Category: 12th Zoology

Categories
12th Zoology

Poverty and environment

Poverty and environment

Poverty is a condition of having insufficient resources or income. It
is a lack of basic human needs such as adequate and nutritious food, clothing, housing, clean water and health services.

Extreme poverty can cause terrible suffering and death. The world’s poorest people – many of whom live in developing areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe – struggle for daily food, shelter and other necessities. They often suffer from severe malnutrition, epidemic disease outbreaks, famine and war.
In wealthier countries – such as United States, Canada, Japan and those in Western Europe – the effects of poverty may include poor nutrition, mental illness, drug dependence and crime. Extreme poverty, which threatens people’s health or lives, is known as destitution or absolute poverty. A condition of having fewer resources or less income than others within a society or country when compared to worldwide averages is known as the relative poverty. The cycle of poverty, illness and limited opportunities becomes a selfsustaining  process that passes from one generation to another.

Poverty and Environmental issues

Some favour the argument that poverty leads to environmental
degradation while others argue that environmental degradation will lead to poverty. The increase in population and poverty has made an impact on natural resources and the environment in many regions. In many parts of the world, environmental degradation – the deterioration of the natural environment, including the atmosphere, bodies of water, soil and forests – is an
important cause of poverty. Environmental problems have led to shortages of food, clean water, materials for shelter, and other essential resources. As forests, land, air and water are degraded; people who depend upon these natural resources are adversely affected. As we know, global environmental degradation may result from a variety of factors, including over population and the resulting over use of land and other resources. Drastic environmental degradations may result in poverty.

Poverty alleviation

Various measures to eradicate poverty in human society include the following:

a) Achieving self sufficiency by intensifying agriculture, augmenting green revolution, increasing crop productivity through modern genetic and bio technological approaches.
b) Increasing land and water resources. Expanding the area of able cultivable lands, transforming dry lands into productive lands through irrigation water sheds development.
c) Prevention of land and water pollution by minimizing the usage of chemical pesticides and adopting biological control strategies for pest eradication.
d) Establishment of industries and technologies and creating more avenues for employment and man power utilization.
e) Anti- poverty programmes and social security scheme by the
Governments.
f) Establishing more primary health centres, hospitals and orphanages for destitutes and diseased.
g) Enforcement of strict family planning methods.

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Environmental impacts of Power Sources

Environmental impacts of Power Sources

1. Thermal Power

The air, water and soil pollution caused by these plants in terms of fly ash, CO2, SO2, NO2 and particulates etc. is becoming unacceptable in the environmentally conscious society

2. Hydro power

Hydro-electric power generation is associated with displacement and resettlement of human population from the site of hydel plant to other places. This leads to considerable human problems causing considerable delay in the implementation of the project and escalation of its cost. New dams built may affect the ecosystem of the locating sites.

3.Nuclear power

Radioactive pollutants released form nuclear power plants are chronically hazardous. The commissioning of boiling water power reactors (BWRS) have resulted in the critical accumulation of large number of long lived radionuclides in water. Environmentalists argue that thermal effluents from nuclear reactors have acutely affected the aquatic eco system. The dangerous radioactive waste cannot be buried in land without the risk of polluting soil and under ground water. Several well publicised accidents
(Ex. Chernobyl disaster at former U.S.S.R.) and radiation episodes have given a lot of fear in the mind of general public regarding the radiation hazards.

4. Solar energy

The use of solar energy, from the environmental viewpoint, is a
completely safe operation. However, the sites for larger installations of solar power plants should be selected without reducing the forest cover. Cadmium, used in fabricating thin film solar cells, is both poisonous and a possible carcinogen. Carbon dioxide produced while forming silicon from silica may increase the atmospheric temperature causing green house effect. Silicon dust is also an important occupational hazard.

5. Fossil fuels

The burning of coal, oil, wood, dung cakes and petroleum products
would cause environmental problems. (1)The increase in CO2 concentration is largely responsible for green house effect and global warming, while (2) disposal of fly ash requires large ash ponds and may pose a severe problem (3)The smoke produced by burning of wood, agricultural by-products or animal’s dung cake causes respiratory and digestive problems and may also
lead to eye and lung diseases. (4) Nitrous oxide, Sulphur di-oxide and CO2 can cause acid rain.

