Environment

Environment is the sum total of what is around something or someone. It includes living things and natural forces. The environment of living things provides conditions for development and growth, as well as of danger and damage. Living things do not simply exist in their environment. They constantly interact with it. Organisms change in response to conditions in their environment. The environment consists of the interactions among plants, animals, soil, water, temperature, light, and other living and non-living things.

Types of EnvironmentTypes of Environment

The Physical environment

The Biotic environment

• It is also known as a-biotic environment and natural environment.• The meaning of ‘a-biotic’ or ‘physical’ is non living

like land water air conditions atmosphere which constitutes of soil. So we can say that physical or a-biotic environment is the environment which includes non living or physical things which are constitutes of soil and affect the living things.• The physical or a-biotic environment also includes

the climatic factors such as sunbeams, rainwater, precipitation, moisture, pressure and wind speed.

The Physical environment

• It is also known as biological environment and organic environment.• In the opposite side of the physical environment, the

biotic or biological environment is responsible for the living beings.• You have already understood that the meaning of

‘biological’ is living things. So, the biological environment is the environment which involves the living part of the earth.

The Biotic environment

Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the Human impact on the environment or anthropogenic impact on the environment includes impacts on biophysical environment includes impacts on biophysical environments, biodiversity, and other resources. The environments, biodiversity, and other resources. The term term anthropogenicanthropogenic designates an effect or object resulting  designates an effect or object resulting from human activity. Human impact on biodiversity is significant, from human activity. Human impact on biodiversity is significant, humans have caused the extinction of many species, including the humans have caused the extinction of many species, including the dodo and, potentially, large mega faunal species during the last ice dodo and, potentially, large mega faunal species during the last ice age. Though most experts agree that human beings have age. Though most experts agree that human beings have accelerated the rate of species extinction, the exact degree of this accelerated the rate of species extinction, the exact degree of this impact is unknown, perhaps 100 to 1000 times the normal impact is unknown, perhaps 100 to 1000 times the normal background rate of extinction.background rate of extinction.  Some authors have postulated that  Some authors have postulated that without human interference the biodiversity of this planet would without human interference the biodiversity of this planet would continue to grow at an exponential rate.continue to grow at an exponential rate.

Human impact on coral reefs is significant. Coral reefs are dying around the world. In particular, coral mining, pollution(organic and non-organic), overfishing, blast fishing and the digging of canals and access into islands and bays are serious threats to these ecosystems. Coral reefs also face high dangers from pollution, diseases, destructive fishing practices and warming oceans.

Global warming is the result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations which is caused primarily by the combustion of fossil energy sources such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas, and to an unknown extent by destruction of forests, increased methane (post-industria1: 150%), volcanic activity and cement production. Such massive alteration of the global carbon cycle has only been possible because of the availability and deployment of advanced technologies, ranging in application from fossil fuel exploration, extraction, distribution, refining, and combustion in power plants and automobile engines.

Agriculture Agriculture Recreation Recreation Costal AreasCostal AreasWater SuppliesWater Supplies

• Painting your house? Use a latex paint. Oil-based paints release hydrocarbon fumes.

• Get a tune-up. Properly maintained vehicles get better gas mileage and emit fewer pollutants.

• Use less fertilizer on your lawn. When it rains, excess fertilizer runs off into storm sewers and pollutes streams.

• Never pour anything – especially waste oil or leftover lawn chemicals – into a storm drain. It will end up in the nearest stream.

• Recycle. If your community does not offer a recycling program, ask local officials to start one.

• Don’t put hazardous materials in the trash. Save paints, pesticides, lawn chemicals, car batteries, waste oil and similar materials for your local household hazardous waste collection day.

• Paper or plastic? Better yet, take a canvas bag to the grocery and re-use it each time you shop.