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Thursday 13 December 2018


Chapter Natural Resources

Chapter Natural Resources

NATURAL RESOURCES
Rain
Rain is formed by evaporation and condensation of water through water cycle in. 
Acid Rain
Acid rain is caused by the release of the gases like SO2 (sulphur dioxide) and NO2(nitrogen dioxide) released from the emission of vehicles and combustion of fuels. These gases dissolve in rain water to form nitric acid and sulphuric acid.
Water
Water is renewable resource.
It is essential for all physiological activities of plants and animals.
Water is mainly present in two forms:
(i) Surface water
(ii) Ground water.
Water Pollution
An undesirable change in the physical, biological or chemical properties of water (due to addition for foreign organic, inorganic substances) that adversely affects the aquatic life, and makes water less fit or unfit for use, is called water pollution.
The main causes of water pollution are as follows:
(i) Addition of harmful substances like fertilisers and pesticides to water
(ii) Removal of desirable substances like oxygen from water
(iii) Change in water temperature
Soil
It is the uppermost layer of Earth’s crust, which supports terrestrial plants, animals and microorganisms.
It is formed from the weathering of rocks by physical, chemical and biological activities by the action of wind, water and sun.
It is made up mainly of mineral particles, organic materials, air, water and living organisms
Humus : The decayed living organisms present in soil is called humus.
Humus makes the soil porous and allows water and air to penetrate deep underground making the soil more fertile.
Soil pollution :
Removal of useful components from the soil and addition of other substances, which adversely affect the fertility of the soil and kill micro-organisms living in it is called soil pollution.
Fertilizers and pesticides destroy the soil structure.
Mosses or Bryophytes are indicator of soil pollution.
Soil Erosion
Removal of topmost layer of soil by wind, water or other activities is called soil erosion.
Causes of soil erosion
Main factors responsible for the soil erosion are:
Over grazing of land.
Removal of top soil by wind (storms) and water (floods).
Deforestation
Leaving land uncultivated for long time.
Effects of Soil Erosion:
Loss of fertility due to loss of topmost fertile soil which results in desertification.
Landslides in hilly areas.
Clogging of water drains and water reservoirs by the washed off soil.
Prevention of Soil Erosion:
Soil can be prevented from getting eroded by implementing the following methods:
Intensive cropping.
Terrace farming.
Aforestation
Making strong embankments along the river banks.
Chipko Movement
It was a movement started to conserve forests.
The movement was led by Shri. Sunder Lal Bahuguna in Garhwal Himalayas.