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis

Energy crisis

Energy crisis is due to the increase in population accompanied by
rapid urbanization and industrialization. Our resources of petroleum and natural gas are dwindling day by day. We can hardly expect the oil industry to operate at full capacity until the last drop is removed from the ground. It appears that we will run out of petroleum and natural gas by about 2020 unless domestic supplies are extended by taking one or more of the
following steps.

Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis

1.Reduce the consumption of fuels :

The principal target areas are heating
and transportation, which account for about 18% and 25% respectively, of our total energy requirements. The consumption of fuel in these areas can be reduced by (a) proper insulation of existing buildings and design changes in
new constructions (eg. using less plate glass), (it saves about 33% of energy) (b)improving the fuel economy of automobiles, (c) using more efficient means of transportation. (Energy crisis)

2. Develop new sources of energy:

The energy crisis has prompted the development of alternate energy sources (alternatives to fossil fuels) other than the heat available from the combustion of fossil fuels. (a)Wind Energy :
In India, the wind power is of great significance as there are large
coastal, hill and desert areas where wind energy can be usefully exploited for generation of electricity and water pumping.

The harnessing technology of wind energy is simple. The strike of the blowing wind on a specially designed blades of a windmill’s rotor causes it to rotate. This rotation, which is the mechanical energy, when coupled to a turbine, drives the power generator. (Energy crisis)

The wind energy thus delivers on the spot small quantities of energy. The Indian subcontinent is a high wind zone
with energy potential estimated at about 20,000 MW. Wind farms are already located in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.

Advantages of wind power :

i.Power generation is cheaper. Power is
procured at 40 paise per unit

ii. free from pollution and environmental
degradation,

iii. Since generation is continuous unlike in diesel power,
investment is never idle.

(b) Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is fast emerging as a significant source of
electricity in several island nations, mainly in the Indian oceans and the
Pacific regions. Geothermal plants make use of naturally heated steam drawn to the surface through a series of boreholes. (Energy crisis)

Hot Rocks for energy generation

The Hot Dry Rock (HDR) technology is especially suitable for
countries like India, where the geological pattern favours easy exploitation of this source. Tapping of energy involves drilling of holes several km deep into the earth where the temperature of rocks ranges form 200 – 250oC. Water is pumped into these bore holes and allowed to circulate through the source rock’s fracture net work, which may have fissures barely a few millimeter wide.

This water is then ejected under pressure from a second
hole in the form of steam. The steam is used to power turbines for electricity generation, after which it is condensed back to water that can be used again. (c) Mini hydel generation
Energy generation from small water source is probably the most cheapest and reliable of all renewable energy sources. It can be harnessed conveniently from nearby canal or stream in a most environmentally benign manner. Nature has been very generous and bounteous in providing a vast hydro electric potential to the Indian subcontinent. (Energy crisis)

(d) Ocean energy  (Energy crisis)

The various methods of extracting energy from oceans are as follows.

1.Ocean winds, 2.Ocean waves, 3.Ocean tides, 4.Ocean currents, 5.Ocean geothermal, 6.Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), 7.Salinity gradient and 8.Bioconversion of sea weeds.
India’s first power plant generating electricity from ocean energy is
commissioned at Vizhinjam fishing harbour in Kerala to provide energy of 150 MW in a year.

Tidal energy : (Energy crisis)

Ocean waves and tides contain large amount of energy.
Tidal energy is important because it is renewable, pollution free and more stable in comparison with hydroelectric power which is dependent on monsoon cycle. Tidal power plants are being designed in the Bay of Canada, Kutch in India etc where tides have been found to be in the right range.(e) Solar energy:

Solar energy is another energy source. Each year the earth receives from the sun an enormous total of 5 × 1020 k.cals of energy. Solar energy, which is the primary source of all energy forms on the earth, is the renewable form of energy.

Advantages of solar energy:

(a) Solar energy is a kind of universal, decentralized and non-polluting energy (b) it helps considerably in maintaining the ecological balance through the process of photosynthesis and green house effect. (c) it has none of the disadvantages found in the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas.

