Environment

Biotic Environment
Living organisms, i.e. all plants and animals, including humans, form the biotic
environment. Let us try to understand its different components one by one.



1. Plants (Producers): We all know that plants, like other organisms, need food. All
green plants have the colouring matter, called chlorophyll. The chlorophyll, which
is present in the leaves, absorbs energy from the sunlight. This energy is used to
prepare food. For this, plants also use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and
water and minerals from the soil. This process of preparing food, by the plants,
is called photosynthesis. The following equation represents this process.
Carbon dioxide + Water sunlight

chlorophyll Glucose + Oxygen
(Carbohydrate)

The green plants, which prepare their own food (glucose), are called producers
or autotrophs (auto = self; troph = food).

Plants prepare their own food using sunlight

2. Animals (Consumers): Animals cannot prepare their own food. They have to
depend on plants for their food. They are called consumers or heterotrophs
(hetero = other; troph = food).




All animals feed on green plants, either directly or indirectly. Animals, like cattle
and goat, directly eat plants, like grass and fodder. They are called primary
consumers or herbivores. Animals, like tiger and lion, feed on these herbivores.
In other words, they hunt, and eat, cattle, goat, etc. Such consumers, which feed
on plants indirectly, are called secondary consumers or carnivores. There are
some animals which feed on both producers as well as the primary consumers.
They are called omnivores. Animals, like bears, pigs, etc., are omnivores. We,
human beings, are also omnivores.Herbivore (Deer) Carnivore (Tiger) Omnivore (Bear)

 Micro-organisms (Decomposers): In addition to producers and consumers,
there are some organisms which derive their food from dead and decaying plants
and animals. They are called decomposers. Decomposers breakdown the dead
and decaying plants and animals into minerals. These
minerals get mixed up with the soil and are then again
used by the plants. This process is called recycling of
minerals.
Fungi and bacteria are the organisms that help in
decomposition. These are so small that they cannot

be seen with the naked eyes. They are called micro-
organisms.

Animals and birds, like jackals, crows, vultures and kites, consume dead bodies
of animals. This process helps in keeping the environment clean. They are called
scavengers.

Fungus on fruits

• If dead organisms are not decomposed, their number will go on increasing and there will be no
space left for the living organisms.
• Some bacteria, present in air, water and soil can cause various diseases.


It is important for us to segregate biodegradable and non-
biodegradable wastes and dispose them in an environment

friendly way. The kitchen waste can be put in a pit dug in
the garden which is then covered with soil and dry leaves.
This waste, in the pit, is acted upon by micro-organisms
and gets converted into useful compost. This compost can
be used for growing healthy plants in fields and gardens.
In order to hasten the process of compost making, a variety
of earthworms, called redworms, can be mixed with the
kitchen waste. They convert it into compost very fast. The
process, of forming compost with the help of various worms
usually redworms, whiteworms and other earthworms, is
known as vermicomposting. Vermicompost is an excellent,
nutrient rich, organic fertiliser and soil conditioner.