Biogeochemical cycles
A constant interaction between biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere makes a system and these flow of components form a cycle called biogeochemical cycle.
Some prominent cycles in nature are described below:
1. Water cycle
The whole process in which water evaporates and falls on the land as rain and later flows back into the sea via rivers is known as the water-cycle.
Main steps involved in water cycles are:
a. Evaporation: Water on earth changes to vapour due to sun’s heat and rises above.
b. Transpiration: Plants absorb water through the roots and then give off excess water in the form of vapor through pores in their leaves.
c. Respiration: It is a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide along with water vapour.
d. Precipitation: It is the process of condensation of water vapour in atmosphere into liduid which fall down in the form of rain, snow, sleet or hail.
e. Percolation and Absorption: Some of the precipitation soaks into the ground to reach the underground water, some on leand gets absorbed by the plants, crops and trees to grow and the rest downhill as runoff to reach the seas to complete the whole water cycle.
2. Nitrogen cycle
The sequence in which nitrogen passes from the atmosphere to the soil and organisms, and then is eventually released back into the atmosphere, is called nitrogen cycle.
Nitrogen cycle involves following processes:
a. Nitrogen Fixation
It is a processes by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into the form which can be easily absorbed the organisms on earth.
Nitrogen Fixation is carried out by following ways:
By lightning: When lightning occurs, the high temperature and pressure convert nitrogen and water into nitrates and nitrites which get dissolved in water and are readily used by aquatic plants and animals.
By bacteria- Molecular nitrogen is converted into nitrates and nitrites by free living bacteria or the bacteria like Rhizobium present in the root nodules of legumes. Some bacteria convert the nitrogen gas (N2) to ammonia (NH3) which plants can use.
b. Nitrification: It is the process by which ammonia is converted into nitrites and nitrates.
c. Ammonification: It is the process by which soil bacteria decompose dead organic matter and release ammonia into soil.
d. Denitrification: It is the process by which nitrates are converted into atmospheric nitrogen back to complete the cycle.
3. Carbon cycle
Image result for carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon moves from the atmosphere into the Earth and its organisms and then back again.
Carbon cycle involves the following processes:
 Photosynthesis : In this process plants form their food by absorbing the atmospheric carbon in the form of carbondioxide gas and release oxygen gas.
Respiration:  In this process plants and animals respire resulting in breakdown of glucose stored in the plants and animals to release CO2, water and energy.
Decomposition: In this process dead plants and animals get decomposed to release carbon into the environment.
Combustion: Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide gas into the environment as by product.
Movement of carbon from the atmosphere to the oceans: The oceans, and other water bodies, soak up about a quarter of the carbon dioxide to form carbonates.
Thus, the amount of carbon –dioxide, so formed, is almost equal to the amount of carbon dioxide consumed & hence, its concentration in air remains same.
4. Oxygen cycle
Simple diagram of the oxygen cycle
The cyclic process by which oxygen element is circulated continuously through the living and non-living components of the biosphere constitutes oxygen cycle.
Oxygen cycle involves the following processes:
a. Respiration: All living organisms take in simple sugars (glucose) and oxygen and release carbon dioxide, water and energy.
b. Combustion: During the processes of combustion (or burning), oxygen reacts with carbon to form carbon dioxide gas.
c. Photosybthesis: Carbondioxide gas from atmosphere is absorbed by green plants in the presence of sunlight to form carbohydrates and oxygen. Thus, oxygen is liberated in atmosphere.
Green House Effect
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and Chlorofuorocarbans present in atmosphere prevents the escape of heat falling on Earth’s surface rather than absorbing it. This keeps the Earth warm and the phenomenon is known greenhouse effect.
Ozone layer :
Three molecules of oxygen combine to form ozone which forms a layer in stratosphere.
It acts as a protective shield as it prevents harmful ultraviolet radiations to reach the earth.
Compounds like CFCs (Chloro fluorocarbons) reacts with ozone releasing molecular oxygen resulting in breakdown of ozone, which is termed as ozone depletion.

Thursday 22 November 2018

Diversity in living organisms
Important terms:
1)Biodiversity :  the variety of life forms found in a region
2)Classification: arranging organisms into various groups on the basis of similarities and differences is called classification
3)Kingdom : a group of all organism sharing a set of distinguished common characters
4)Species : a group of similar individuals with similar morphological characters that are capable of interbreeding and produce their own kind
5)Bilateral symmetry : body organization in which one medium plane can divide an organism into two halves, each being a mirror image of the other
6)Radial symmetry : arrangement of similar parts around a central body as in a wheel is known as radial symmetry. Any longitudinal plane along the diameter can divide the animal into exact halves
7)Coelom : body cavity in which various body organs are placed in triploblastic animals is termed as coelom
8)Haemocoel : a reduced body cavity which is filled with blood
9)Diploblastic : animals having a body made of two layers of cells
10)Triploblastic : animals having a body made of three layers of cells ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm
11)Ectoderm : outermost layer formed in the development of a multicellular animal from which skin and nervous system is derived
12)Mesoderm : middle layer formed in the early development of a multicellular animal from which muscles are derivd
13)Endoderm : innermost layer formed in the early development of a multicellular animal from which the gut and digestive organs are derived
14)Endoskeleton : the bony and cartilaginous supporting structure within the animal body
15)Exoskeleton : chitinous ,or other hard material covering the body surface and providing protection and support
16)Operculum : a structure serving as lid or cover in certain animals
17)Ostia : holes leading to a canal system in sponges
18)Notochord : a flexible rod of turgid cells located along the back of the animals separting the nervous tissue from the gut. It is replaced by the vertebral column in adult vertebrates. It is a part of skeleton system
19)Nerve cord : a solid strand of nervous tissue forming part of central nervous system in vertebrates. Nerve cord is a part of nervous system
Short Answer Questions

