BHM 2nd SEM EVS Previous year question paper

PART – A

1. Write the cause of loss of biodiversity

• Habitat Destruction: Urbanization, deforestation, and agriculture expansion lead to habitat loss.
• Climate Change: Alters habitats and food sources, impacting species survival.
• Pollution: Contaminates ecosystems, affecting species health.
• Overexploitation: Hunting, fishing, and logging reduce species populations.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species outcompete native species for resources.

1. Explain Wild Life Act

• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, is an Indian legislation enacted to protect plant and animal species. It establishes schedules of protected species, regulates hunting, and establishes protected areas like national parks and sanctuaries.

1. Mention drawback of wind energy

• Intermittent Source: Wind is not constant, leading to unreliable energy production.
• Noise Pollution: Wind turbines generate noise, affecting nearby communities.
• Wildlife Impact: Turbines can be hazardous to birds and bats.
• High Initial Costs: Installation and maintenance can be expensive.

1. State major components of an ecosystem

• Producers: Autotrophic organisms like plants that produce energy through photosynthesis.
• Consumers: Heterotrophic organisms, including herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
• Decomposers: Organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead matter.
• Abiotic Factors: Non-living components like soil, water, and climate.

1. What are the causes of soil pollution?

• Industrial Waste: Dumping of chemicals and heavy metals.
• Agricultural Chemicals: Pesticides and fertilizers.
• Urban Waste: Garbage and plastics.
• Deforestation: Leads to soil erosion and degradation.

1. Why is it necessary to enact environmental law?

• To protect natural resources, ensure sustainable development, regulate pollution, and preserve biodiversity. Laws provide a framework for managing environmental impacts and holding violators accountable.

1. How does ozone protect the life of earth?

• The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs the majority of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, preventing it from reaching the Earth’s surface, thereby protecting living organisms from UV-induced damage.

1. What do you mean by watershed management?

• It is the process of managing the use of natural resources in a watershed to ensure sustainable water quality and availability. It includes soil conservation, reforestation, and water management practices.

1. Write the reasons for changing the climate

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: From burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities.
• Deforestation: Reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2.
• Agricultural Practices: Methane emissions from livestock.
• Urbanization: Increased energy consumption and waste production.

1. Give detail on Resources
   • Resources are natural or human-made materials and services that are valuable for human society. They include renewable resources (like solar energy), non-renewable resources (like fossil fuels), and human resources (like labor and skills).

PART B (5 x 10 = 50 Marks)

11. What is Energy Resources? Give a detailed account of the uses and over-exploitation of energy resources.Energy Resources: These are natural resources that can be converted into energy. They include renewable resources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal) and non-renewable resources (coal, oil, natural gas). Uses:
    • Power generation for homes and industries.
    • Transportation fuels.
    • Heating and cooling buildings.
    Over-exploitation:
    • Non-renewable Resources: Excessive use leads to depletion, environmental degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Renewable Resources: While generally more sustainable, they can have ecological impacts (e.g., hydroelectric dams affecting fish populations).
12. Define Biodiversity. Discuss the factors affecting biodiversity.Biodiversity: The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Factors Affecting Biodiversity:
    • Habitat Loss: Due to deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture.
    • Climate Change: Alters habitats and affects species survival.
    • Pollution: Contaminates ecosystems and harms species.
    • Overexploitation: Hunting, fishing, and logging reduce species populations.
    • Invasive Species: Outcompete native species, altering ecosystems.
13. What is pollution and what are causes of water pollution and how to prevent it?Pollution: The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. Causes of Water Pollution:
    • Industrial Discharges: Chemicals and waste products.
    • Agricultural Runoff: Pesticides, fertilizers.
    • Sewage and Wastewater: Domestic and industrial waste.
    • Oil Spills: From ships and oil rigs.
    Prevention:
    • Treatment Plants: To process sewage and industrial waste.
    • Sustainable Agriculture: Reduce chemical use.
    • Regulations and Enforcement: Strict laws to prevent dumping of waste.
    • Public Awareness: Educating about pollution and its impacts.
14. Explain the types of disaster with notes on the effects and control measures of landslides and floods.Types of Disasters:
    • Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, landslides.
    • Human-Made Disasters: Industrial accidents, nuclear meltdowns, deforestation.
    Landslides:
    • Effects: Property destruction, loss of life, disrupted transport.
    • Control Measures: Reforestation, terracing, drainage control.
    Floods:
    • Effects: Loss of life, property damage, waterborne diseases.
    • Control Measures: Dams, levees, proper drainage systems, afforestation.
15. Describe food chain, food web, and ecological pyramids with suitable examples and diagrams. Food Chain: A linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
    • Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk.
    Food Web: A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.
    • Example: Multiple food chains in a forest ecosystem showing various predator-prey relationships.
    Ecological Pyramids: Graphical representation showing the relationship between different trophic levels.
    • Pyramid of Numbers: Shows the number of organisms at each trophic level.
    • Pyramid of Biomass: Shows the total biomass at each trophic level.
    • Pyramid of Energy: Shows the flow of energy at each trophic level.
    
16. Give a detailed account of the energy flow in the ecosystem. Energy Flow in Ecosystem:
    • Sunlight: Primary source of energy.
    • Producers (Plants): Convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
    • Primary Consumers (Herbivores): Eat producers, obtain energy.
    • Secondary Consumers (Carnivores): Eat primary consumers.
    • Tertiary Consumers: Eat secondary consumers.
    • Decomposers: Break down dead organisms, recycle nutrients.
    Energy decreases at each trophic level due to heat loss (Second Law of Thermodynamics).
17. Define environmental studies. Describe the use and over-utilization of surface and ground water in detail. Environmental Studies: An interdisciplinary academic field focused on understanding and addressing environmental issues through science, policy, and social perspectives. Surface Water:
    • Use: Drinking water, irrigation, industrial processes.
    • Over-utilization: Leads to depletion of rivers and lakes, ecosystem damage.
    Ground Water:
    • Use: Drinking water, agriculture, industrial use.
    • Over-utilization: Causes aquifer depletion, land subsidence, reduced water quality.
    Sustainable practices and conservation measures are essential to balance use and preservation of water resources.