Name Student # Module Science

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Moses KABWE 200907824 Intorduction to Environmental

Question 1: Describe the following Environment - The environment is everything around us, both living and nonliving things. It constitutes humans, flora, fauna, water and the way they are interrelated.it is the surrounding atmosphere/ condition for existence. Ecology the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment that is the physical and chemical environment. Biomes is a complex biotic community characterized by distinctive plant and animal species maintained under the climatic conditions of the region, it is classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment. The different groupings of biomes are forest, marine, desert, freshwater, grass land and tundra. -that is different types of ecosystem that exist Question 2 :List the components of the environment -

Hydrosphere(Water) Atmosphere(Air) Lithosphere(Land) Biosphere(Flora/Fauna/Microbes) Astrosphere (man made things)

Question 3: What are the structural features of the ecosystem? Biotic abiotic factors.

Biotic things related to life such as living factors. Plants, animals, fungi, protist and bacteria are all biotic or living factors.Abiotic, meaning not alive, are nonliving factors that affect living organisms. Abiotic factors refer to Environmental factors such habitat (pond, lake, ocean, desert, and mountain) or weather such as temperature, cloud cover, rain, snow, hurricanes,.
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Basically, structural features of the ecosystem include; Abiotic features- the non living things Abiotic - (non living) components

In structure of ecosystem, the abiotic components include: The amount of inorganic substances such as phosphorus, sulphur, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, etc. involved in material cycles. The amount of these inorganic substances, present at any given time in an ecosystem, is designated as the standing state or standing quality.

The amount and distribution of inorganic chemicals, such as chlorophyll etc. and of organic materials, as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids etc., present in either in the biomass or in the biomass or in the environment i.e. biochemical structure that link the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystem.. II. Biotic (living) components This is the trophic structure of any ecosystem where living organisms are distinguished on the basis of their nutritional relationships.

Question4: Give 4 examples of natural impacts on the environment and 4 of the anthropogenic impacts on environment Natural impacts on the environment occur naturally and include Volcanic Eruptions Forest Fires Dusty Wind Storm Cyclones & Tsunami Earthquakes

Anthropogenic impacts on the environment are due to human activity and include

Over Population Deforestation Use of Automobiles greenhouse effects Fertilizers/Pesticides Wars and nuclear explosions

Question 5 :Concept of sustainable development

Sustainable development is the state of development where human race develops

without disturbing the state of environment. It is an environment friendly development that takes equal care on the development and the environment. The concept of sustainable development is a process of consensus-based decision making in which the impact of economic activities (the economy) the environment (ecosystems), and the health (well-being) of society are integrated and balanced, without compromising the ability of present and future generations to meet their needs, so that all three - the economy, the environment, and the health of society - can be sustained into the future. The concepts of sustainable development can be listed as below - Use renewable resources at a rate that can be maintained over time. - Gradually reduce reliance on and limit the release of toxic substances that do not readily break down in nature - Use all resources as efficiently and fairly as possible so that present and future generations can meet their needs. - Reflect the inter dependence of social, economic and environmental conditions Question 6 :The 5 basic causes of environmental problems
1. Population Growth - Population is an important source of development, yet it is

a major source of environmental degradation when it exceeds the thresh hold limits of the support systems. Population growth reduces self sufficiency in food, availability of vital natural resources, and standard of living. Population impacts on the environment primarily through the use of natural resources and production of wastes and is associated with environmental stresses like loss of biodiversity, air and water pollution and increased pressure on arable land. As population grows all resources become in shorter supply. Unsustainable Resource use 2. Poverty- Poverty is said to be both cause and effect of environmental

degradation. Inequality may foster unsustainability because the poor, who rely on

natural resources more than the rich, deplete natural resources faster as they have no real prospects of gaining access to other types of resources. Moreover, degraded environment can accelerate the process of impoverishment, again because the poor depend directly on natural resources.

Energy resources All energy types have potential impacts on the natural environment to varying degrees at all stages of use, from extraction through processing to end use. Generating energy from any source involves making the choices between impacts and how far those impacts can be tolerated at the local and global scale. This is especially of importance for nuclear power, where there are significant risks of radioactive pollution. Increased production and consumption of materials The more materials are consumed, the more the demand of raw materials from the environment. This leads to the depletion of non-renewable resources that are available. Transport and Infrastructure (e.g construction of roads and bridges) The need for transportation network resulted into the disturbance of the natural environment. These include the fragmentation of habitats and species and genetic populations, disruption of migration and traffic mortalities to wildlife.