Our Environment Class 10 Notes cover Chapter 13 of the Class 10 Science Syllabus, where students learn about the environment and how living organisms interact with physical surroundings.
The chapter introduces ecosystems, food chains, food webs, energy flow, biodegradable vs non-biodegradable wastes, environmental issues like pollution and ozone depletion, and ways to protect and manage the environment responsibly.
Our Environment Class 10 Notes
Our Environment Class 10 Notes are given here. These notes align with the CBSE Class 10th syllabus as well as the latest exam pattern:
What is the Environment?
The environment refers to everything around an organism. It includes both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements. These factors interact in complex ways. Our actions greatly impact the environment.
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with their non-living surroundings. Examples include a pond or a forest. Ecosystems maintain a balance through constant exchange of energy and matter. They can be natural (like grasslands) or human-made (like gardens).
Components of an Ecosystem
Ecosystems have two main parts:
Biotic Components
These are the living organisms within an ecosystem.
-
Producers (Autotrophs): Organisms that make their own food. Plants and some bacteria use sunlight through photosynthesis. Phytoplanktons are tiny water plants that float and produce food.
-
Consumers (Heterotrophs): Organisms that get food by eating others.
-
Herbivores: Eat plants (e.g., deer). Also called primary consumers.
-
Carnivores: Eat other animals (e.g., lions). Can be primary, secondary, or tertiary.
-
Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals (e.g., humans).
|
|
|
-
Decomposers (Saprotrophs): Microorganisms like fungi and bacteria. They break down dead organic matter. Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the soil. They are vital for keeping the environment clean and fertile.
Abiotic Components
These are the non-living physical and chemical parts of an ecosystem.
-
Physical Factors: Soil type, water, air, landforms.
-
Chemical Factors: Carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, minerals like phosphorus and calcium.
-
Climatic Factors: Sunlight, temperature, rainfall, humidity. These affect how organisms live and spread.
Trophic Levels
Trophic levels are feeding positions in a food chain. Energy transfers from one level to the next.
-
First Level: Producers (plants).
-
Second Level: Primary Consumers (herbivores).
-
Third Level: Secondary Consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores).
-
Fourth Level: Tertiary Consumers (carnivores that eat other carnivores).
What is a Food Chain?
A food chain shows how energy flows from one organism to another. Each organism feeds on the one below it. For example, Grass -> Deer -> Lion. Energy moves in one direction. Harmful chemicals can also move up the food chain.
What is a Food Web?
A food web is a network of interconnected food chains. It shows complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem. An organism often has multiple food sources and predators.
Energy Flow
Energy moves through trophic levels. Green plants capture about 1% of solar energy. Only 10% of the energy from one trophic level passes to the next. The remaining 90% is used or lost as heat. This our environment class 10 notes pdf details these energy transfers.
Environmental Problems
Human activities create various environmental challenges. These include pollution and resource depletion.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The ozone layer (O3) in the stratosphere protects Earth from harmful UV radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from refrigerants and aerosols deplete this layer. Ozone depletion causes skin cancer and other health issues. The Montreal Protocol aimed to reduce CFC use.
Garbage Management
Effective waste management is important. Waste types are:
-
Biodegradable Waste: Breaks down naturally (e.g., food scraps, paper).
-
Non-Biodegradable Waste: Does not break down naturally (e.g., plastics, metals, DDT). This type causes significant pollution.
Methods for waste disposal include:
-
Incineration: Burning waste at high temperatures.
-
Landfilling: Burying waste in designated areas.
-
Composting: Converting organic waste into manure.
-
Recycling: Processing waste materials to make new products.
-
Reuse: Using items multiple times.
Biological Magnification
This is the increase in concentration of harmful chemical substances, like pesticides, as they move up the food chain. The highest concentrations appear in top predators. This is an important aspect of Class 10 Science Our Environment Notes.
Related Links