📘 Chapter: Our Environment – Class 10 Science
🔹 1. Introduction to Environment
Environment refers to everything that surrounds us – living (biotic) and non-living
(abiotic) components.
Includes air, water, soil, animals, plants, microorganisms, etc.
🔹 2. Ecosystem
Definition:
An ecosystem is a self-contained unit of living organisms (plants, animals, and decomposers)
and their non-living environment.
Types of Ecosystem:
1. Natural – Forest, ponds, oceans, deserts.
2. Artificial/Man-made – Aquarium, garden, crop fields.
Components of Ecosystem:
1. Biotic (Living) Components:
Producers: Plants (autotrophs) that make food using sunlight via photosynthesis.
Consumers: Organisms that consume other organisms.
o Primary Consumers (Herbivores) – Cow, deer.
o Secondary Consumers (Carnivores) – Frog, small birds.
o Tertiary Consumers – Snake, eagle.
Decomposers: Microorganisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead matter.
2. Abiotic (Non-living) Components:
Sunlight, air, temperature, water, soil, minerals, etc.
🔹 3. Food Chains
Definition:
A food chain shows the flow of energy from one organism to another.
Example:
Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Eagle
Producers → Herbivores → Carnivores → Top Carnivores
Features:
Energy flow is unidirectional.
Usually 3–5 steps due to energy loss at each level.
🔹 4. Food Web
A food web is a network of interconnected food chains.
It shows multiple paths of energy flow in an ecosystem.
More stable than a single food chain.
🔹 5. Trophic Levels
Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level.
Trophic Levels:
1. 1st Level – Producers (plants)
2. 2nd Level – Primary consumers (herbivores)
3. 3rd Level – Secondary consumers (small carnivores)
4. 4th Level – Tertiary consumers (larger carnivores)
🔹 6. Energy Flow in the Ecosystem
The flow of energy follows the 10% law.
Only 10% of energy is passed to the next trophic level; the rest is lost as heat.
Example:
Plants capture 1000 J → Herbivore gets 100 J → Carnivore gets 10 J
🔹 7. Decomposers – Role & Importance
Break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients into the soil.
Maintain ecosystem balance.
Example: Bacteria, Fungi.
🔹 8. Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Substances
Biodegradable:
Can be broken down by decomposers.
Examples: Food waste, paper, wood, cow dung.
Non-Biodegradable:
Cannot be broken down easily by natural processes.
Stay in the environment for long periods.
Examples: Plastic, glass, synthetic chemicals.
🔹 9. Ozone Layer and Its Depletion
Ozone Layer:
A layer in the stratosphere that protects Earth from harmful UV rays.
Ozone (O₃) is formed when oxygen (O₂) absorbs UV radiation.
Ozone Depletion:
Caused by CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) used in refrigerants and sprays.
Leads to increased UV rays reaching Earth → skin cancer, crop damage, etc.
🔹 10. Waste Management
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – 3R's to manage waste.
Avoid plastics as they are non-biodegradable.
Promote use of cloth or jute bags instead of polythene.
🔹 11. Human Activities and Environmental Impact
Deforestation, pollution, industrialization harm ecosystems.
Sustainable development is essential to conserve the environment.
📝 Important Points to Remember:
Energy flow in ecosystem is unidirectional.
Decomposers play a vital role in nutrient recycling.
Ozone depletion is a major environmental concern.
Waste should be properly segregated and managed.
Use of eco-friendly products and alternatives to plastic is encouraged.
🔹 3. Important Terms to Remember
Term Meaning
Organisms that make their own food (e.g.
Autotrophs
plants)
Heterotrophs Organisms that depend on others for food
Herbivores Plant-eaters (e.g. deer, cow)
Carnivores Meat-eaters (e.g. lion, tiger)
Eat both plants and animals (e.g. humans,
Omnivores
bear)
Break down dead organisms (e.g. fungi,
Decomposers
bacteria)
CFCs Chemicals that cause ozone depletion
🌍 What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the rise in Earth’s average temperature caused by the
increased concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂),
methane (CH₄), and others due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels,
deforestation, and pollution.
Main Causes of Global Warming
1. Burning of fossil fuels (coal, petrol, diesel)
→ releases carbon dioxide (CO₂)
2. Deforestation
→ fewer trees to absorb CO₂
3. Industrialization
→ increases emissions of harmful gases
4. Use of refrigerators and air conditioners
→ releases CFCs
🏭 Greenhouse Effect (Short Explanation)
Greenhouse gases trap the Sun’s heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
This is a natural process but extra gases due to human activities trap more heat,
leading to global warming.
🧪 Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
These are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Here are the main ones:
Gas 📌
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Methane (CH₄)
Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Water vapour (H₂O)
♻️Difference Between Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Substances
Biodegradable Substances Non-Biodegradable Substances
Can be broken down by natural decomposers like Cannot be broken down by natural
bacteria and fungi. processes.
Do not cause pollution if disposed properly. Can cause long-term pollution.
Examples: Plastic, glass, metals,
Examples: Food waste, paper, wood, cow dung.
synthetic fabrics.
Stay in the environment for hundreds
Decompose and mix with soil easily.
of years.
🌿 Difference Between Food Chain and Food Web
Food Chain Food Web
A single, straight path of energy flow in an A network of interconnected food chains in an
ecosystem. ecosystem.
Shows only one path of energy transfer. Shows multiple paths of energy transfer.
Less stable – if one organism is removed, More stable – organisms have alternative food
the chain may break. sources.
Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Example: Grass → Grasshopper/Frog/Bird →
Snake → Eagle Snake → Eagle
🌱🌍 Difference Between Biotic and Abiotic Components
Biotic Components Abiotic Components
These are the living components of the These are the non-living components of the
environment. environment.
Include plants, animals, bacteria, fungi,
Include air, water, sunlight, temperature, soil.
humans.
They can grow, reproduce, and respond to
They do not grow or reproduce.
stimuli.
Interact with both biotic and abiotic Influence the survival and activities of biotic
components. components.