Q1 What are the criteria on which Whittaker based his system of classification
A  1) cell structure----prokaryotic or eukaryotic
     2) body organization----unicellular or multicellular
     3) modes of nutrition--- autotrophs or heterotrophs
Q 2 Enlist the main features of organisms placed under Protista
A  1) most of the members are unicellular and primarily aquatic
     2) euokaryotic cell organelles and nucleus
     3) bear flagella or cilia for movement
     4) mode of nutrition is absorptive, ingestive or photo autotrophic
     5) reproduction may be asexual or sexual
Q 3 Main features of kingdom Fungi
A  i) non green due to absence of chlorophyll
    ii) heterotrophs , obtaining food from dead and decaying organisms by absorption
   iii) cell wall is chitinous and cellulosic
   iv) asexual reproduction is by spore formation. Some also exhibits sexual reproduction
Q4 Main characteristics of kingdom Plantae
A  i) all complex multicellular plants that prepare their own food by photosynthesis
    ii) possess cell wall made up of cellulose
    iii) immobile and donot show locomotion
    iv) unlimited growth and grow throughout their lives
Q5 On which basis is the plant kingdom classified
A   i) evolution
     ii) presence or absence of vascular tissues for transport of food and water
    iii) presence or absence of seeds
    iv) presence or absence of fruits
Q6  Main features of Algae
A  i) autotrophs as they possess chlorophyll
    ii) mainly aquatic but some also grow in moist places
 iii) body is not divided into root, stem and leaves
Q7 Main features of division Bryophyta
A  i) Bryophytes are called amphibians of plant kingdom
    ii) The plant body is commonly differentiated to form stem and leaf like structures. But there is no specific tissue for conduction of water and food
     iii) vegetative reproduction is very common
     iv) sexual reproduction is of oogamous typei.e. the male gamete is small and motile and female gamete is non motile and large
    v) e.g. moss, Funaria and Marchantia  
Q8 Main features of Pteridophytes
A  i) plant body is divided into root, stem and leaves
    ii) they have a well developed vascular system(xylem and phloem)
   iii) multicellular reproductive system. The fertilized egg form embryo
Q9 Main features of kingdom Monera
A   i) unicellular, microscopic prokaryotes living in moist conditions
    ii) cell wall may or may not be present
   iii) nucleus is not enclosed in nuclear membrane
   iv) cell organelles are also not covered with a membrane
   v) mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or heterotrophic
  vi) reproduction is asexual by binary fission or budding
Q10 How are phanerogams classified?
A  Phanerogams are classified depending on the presence or absence of fruits. They are of two types
i)                   Gymnosperms possess naked seeds i.e.not enclosed by fruits
ii)                 Angiosperms , in which the seeds are enclosed within the fruit
Angiosperms are further divided into two types
i)                   Monocotyledons, which have single cotyledon in their seeds e.g. wheat, rice etc.
ii)                 Dicotyledons, which have two cotyledons in their seeds e.g. gram, pea etc.
Q11 Name the five kingdoms of organisms and the types of organisms present in them
A  i) Monera : containing bacteria and cyanobacteria
    ii)Protista : having unicellular organisms
iii)               Plantae : contains all the photosynthetic plants
iv)               Fungi : contains the organisms in which chlorophyll is absent and the food is obtained through absorption
v)                 Animalia : contains all the multicellular consumers i.e. the animals which depend on plants or other animals for food


