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This page intentionally left blank NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL (P) LTD., PUBLISHERS New Delhi · Bangalore · Chennai · Cochin · Guwahati · Hyderabad Jalandhar · Kolkata · Lucknow · Mumbai · Ranchi Visit us at www.newagepublishers.com Copyright © 2006 New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers Published by New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher. All inquiries should be emailed to rights@newagepublishers.com ISBN : 978-81-224-2433-1 NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL (P) LTD., PUBLISHERS 4835/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi - 110002 Visit us at www.newagepublishers.com Introduction: 5 Preface: Ecology teaches us how to lead a healthy and progressive life while living in harmony with nature. In many countries, however, despite its extreme relevance, ecology is understood by very few. Lack of this understanding has resulted in many ills, particularly impoverishment in the quality of lives of their citizens as well as the environment they live in. This book is a humble attempt to take basic concepts of ecology to the common man because it is they who matter. By their intelligent or unintelligent acts, they can make or mar the environment they live in. Much of the future happiness of mankind depends on how we use our environment. Since the target population of this book is the common man, I have deliberately avoided technicalities to explain various concepts. My teaching experience over three decades regarding ecology has convinced me that basic ecological principles can be explained without using technical jargon. The book is presented in ten small chapters arranged in conceptual sequence. For interested readers, information regarding technical literature is given at appropriate places. Introduction: 7 Contents: Preface: v Acknowledgement: vii 1. Introduction: 1 2. The Ecosystem: 15 3. Productivity: 33 4. Bioenergetics: 65 5. Bio-Geo Cycles of Chemicals: 83 6. Populations: 103 7. Community: 149 8. Biomes: 173 9. Pollution: 219 10. Problems and Solutions: 241 Bibliography: 280 Introduction: 1 Chapter I: Introduction (The Beginning) Topics: I.1. History and meaning of the word Ecology I.2. Ecological consciousness in ancient world I.3. Renaissance and anthropocentrism I.4. Rebirth of ecology and its multidisciplinary nature I.5. Aim of this book I.6. A bird’s eye view of this book Introduction: 3 Chapter I: Introduction (The Beginning) 1. History and meaning of the word Ecology 1.1. Soon after Charles Darwin wrote his revolutionary book, "The Origin of Species" in 1859, ecological thoughts began to hover upon the minds of biologists. In 1870, German biologist Ernst Haeckel coined the word Oekologie using two Greek words oikos meaning "home" and logos meaning "science". From Oekologie arose the word Ecology and it was first used in 1892. 1.2. Briefly, ecology is that branch of biology which deals with interactions between various living beings and their environments. Or more simply, ecology is the art which shows us how to live in harmony with nature. 1.3. The general concept of ecology however, is not post-Darwinian but definitely pre-Darwinian. While voyaging round the world in H.M.S. Beagle from 1827-31, Darwin was much taken by the glowing accounts of tropical scenery of the Amazon river valley of South America by a much earlier German naturalist traveller Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859). Like Humboldt, Darwin too was much struck with the varieties of animals and plants of different countries visited during this voyage. 1.4. So one can fairly say that Alexander von Humboldt laid the seeds of modern ecology in the minds of biologists. Humboldt’s book "Personal Narrative" & Darwin's book "The Origin of Species" (1859) are classics of natural history. These surely can be looked upon as the starting points of today's ecology. 1.5. Since Humboldt, Darwin and Haeckel, many ecological studies began all over Europe and North America. Gradually a general meaning of the word Ecology emerged. Today, ecology means the study of relationships between living beings with their non-living environments and vice-versa. Naturally, ecological processes are complex varying from species to species and involving several factors according to the environments they live in. The Beginning: Darwin’s voyage in H.M.S. 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