(PPS) Environment & Ecology 5th Edition| Prelims Practice Series | Government Exam Books by Team Drishti

Description

Drishti IAS: Your Gateway to Success in Competitive Exams.

• Definitions:
  • Environment: the sum of all external conditions affecting living organisms.
  • Ecology: the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
• Ecosystems:
  • Components: producers, consumers, decomposers.
  • Types: terrestrial (forest, grassland) and aquatic (freshwater, marine).

Biodiversity

• Importance of Biodiversity:
  • Ecological stability and resilience.
  • Economic benefits (resources for medicine, agriculture).
  • Cultural significance and recreational value.
• Threats to Biodiversity:
  • Habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
  • Overexploitation and unsustainable practices.

Environmental Issues

• Pollution:
  • Types: air, water, soil, noise, and plastic pollution.
  • Sources and impacts on health and ecosystems.
• Climate Change:
  • Causes (greenhouse gases, deforestation).
  • Effects (rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather).
  • Mitigation strategies (renewable energy, conservation).