Q12 What are Lichens?
A  Lichens are called compound plants as algae and fungi live together in close association, as a result of which both are benefitted. This relationship is called symbiosis. They occur as greyish green growths on rocks, bark of the tree or on the ground
Q13 What are mycoplasma?
A  Mycoplasmas are the smallest and the simplest organisms . they are prokaryotes having nucleoid. They are heterotrophs  and their body can change forms easily. They are also called MLO,i.e. Mycoplasma Like Organisms
Q14 What is the criterion for classification of organisms as belonging to kingdom Monera or Protista?
A  Prokaryotes belong to the kingdom Monera and single celled eukaryotes belong to the kingdom Protista
Q15 How are gymnosperms different from angiosperms
A  Gymnosperms : plants of this group are usually evergreen, perennial and woody. The plants bear naked seeds. Ovules are not enclosed in ovary. Xylem lacks vessels and phloem does not contain companion cells
  Angiosperms : plants of this group may be annual, biennial or perennial. They may be woody or non woody. Seeds are enclosed in fruits. Reproductive organs are flowers. Xylem contains vessels and phloem contains companion cells
Q16 How are the criteria for deciding divisions in plants different from the criteria for deciding the sub groups among the animals?
A The criteria for dividing the plants include
1)     Differentiation of the plant body
2)     Vascular tissues
3)     Seed producing ability
4)     The seeds enclosed within the fruits
But the animals can’t be divided into groups on these criteria. It is because the basic designs of animals are very different from plants. They are divided on the basis of their body structure.







Diversity (2)
Animal kingdom:- salient features of various phylum
1.    Phylum Porifera
i)            Found in marine or fresh water
ii)           Multicellular, do not form tissues
iii)         Radial symmetry
iv)         Sessile(attached to surface),can’t move
v)           Pores all over the body,osculum on the top
vi)         Reproduction,asexual by budding and sexual by fertilization
vii)        Commonly called sponges
viii)      E.g. Sycon,Spongilla
2.   Coelenterata
i)            Found in aquatic (fresh water or marine)
ii)           Radial symmetry
iii)         Live either in colonies e.g. corals or solitary
iv)         E.g. Hydra, Jelly fish, Sea anemone
3.   Platyhelminthes (flat worm)
i)            Parasitic, ribbon like
ii)           Bilateral symmetry
iii)         Triploblastic
iv)         Hermaphrodite(both sex organs , male and female present in one animal)
v)           E.g. Tape worm, Liver fluke
   4. Nematoda (aschelminthes)
      i) parasitic
      ii) bilateral symmetry
      iii) cylindrical body
       iv)triploblastic
       v)Sexes are separate
vi)         E.g. Round worm, Pin worm (Ascaris)
4.   Annelida
5.   Annelida
i)            Found in fresh water, marine water or even on land
ii)           Body is elongated and segmented
iii)         Bilateral symmetry
iv)         True body cavity
v)           Sexes may be separated or united
vi)         E.g. Earthworm, Leech
6.   Arthopoda
i)            Found everywhere
ii)           Arthropod (jointed legs)
iii)         Open circulatory systemi.e. blood doesn’t flow in blood vessels
iv)         Body divided into head ,thorax and abdomen
v)           Bilateral symmetry and segmented
vi)         Body covered with chitinous exoskeleton
vii)        Body cavity is blood filled and called haemocoel
viii)      E.g. Cockroach, Butterfly
7.   Mollusca
i)            Soft, little segmented
ii)           Bilateral symmetry
iii)         Open circulatory system
iv)         Kidney like organs for excretion
v)           Bilateral symmetry
vi)         E.g. Pila (snail) , octopus
8.   Echinodermata
i)            Free living marine animals
ii)           Triploblastic and have coelomic cavitry
iii)         Water driven tube system used for moving around
iv)         Body surface is covered with calcareous spines so they are also called spiny skinned animals
v)           E.g,. Star fish, Sea urchin
9.   Chordate
(A)       Protochordata
i)            Marine animals
ii)           Bilateral symmetry, triploblastic, have coelom
iii)         Notochord is present
iv)         E.g. Balanoglossus, Herdemania
(B)        Vertebrata
i)            possess a solid notochord
ii)           bilateral symmetry
iii)         true vertebral column
iv)         dorsal hollow nerve cord
v)           triploblastic
vi)         respire through lungs and aquatic forms through gills
vii)        there are five classes of vertebrates—Pisces, Amphibians, Reptiles, Aves, Mammalia

