Biodegradable Wastes
Substances that are broken down by the biological processes are said to be biodegradable. These substances are decomposed through the actions of fungi, bacteria, and other living organisms. Temperature and sunlight also play an important role in the decomposition of biodegradable substances.
For Examples: Food waste, trees leaves, urine and fecal matter, sewage agricultural residue, paper, wood, cloth, cow-dung etc.
Non-Biodegradable Wastes
Substances that are not broken down by biological processes. These substances may be in solid, liquid or gaseous form. These substances are inert and simply persist in the environment for a long time or may harm the various members of the ecosystem.
For Examples: These includes DDT (Di-chloro-di phenyl trichloro ethane-in-pheneyle the cheoro ethane), insecticides, pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic aluminum, plastics, polythene bags, glass, radioactive wastes. These non-biodegradable wastes are major pollutants of the environment.
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a self-contained unit of living things (plants, animals and decomposers), and their non-living environment (soil, air and water). For example; a forest, a pond, a lake, a green land etc.
In an ecosystem, energy and matter are continuously exchanged between living and non-living components.
Food Chain
The sequence of living organisms in a community in which one organism consumes another organism to transfer food energy, is called a food chain.
The topics discussed in this chapter are as follows:
- Ecosystem
- Trophic levels
- Law of conservation of energy
- Energy flow
- Food chain
- Food web
- Pollution
Students can view and download the chapter from the link given below.
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NCERT Solutions for Chapter 15: Our Environment
Also Check
Chapter 1: Chemical Reactions and Equations
Chapter 2: Acids, Bases and Salts
Chapter 3: Metals and Non-Metals
Chapter 4: Carbon and its compounds
Chapter 5: Periodic Classification of Elements
Chapter 6: Life Processes
Chapter 7: Control and Coordination
Chapter 8: How do organisms reproduce?
Chapter 9: Heredity and Evolution
Chapter 10: Light - Reflection and Refraction
Chapter 11: The Human Eye and the Colourful World
Chapter 12: Electricity
Chapter 13: Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
Chapter 14: Sources of Energy
Chapter 16: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
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UNEP = United Nations Environment Programme