sanctuary
6. Dhrangadhra Sanctuary
7. Jessore Sanctuary
8. Nalsarovar Sanctuary (Ahmedabad)
9. Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary +7 Sanctuaries
Haryana
1. Bhindawas Sanctuary
2. Chotala Sanctuary
3. Sultanpur Sanctuary (Gurgaon) +4 Sanctuaries
Himachal Pradesh
1. Great Himalayan National Park
2. Pin Valley National Park
3. Bandli Sanctuary
4. Chail Sanctuary (Chail)
5. Govind Sagar Sanctuary
6. Lippa Asrang Sanctuary
7. Manali Sanctuary (Manali) + 24 Snctuaries
Jammu and Kashmir
1. Dachigam National Park (Srinagar)
2. Hemis High Altitude National Park (Srinagar)
4. Kishtwar National Park (Srinagar)
6. Salim Ali National Park
7. Gulmarg Sanctuary
8. Karakoram Sanctuary
9. Limber Sanctuary
10. Nandni Sanctuary
11. Surinsar=Mansar Sanctuary + 8 Sanctuaries
Karnataka
1. Anshi National Park
2. Bandipur National Park (Mysore)
3. Bannerghatta National Park (Bangalore)
4. Kudremukh National Park
5. Nagarahole National Park (Coorg)
6. Cauvery Sanctuary
7. Ghataprabha Sanctuary (Belgaun)
8. Pushpagiri Sanctuary
9. Ranganathittu Sanctuary (Mysore)
10. Sharavathi Valley Sanctuary
11. Shettihalli Sanctuary + 12 Sanctuaries
Kerala
1. Eravikulam National Park (Idukki)
2. Periyar National Park (Idukki)
3. Silent Valley National Park (Palghat)|
4. Idukki Sanctuary (Idukki)
5. Neyyar Sanctuary
6. Parambikulam Sanctuary
7. Peppara Sanctuary + 7 Sanctuaries
Maharashtra
1. Nawegaon National Park (Bandara)
2. Pench National Park (Nagpur)
3. Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Mumbai)
4. Tadoda National Park (Chandrapura)
5. Bor Sanctuary
6. Chandoli Sanctuary
7. Chaprala Sanctuary
8. Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
9. Koyna Sanctuary
10. Nagzira Santuary
11. Tansa Sanctuary + 18 Sanctuaries
Manipur
1. Keibul Lamjao National Park (Manipur Central)
2. Siroy National Park (Manipur East)
Meghalaya
1. Balphakram National Park
2. Nokrek National Park
3. Baghmara Sanctuary
4. Nongkhyllem Sanctuary
5. Siju Sanctuary
Mizoram
1. Dampa Sanctuary
Madhya Pradesh
1. Bandhavgarh National Park (Shahdol)
2. Fossil National Park
3. Indravati National Park (Bastar)
4. Kanger Ghati National Park
5. Kanha National Park (Mandla and Balaghat)
6. Madhav National Park (Shivpuri)
7. Panna National Park (Panna)
8. Pench National Park
9. Sanjay National Park (Sidhi and Surguja)
10. Satpura National Park (Hoshangabad)
11. Van Vihar National Park (Bhopal)
12. Bagdara Sanctuary
13. Bhairamgarh Sanctuary
14. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
15. Ghatigaon-Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
16. Karera-Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
17. National Chambal Sanctuary
18. Singhori Sanctuary
19. Tamor Pingla Sanctuary
20. Udanti Sanctuary + 22 Sanctuaries
Nagaland
1. Fakim Sanctuary
2. Intanki Sanctuary
3. Pulebatze Sanctuary
Orissa
1. Simlipal National Park (Mayurbhanj)
2. Baisipalli (Mahanadi) Sanctuary
3. Balukhand Sanctuary
4. Debrigarh Sanctuary
5. Lakhari Valley Sanctuary
6. Simlipal Sanctuary (Mayurbhanj) 9 Sanctuaries
Punjab
1. Abohar Sanctuary
2. Bir Bunnerheri Sanctuary
3. Bir Gurhialpura Sanctuary
4. Bir Motibagh Sanctuary
5. Harike Lake Sanctuary
Rajasthan
1. Desert National Park (Jaisalmer and Badmer)
2. Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur)
3. Ranthambore National Park (Savai Madhopur)
5. Sariska National Park (Alwar)
6. Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary
7. Mount Abu Sanctuary
8. National Gharial Sanctuary
10. Ramgarh Sanctuary
11. Sariska Sanctuary (Alwar)
12. Van Vihar Sanctuary + 12 Sanctuaries
Sikkim
1. Khangchendzonga National Park (Gangtok) + 3 Sanctuaries
Tamilnadu
1. Guindy National Park (Chennai)
2. Marine National Park (Gulf of Mannar)
3. Annamalai Sanctury
4. Kalakad Sanctuary
5. Madumalai Sanctuary (Nilgiris)
6. Pulicat Sanctuary + 6 Sanctuaries
Tripura
1. Gumti Sanctuary
2. Roa Sanctuary
3. Sepahijala Sanctuary
4. Trishna Sanctuary
Uttar Pradesh + Uttaranchal
1. Jim Corbett National Park (Nainital)
2. Dudhwa National Park (Lakhimpur, Kheri)
3. Nanda Devi National Park (Chamoli)
4. Rajaji National Park
5. Valley of Flowers National Park (Chamoli)
6. Binsar Sanctuary
7. Chandraprabha Sanctuary (Varanasi)
8. Hastinapur Sanctuary
9. Kedarnath Sanctuary
10. National Chambal Sanctuary + 11 Sanctuaries
West Bengal
1. Neora Valley National Park
2. Singhalila National Park
3. Sunderban National Park
4. Ballav Pur Sanctuary
6. Gorumava Sanctuary
7. Jaldapara Sanctuary
8. Senchal Sanctuary + 12 Sanctuaries
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