Chapter 13: Our Environment
Home Page Chapter 13 – Our Environment Introduction The environment includes everything around us—living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. Humans depend on the environment for survival but also impact it significantly. This chapter studies ecosystems, energy flow, waste generation, and the impact of human activities. 1. Ecosystem, Types and Its Components Ecosystem : An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact with each other and the physical environment. Types : a) Natural Ecosystem : An ecosystem which exits in nature on its own without any human interference is called natural ecosystem. E.g – desert, grassland, forest, ponds, lakes, estuaries, rivers and oceans. b) Artificial Ecosystem : An ecosystem which is created and maintained by humans is called artificial ecosystem. E.g : Aquariums, botanical gardens, parks, field crops, etc are artificial ecosystem. Components of an Ecosystem 1. Biotic Components (Living...