Page 99 - SST Class 07
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of technology such as factories, family, industries,
            monuments, bridges, roads etc. Even today man is                Just Think!
            creating things from the natural environment with
            the help of more advanced technology.                    How do human activities affect our environment?

                                                                     Ecosystem
                                                                    A   unit   consisting   of  plants,  animals    and
                                                                    microorganisms     (biotic  factors)  in  an    area
                                                                    functioning together with the non-living (abiotic
                                                                    factors) of the environment, forms an ecosystem    .
                                                                    A desert, a forest area, a grassland, a lake, an
                                                                    ocean, even an aquarium are examples of
                                                                    ecosystem. An ecosystem might be as small as a
                                                                    pond or as large as a desert. The larger ecosystems
                                                                    are also specific kinds of vegetation, such as the
                                                                    tundra or the tropical rainforests. In each
                                                                    ecosystem,    the   plants   and   animals    adapt
                                                                    themselves to their environment.

            Man has controlled his environment in many
            other ways as well. Like plants have been
            cultivated in places which are far from their
            natural habitat. Natural wealth has been converted
            into resources, that have helped build the world
            we live in today. Different environment have
            different qualities and uses. Each needs to be
            carefully managed and protected for future. The
            need of the hour is to limit the use of resources
            and protect the environment. This is possible by
            controlling    population    growth,     preventing
                                                                                          Ecosystem
            pollution, planting trees, using alternative eco-
            friendly fuels like CNG and prohibiting the use of      Nature maintains a perfect balance between all
            polythene. This will help to maintain the balance       the components of the environment within each
            of nature and preserve our environment for the          ecosystem. If any one component of ecosystem is
            future generations.                                     disturbed, this balance can get easily disturbed.







            v The surrounding in which an organism lives is its environment.
            v The two parts of environment are natural environment and human environment.

            v Natural environment includes air, water, land and food which are essential for living beings. It comprises
               lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.

            v Man modified natural environment and created human environment.
            v The human environment includes everything that has been made by humans, such as buildings, dams,
               bridges etc.
            v Resources should be used judiciously and all measures should be taken to protect the environment.

                                                                                                    Environment
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