Back to: Environmental Biology 100 Level
Welcome to class!
Hello brilliant learner! It feels so good to have you here today. I hope you’re ready for another exciting topic that connects to your everyday life. Today, we’ll be talking about something you experience every second of your life—the environment and its components. Let’s begin!
The Environment And Its Components
When you step outside your house and see trees, feel the breeze, hear birds chirping, or even notice cars on the road, you are experiencing the environment. The environment is everything that surrounds us, both living and non-living things, which together make life possible. Without the environment, life cannot exist.
What is the Environment?
The environment refers to all the external conditions and factors that affect living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. It is the sum total of everything around us, such as the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil that grows our crops, and even the buildings and roads we use.
Why is the Environment Important?
The environment is our life-support system. It provides us with food, water, air, and shelter. For example, farmers in Nigeria depend on the soil and rainfall to grow crops like cassava, maize, and yams. Without these natural resources, we cannot survive.
Components of the Environment
The environment is made up of two major components:
Biotic Components
These are the living things in the environment. They include:
Plants (like cocoa trees in Ondo or oil palm trees in Rivers State)
Animals (like goats, cows, and chickens)
Humans
Biotic components interact with each other and with non-living things to survive. For instance, cows feed on grasses, and humans depend on both plants and animals for food.
Abiotic Components
These are the non-living things in the environment. They include:
Air (the oxygen you breathe every day)
Water (rivers like the River Niger and lakes in Nigeria)
Soil (which farmers use for growing crops)
Sunlight (which plants need for photosynthesis)
Temperature
Without these abiotic components, life would not exist. For example, sunlight helps crops grow, and water is essential for drinking and irrigation.
Summary
The environment is everything around us that supports life. It has two main components: biotic (living things) and abiotic (non-living things). Both work together to make life possible.
Evaluation
- What is the environment?
- Mention three biotic and three abiotic components of the environment.
- Why is the environment important for living things?
You’ve done an amazing job today! Always remember, understanding the environment is the first step to protecting it. Keep learning with Afrilearn because knowledge is your power. See you in the next lesson!