BOOK REVIEW:
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES FOR ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATES
Authors: DR. SUSHMITHA BASKAR & DR. R. BASKAR
Published by: Unicorn Books (www.pustakmahal.com)
With environment occupying the center stage of most newspapers and the world watching the unfolding events, a new book Environmental Sciences for Engineering Undergraduates attempts to explain all that an educated person is expected to know. Although admittedly written for graduate engineering students, topics covered will fulfil the requirements of those appearing in competitive/ top grade examinations.
Each chapter illustrates interesting global case studies, but with special emphasis on India. Figures have been simplified to make comprehension easy. Interesting facts and references make this book invaluable.
The book has been divided into six units. The first unit covers environment, its components and an overview of the environmental problems today. Second unit introduces ecology, and the principles of environmental impact assessment. Unit three covers atmospheric composition, energy balance, climate, weather, and dispersion. The fourth unit describes hydrosphere, water pollution and its control.
Next unit elaborates lithosphere, pollutants, collection and disposal of solid wastes. Various aspects regarding noise pollution, its effects and control is explained in the sixth unit.
AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK
Ecology:
Our planet Earth is a lovely beautiful white and blue ball when seen from space. It is the third planet from the Sun and it is the largest of the inner planets. It is the only planet known to support life and to contain liquid water at the surface. Our environment includes the biotic (living beings) and abiotic factors (like soil, water, temperature and light). The various segments of the environment consist of the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and the hydrosphere. The surface of the Earth (air, water and land) is called the biosphere. It is composed of smaller units called the ecosystems. An ecosystem includes all the organisms and the non-living environment found in a particular place. They can be large or small. Our Earth hosts a variety of living organisms and the surface of the Earth, as a whole is an ecosystem. Each organism depends in some way on other living and nonliving things in its environment. The study of natural ecosystems will help us to understand the interrelations between living beings and the environment and how the impact of human beings is influencing the natural world.
Ecological case studies:
1. Dwindling biodiversity in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India:
Poaching of the wild animals like leopards, tigers and other animals for skin, fur, natural resources, etc. in Sariska coupled with high amount of mining related problems, as the area is rich in dolomite, limestone, schist, marble and quartzite have led to severe ecological problems. There are over 200 mines in the protected forest area and more than 40 mines in the partly protected areas. The Sariska reserve, amidst the Aravallis, covers over 800 sq km of dry tropical forests. ‘Dhok’ is the principal tree species that covers 90% of the entire area and there are a variety of grasses and shrubs. This reserve supports over 100 species of birds and has the largest population of peafowl in the entire country. Leopards, Caracals, Sambar, Nilgai, Chital, Wild boar are found in this sanctuary. A rare feature of the fauna is the four horned antelope. Eco-development programs have just been implemented in Sariska with the formation of forest protection societies in villages and NGO’s. The future of Sariska reserve lies directly in protecting and reducing the high biotic pressure that affects this unique Aravalli habitat of the Indian tigers.
2. Declining biodiversity in the wonderful Australian Woodlands:
It is predicted that over the next 50 to 100 years there will be a wave of bird extinctions paralleling the loss of many Australian mammal species witnessed earlier this century. The reason for bird species decline is due to practices such as hunting, predation or competition from introduced species and due to loss of habitat. The present case study is related to temperate woodland ecosystems and the birds dependent on them for habitat. Impacts on bird populations provide typical examples of the indirect pressures on biodiversity. Woodlands are distinguished from coastal forests and semi-arid lands by less marked seasonal variations in temperature, lower extremes of rainfall and a longer growing season. Woodland birds have evolved in response to the year-round availability of food and the variety of habitat features such as tree hollows, peeling bark, nectar and other carbohydrates provided by the predominant eucalyptus plant species. The year-round supply of food also means the forests are linked to surrounding habitats, as they are suitable for migratory birds, breeding or when food is scarce elsewhere in times of drought. More than 25% of land bird species found in woodlands are in decline or threatened. The paradise parrot and star finch are extinct. Endangered species include Regent honeyeaters, bush stone-curlew, squatter pigeon, superb parrot, swift parrot, turquoise parrot, gray-crown babbler, painted honey-eater and black-throated finch. In total, 16 woodland-dependent or woodland-associated species are threatened and many more are in decline, as concepts of conservation of ecosystems have not been scientifically followed.