(f) Nuclear energy : (Energy crisis)

Nuclear energy is the only energy source, known to be economically feasible in the present and for the near future. It can replace fossil fuels. In nuclear fission, a heavy atom splits under neutron bombardment into smaller fragments, with the evolution of huge amount of energy. In spite of this advantage the problem of disposal of nuclear wastes remains. Nuclear fusion is expected to be an ideal energy source for the future. In nuclear fusion, light nuclei such as deuterium (21H) and tritium (3
1H) combineto form heavier stable nuclei.

Moreover, the products of fusion are not radioactive and so safety
hazards associated with fission reactors are greatly reduced. The light isotopes needed for fusion are sufficiently common to supply all of our energy needs for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, the above fusion reaction has not been perfected to sustain flow of energy.

(g) Bio gas or Gobar gas:

Gobar gas plants are based on anaerobic fermentation of organic
wastes in the absence of air. Through gaseous stage the heating efficiency of the cattle dung increased production by about 20%. There is a production of an organic manure which is about 43% better than dry cattle dung itself. This manure can also reduce pressure on naptha-based fertilizers. It has been estimated that 10m3 of biogas has energy equivalent of 6.0 m3 of natural gas,
3.6 litres of butane, 7.0 litres of gasoline or 6.1 litres of diesel fuel.

(h) Hydrogen – Source of power for future

The hydrogen has been found to be a good choice among all the
alternative fuel options. It can be produced in virtually unlimited quantities with on hand production technologies. It has been established that hydrogen can meet all the energy needs of human society, including power generation more efficiently and more economically than petro fuels, and with total compatibility with the environment. In addition, hydrogen is non-toxic, reasonably safe to handle, distribute and use as a fuel. Hydrogen has the
highest mass energy content – its heat of combustion per unit weight is about 2.5 times that of hydrocarbon fuel, 4.5 times that of ethanol and 6.0 times that of methanol. Its thermodynamic energy conversion efficiency of 30-35% is greater than that of gasoline (20-25%).

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Energy crisis and its environmental impact

Energy crisis and its environmental impact

Energy may be defined as any property, which can be produced from or converted into work. In today’s world for any development and for all industrial operations, energy is a prerequisite. Life is unthinkable without energy. Energy production and energy utilization are the indicators of a country’s progress. Heat, light, electricity are different forms of energy. While
energy drives the world, the energy generated and utilised affects environment on a phenomenal scale. More population, rapid industrialisation, increased energy generation, over production, uncontrolled consumption and damages to environment are all inter-linked issues. Major issues are slowly being converted into crisis threatening our survival. (Energy crisis and its environmental impact)

Background history of energy usage

Fire was probably the first human energy technology. Charcoal from fires has been found at sites occupied by our early ancestors. Wind and waterpower have been used early as long. Muscle power provided by domestic animals has been important for agriculture. The invention of the steam engine, together with diminishing supplies of wood in industrializing countries caused a switch to coal as our major energy source in the nineteenth century. Coal in turn, has been replaced by oil in this century due
to the ease of shipping, storing and burning liquid fuels. Recently electricity and gas (petrol) has changed the economic prosperity and lifestyle in many countries. (Energy crisis and its environmental impact)

Renewable and non-renewable energy sources

Energy sources that are being made available continuously are known as renewable energy sources. (Eg). geothermal energy, wind energy, tidal energy, solar energy, ocean currents, nuclear fusion, gobar gas, biomass and vegetable refuse etc.

Non-renewable sources of energy – those sources, which are being accumulated in nature from a very long time and cannot be replaced if they are exhausted. (Ex). Coal, ores, petroleum, timber, natural gas, electricity etc. Fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas and coal are now providing about 95% of all commercial energy in the world. (Energy crisis and its environmental impact)

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Characteristics of a Bioreserve

Characteristics of a Bioreserve

It is a land and/or coastal/marine area in which people are an integral
component, and which is managed for objectives, ranging from complete protection to intensive yet sustainable production.

