Textbook: Environment and Ecosystem | Water Security Class 10 (Maharashtra SSC Board) PDF Download

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Unit 1 : Water Education
Chapter 1: Environment and Ecosystem
Types of Environment 
1. Natural Environment: The various 
elements that are naturally formed on the 
earth's surface are part of the environment; 
e.g. water, air, soil, forest, animals, biological 
elements, climate, atmosphere etc. It signifies 
diversity in the natural environment. Such 
kind of variation is also seen in the structure 
of natural elements of Maharashtra state. Due 
to this variation, the Sahyadri in the west, the 
Deccan Plateau in the middle, the Coastal 
region of Konkan and the Vidarbha-Khandesh 
are some of the natural structures observed in 
the Maharashtra.
2. Man-made environment: Humans have 
made radical changes in the natural 
environment on the strength of their intellect. 
Such as settlement of human lives, 
transportation by various means like roads, 
airways, waterways, railways etc. along with 
industrial development and establishments of 
Let’s Recall.
1. What is the meaning of Environment?  
2. What is Ecosystem? 
Abiotic components 
Nutrients, solar 
energy, CO
2
, nitrogen, 
water, minerals etc.
Biotic 
components 
Plant (producers)
Heat
Heat
Decomposition of 
dead organisms/bodies
Heat
Heat
Heat
Recycling of free 
elements
Photosynthesis 
food production
Animals get 
food from 
plants
Microorganisms 
(decomposers)
Biotic component
(Primary, secondary 
and tertiary 
consumers)
Substances become 
free
Environment : Interaction between Biotic 
and abiotic components
Try this. 
Some of the components are given 
below, classify them into Biotic and Abiotic  
components.
(Plants, Animals, Microorganisms, 
Sunlight, Air, Water and Land.)
Environment 
The environment is a balance of  biotic, 
abiotic, geographical and social factors that 
affect each other. There are limitations to the 
use of each of these factors or components. If 
all these factors are used in balanced manner, 
natural resources will not be abolished. 
The interaction between biotic and abiotic 
elements in the environment and the principles 
related to their interaction are studied under 
environmental studies. 
Food, clothing, and shelter are basic 
human needs and are dependent on the 
environment. Also the plant and animal 
bodies contain various abiotic elements; e.g. 
Plants produce food through photosynthesis. 
Animals depend on plants for their food, while 
some animals depend on other animals for 
their food. The original energy is derived from 
the Sun. The same energy is transmitted from 
one element of the environment to another. 
Biotic components decomposes after it dies. 
The resulting substances from this process are 
mixed with soil and air.