Q give the point of differences between non chordates and chordates
A
Non chordates
chordates
1.    vertebral column is absent
2.   central nervous system is solid and ventral
3.   if heart is present,it is dorsal
4.   haemoglobin,if present is dissolved in plasma
5.   the anus is posterior,so no post anal tail
6.   e.g. protozoa, arthopoda
1.    vertebral column is present
2.   central nervous system is hollow and dorsal
3.   heart is ventral
4.   haemoglobin is present in red blood corpuscles
5.   a post anal tail is present
6.   e.g. Pisces, Aves, reptiles etc.

Salient features of classes:-
1)   Pisces
i)            Water living animals
ii)           Skin covered by plates or scales
iii)         Respiration by gills
iv)         Streamlined body with muscular tail
v)           Cold blooded
vi)         Two chambered heart
vii)        Lay eggs
viii)      E.g. Rohu, Sharks, Scolidon
2)  Amphibia:
i)            Found both in water and land
ii)           Moist body without scales
iii)         2 pairs of limbs
iv)         3 chambered heart
v)           Respiration by lungs,gills and skin
vi)         E.g. Frog (Rana tigrina), Toad
3)  Reptillia:
i)            cold blooded
ii)           covered by scales
iii)         respiration by lungs only
iv)         3 chambered heart except crocodile that has 4 chambred heart
v)           E.g. snakes, lizards,crocodile
4)  Aves:
i)            Warm blooded
ii)           4 chambered heart
iii)         Breathe through lungs
iv)         Lay eggs
v)           Body covered by feathers
vi)         Fore limbs modified for flight
vii)        Hollow bones
viii)      Beak is present
ix)         E.g. Pigeon, sppparrow
5)  Mammalia:
i)            Warm blooded
ii)           4 chambered heart
iii)         Skin has hair,sweat glands and oil glands
iv)         Give birth to young ones except Platypus which lay eggs
v)           Presence of mammary glands for production of milk to nourish the young ones
vi)         E.g. rat, whale, man
Q List out some common features in cat,rat and bat
A Bat,cat and rat belong to the class mammalian and all have following common features:
i)            Have notochord at some stages of life cycle
ii)           Are warm blooded
iii)         Have four chambered heart
iv)         Have skin covered with hair and sweat and oil glands

Q Why do we keep snake and turtle in the same class?
A  Both snake and turtle are kept in the same class because both are : i) cold blooded, ii) have scales,iii) breathe through lungs, iv) 3 chambered heart, v) lay eggs without covering

Q Distinguish between the 5 classes of vertebrates on the basis of characters like habitat, kind of exoskeleton, respiratory organs and other distinct features
A Differences b/w  Pisces, Amphibia,Reptilia, Aves and Mammals are as follows
character
Pisces
Amphibia
Reptilia
Aves
Mammals
Habitat
Aquatic
Terrestrial&
aquatic
Terrestrial
Arboreal
Terrestrial
Aquatic&
arboreal
Exoskeleton
Slimy scales
absent
Dry and scaly
Feathers and claws
Hair and nails etc.

Respiratory organs

Gills

Gills ,lungs and skin

Lungs

Lungs

Lungs
Body temperature
Cold blooded
Cold
Cold
Warm
Warm
Heart
2 chambered
3 chambered
3
chambered
4 chambered
4 chambered
Locomotary organs
Fins
Limbs
Limbs but absent in snakes
Wings and limbs
Limbs
Others
Body is streamlined. They are oviparous
They have webbed feet, eggs are laid in water and larvae are aquatic
They are oviparous and some are viviparous e.g. lizard and snake.
Body is covered by feathers and forelimbs are modified into wings. Their bones are hollow
Presence of mammary glands. There are hair on the body. They are viviparous