It is a regional centre for monitoring, research, education and training on natural and managed ecosystems. (Bioreserve)

It is a place where government decision makers, scientists, managers and local people cooperate in developing a model programme for managing land and water to meet human needs while conserving natural processes and biological resources.

Finally, each biosphere reserve is a symbol of voluntary cooperation and use resources for the well being of people everywhere.

Bioreserve in India

Tamilnadu has the distinction of having a marine biosphere reserve
viz., the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve and also a hill Biosphere
Reserve, the Nilgiri biosphere Reserve. (Bioreserve)

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve:

The total area is 5,520 sq. km. It is rich in plant diversity. It was
established to conserve in situ genetic diversity of species and restore
degraded ecosystem to its natural conditions. (Bioreserve)

The Gulf of Mannar Bioshere Reserve:

This reserve was one of six areas chosen on the basis of its
threatened status and richness of biological wealth for inclusion into an
action programme to save India’s protected areas for future generations. It encompasses 21 small islands along the coast. It is considered as a ‘biologists paradise’ with 3600 species of plants and animals. (Bioreserve)

The other biosphere reserves of India are: Nokrek (Megalaya),
Namdapha – (Arunachal Pradesh), Nanda Devi – (Uttar Pradesh), Great Nicobar (Andaman & Nicobar islands), 5. Sundarbans (West Bengal):

Project Tiger : This programme was launched in 1973. This is started
with the protection of nine tiger reserves located in different habitats.
Today there are 23 tiger reserves are under this project to look after tiger population and the environment.

Organizations involved in Biodiversity Conservation (Bioreserve)

The organizations involved in biodiversity conservation are 1.World
Wildlife Fund: (WWF) 2.Resources for the Future :(RFF) 3.The
Nature Conservancy: 4. World Resources Institute :(WRI), 5.IUCN
(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources), 6.African Wildlife Foundation:(AWF), 7. Genetic
Resources Action International : (GRAIN), 8.International Science
Foundation, 9.The Biodiversity Support Program:( BSP)

Organizations functioning to preserve and safeguard biodiversity in
India : (Bioreserve)
1. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in New Delhi.
2. National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources at Kamal.
3. National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Allahabad.
4. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

5. The Foundation for the Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)
in Bangalore.
6.Centre for Ecological Sciences, Bangalore.
7. World Wide Fund for Nature, India.
8. Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (Bioreserve)

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Conservation of Biodiversity

Conservation of Biodiversity

The conservation of biodiversity and the growing human population
are the two great challenges facing our generation and those to follow.

The following strategies are adapted to conserve biodiversity.

a. International Conservation Strategies

Biodiversity should be preserved as the common heritage of all
humans. All species have a right to exist; one strategy considered as a
priority is conserving hotspots around the globe. These are areas
characterized by high concentrations of endemic species and experiencing unusually rapid rate of habit modification loss.There are around 25 hotspots identified from all over the world. (Conservation of Biodiversity)

b. National Conservation Strategies

Several measures like legal measures, in situ and ex situ
conservation efforts, documenting of indigenous knowledge and the
application of science and technology have been taken by Indian
government legislations. India is one of among the 12 Mega biodiversity countries of the world. India was a party to the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in May 1994. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is co-ordinating an effort to formulate National Biodiversity Action Plan. This is being carried out with the help of several other Government and Non-governmental organizations, and individuals. (Conservation of Biodiversity)

3. Establishment of Bioreserves

A biosphere reserve is a unique concept which includes one or more
protected areas and surrounding lands that are managed to combine both conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. ‘Biosphere Reserve’ is an international designation made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). It is based on the basis of nominations submitted by countries participating in the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB). The MAB was launched in 1971 to catalyse a greater understanding and provision of knowledge and skills to support sustainable relationships between people and their environment. Biosphere Reserves act as a keystone of MAB by providing a global network of sites for cooperative research toward this end. As at the end of November 2002, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves included 495 sites in 95 countries. (Conservation of Biodiversity)

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

What is biodiversity?

Biological diversity means the variability among living organisms from
all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are parts. It is usually considered at three different levels – genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.

