We have often heard that saving the environment is important to save our planet. The environment sustains the life of living organisms. In a broader sense, the environment is the surrounding in which living organisms live, on the other hand, the ecosystem is an organized system of organisms in which living organisms interact with the environment. Environment refers to the area where organisms live but the ecosystem is the organized community of living beings where biotic and abiotic elements are in continuous interaction with each other.
The environment is everything around us, including living organisms and nonliving beings such as soil, air, water, etc. The environment helps nourish life on Earth. But, the ecosystem is a community of living beings and nonliving components interacting with each other.
Environment Vs Ecosystem
|
Environment |
Ecosystem |
|
It is the surrounding or area where organisms exist. |
It is the community of organisms along with non-living components where the biotic and abiotic components are in continuous interaction with each other. |
|
It is composed of physical components. |
It is composed of biological or living components. |
|
A living space for the elements is provided by the environment on our planet. |
Interaction between the living and non-living elements is provided by the ecosystem. |
|
It makes living possible on Earth, by providing necessary elements for survival. |
The ecosystem provides the relation between components to live. |
|
The environment is differentiated into macro and micro. |
The ecosystem is either aquatic, terrestrial, or others. |
|
When an organism moves from one place to another, the environment changes. |
The ecosystem remains the same despite the movement of the organism. |
|
The environment is an area at a given time. |
The ecosystem comprises all the essential life processes such as photosynthesis carried out by living organisms. |
What is the Environment?
The environment is everything that surrounds us, it is the area we live in, at a given point in time. It enables us to live on earth by sustaining life. It comprises all the physical, chemical, and natural forces that exist on our planet. The environment is derived from the word ‘environ’ which means surrounding in French. The biotic components of the environment are all organisms like birds, animals, human beings, reptiles, including the microorganisms like bacteria, algae, viruses, and so on. The abiotic components of the environment are soil, land, mountain, river, cloud, air, including physical components like temperature, humidity, and so on. The environment is very crucial for the good health and sustenance of life on Earth.
However, over the past few years’ human activities, modernization, and industrialization have deteriorated the environmental conditions. Deforestation, air pollution, acid rain, soil erosion are the consequences of environmental imbalance that also affect the life of living organisms. It is very important to look after the environment and take measures to save it and keep it healthy.
What is an Ecosystem?
The ecosystem is considered the structural and functional unit of ecology. It is a community where the living and nonliving components of the environment are in continuous interaction. It can be termed as the chain of interactions taking place between living organisms and the environment. It can be small or huge. It can be an oasis in the desert or an ocean that covers thousands of miles. It is responsible for maintaining stability within the environment. An ecosystem is either aquatic, that which exists in the water or terrestrial, which means land-based ecosystems. Different land-based ecosystems are forests, grassland, tundra, and desert. An aquatic ecosystem is either freshwater or marine. All biotic and abiotic components are interrelated in an ecosystem. It is always in a state of continuous evolution.
Importance of learning Environmental Studies by Students
-
The environment is the one common home of every living being on the planet and beyond. Environment makes living possible and plausible for human beings, flora and fauna as well. As a result, the very basis of our existence should be preached and treated with care and love.
-
Learning about the Environment helps students to understand the importance and our responsibility towards our ecosystem and environment as a whole. And they learn to protect the environment and nurture the values of a clean, green, and safe planet.
-
Environmental studies help students to develop their emotional cognizance, sensitivity, and sensibility towards Environment. This helps build a solid foundation to ensure a healthy balance of our life cycle and relationship with nature in future generations.
-
In this regard, is an online learning platform for students that provides free learning material for students along with various free academic and non-academic courses.
-
As a result, students can kickstart their learning for all the subjects including environmental studies from the free learning Micro courses with a topic-wise explanation provided by the talented team of teaching faculty at .