Reasons for Decline of Biodiversity

1. Natural causes of Biodiversity extinction

Studies of the fossil record suggest that more than 99% of all species
ever existed are now extinct. Most of them were gone before humans came on the scene. At the end of Permian period about 250 million years ago, a greater disaster wiped 2/3of all marine species and half of all plant and animal families.

2. Human caused reduction

Natural areas are converted to farms, housing subdivisions, shopping
malls, marinas and industrial centres. For example, when a forest is
cleared, it is not just the trees that are destroyed, but also every other plants and animals that occupy that destroyed ecosystem, either permanently or temporarily also suffers.

Importance Biodiversity conservation?

Biodiversity is the backbone for agriculture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, forestry and a host of other applied branches of biology. Biodiversity is fast becoming the fundamental requirement on which the new industrial developments and innovations are going to be based. Biodiversity will offer in the coming years, new sources of food, medicine and other human requirements.

To save the races of endangered and endemic species the bio
resources should be identified and the hotspots in each country should be given prior importance to conservation. Only then the remaining species at the verge of extinction could be saved.

Consequences of Losing Biodiversity

Many species have already become extinct and we do not know
really what we are losing when we lose species. In future we might lose a keystone species, a species whose role is absolutely vital for the survival of many other species in an ecosystem. For example, the Orchid bees play a vital role in tropical forests by pollinating trees. If they disappear, the eventual fall of that ecosystem is evident. This loss may remove and constrict the natural habitats in which wild species live. Recreational, aesthetic and commercial losses will also be inevitable.

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Waste water treatment and management

Waste water treatment and management

The main steps in typical water treatment plants are coagulation,
settling and filtration to remove suspended particles, aeration to remove the volatile substances most responsible for taste and odour, and chlorination to kill pathogenic organisms.

For the treatment of sewage, primary treatment consists of
mechanical filtration, screening, and settling, followed by chlorination. It
removes 50 to 65% of the suspended solids. (Waste water treatment and management)

In secondary treatment the organic wastes are transformed by
bacteria in the treatment plant, where oxygen is provided by aeration,
instead of depleting dissolved oxygen in the receiving waters.

The sludge from this process, consisting largely of bacterial masses, is concentrated and processed further in an anaerobic digester. (Waste water treatment and management)

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Management of non hazardous wastes – Solid Waste Management

Management of non hazardous wastes – Solid Waste Management

1.Sanitary land fills :

The refuse is spread in a hollow land or in a trench
and compacted with a layer of clear sand fill. The sanitary land fills are far
more desirable than open dumps but the ground water contamination is
always a potential problem. Once a land fill operation has been completed
the site must be inspected periodically. This land fill is suitable for
recreational activities such as parks and play ground. (Management of non hazardous wastes)

2.Incineration :

Municipal incinerators burn combustible solid waste and
melt certain non-combustible materials. Since the high temperature destroys
pathogens and their vectors, it is a good method of disposal from health
point of view. The incineration can reduce the volume of solid waste by 80 to
90 percent. (Management of non hazardous wastes)

3.Reuse and recycling techniques : 

Resource recovery is a broad term
that is used for the retrieval of valuable materials or energy from a waste.
The separating out of materials such as rubber, glass, paper and scrap metal
from refuse and reprocessing them for reuse is named as reclamation of waste
or recycling.

Paper (54% recovery) can be repulped and reprocessed into
recycled paper, cardboard, and other paper products; finally ground and
sold as cellulose insulators or shredded and composted.

Glass (20% recovery) can be crushed, remelted and made into new
containers or crushes used as a substitute for gravel or sand in construction
materials such as concrete and asphalt. (Management of non hazardous wastes)

Some forms of plastics (2.2 % recovery) can be remelted and
fabricated into carpet fibre, fill for insulated apparel, irrigation drainage, tiles
and sheet plastics.

Metals can be melted and refabricated (39% recovery).
Food wastes and yard wastes (leaves, grass etc.) can be composted
to produce humus soil conditioner.

Textiles can be shredded and used to strengthen recycled paper
products. Old tyres can be remelted or shredded and incorporated into
highway asphalt.

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser
Categories
12th Zoology

Management of hazardous wastes

Management of hazardous wastes

Hazardous wastes may remain dangerous for thousands of years.
The hazardous waste include radioactive refuse, metallic compounds,
organic solvents, acid asbestos, organic cyanides, pathological hospital
wastes, disposable medical equipments and tools.
The following methods are adopted for the disposal of hazardous
wastes.

1. Land fills : (Management of hazardous wastes)

There are permanent storage facilities for military related
liquid and radioactive waste materials in secured lands. High level radio
active wastes are stored in deep underground storage.
Wastes are carefully contained to prevent cross – mixing of reactive
substances. The land fill is capped with impervious clay to prevent infiltration
and percolation of water through the fill. Fill bottom is lined and provided
with drainage system to contain and remove any leakage that occurs.
Monitoring the wells provides a final check.

2. Deep – well injection : Management of hazardous wastes

It involves drilling a well into dry, porous material below groundwater. Hazardous waste liquids are pumped into the well. They are soaked into the porous material and made to remain isolated indefinitely. However fractures in the impermeable layer may permit the injected wastes to escape and contaminate ground water.

3. Surface impoundments : Management of hazardous wastes

This method is used to dispose large amounts of water carrying relatively small amounts of chemical wastes. Surface impoundments are simple excavated depressions (ponds) into which liquid wastes are drained. Solid wastes settle and accumulate while water
evaporates. If the pond bottom is well sealed and if evaporation equals
input, wastes may be stored in the impoundment indefinitely.

4. Incineration : Management of hazardous wastes

The hazardous biomedical wastes are usually
disposed off by means of incineration. Human anatomical wastes, discarded
medicines, toxic drugs, blood, pus, animal wastes, microbiological and
biotechnological wastes etc are called Bio-medical wastes.

5. Bioremediation : Management of hazardous wastes

This is another rapidly developing clean up
technology. Cleaning the environment with biological options such as
microbes and plants is called bioremediation. Some naturally occurring
bacteria and other microorganisms have the capability to degrade or absorb
or detoxify the wastes such as heavy metals. Many plant materials are
successfully used as adsorbents for xenobiotics (phytoremediation).
Genetically Engineered Microorganisms (GEMS) are currently produced in
large scale to remove the hazardous radionuclides and heavy metals such as
mercury, chromium, cadmium etc. Certain plants such as Gibberella fusarium
were able to breakdown cyanide and reduce it to a non-toxic form. The
bacteria Pseudomonas, nicknamed as ‘super – bug’ are capable of
degrading variety of toxic compounds and also degrade oil.

Related Topics in Zoology:

Bio Zoology All Important Topics

  1. Human population and explosion
  2. Population Explosion
  3. Growing Population and Environmental impacts
  4. Global warming – Green house effect
  5. Ozone layer depletion
  6. Prevention and Effect of Ozone depletions
  7. Waste management – Classification
  8. Management of hazardous wastes
  9. Management of non hazardous wastes
  10. Waste water treatment and management
  11. Biodiversity
  12. Conservation of Biodiversity
  13. Characteristics of a Bioreserve
  14. Energy crisis and its environmental impact
  15. Steps to be taken to resolve energy crisis
  16. Environmental impacts of Power Sources
  17. Poverty and environment
  18. Fresh water crisis and management

Unit 6. APPLIED BIOLOGY Topic List Zoology

  1. Livestock and Management
  2. Important cattle breeds and their characteristics
  3. Milch breeds (or) Dairy breeds
  4. Dual purpose breeds & Draught breeds
  5. Exotic breeds of cattle
  6. Common diseases and control in Cattle – Contagious diseases
  7. Non-contagious diseases – Cattle
  8. Techniques adopted in cattle breeding
  9. Poultry Breeds
  10. Farming methods
  11. Poultry byproducts
  12. Fish Pond
  13. Edible Fishes Of Tamilnadu
  14. Medical Lab Techniques – Stethoscope
  15. Sphygmomanometer
  16. Haemocytometer
  17. Urine Sugar analysis
  18. ECG Electrocardiogram
  19. Computed Tomography CT
  20. Endoscopy (Laproscopy) techniques , Artificial Pacemaker
  21. Autoanalyser