The influence of human activity on its environment is negative, which may threaten the existence of all living things. Therefore, the tasks of ecology and energy conservation are now on a par with the paramount tasks of mankind.
Concept of ecology
Translated from Greek, the word "ecology" means "the science of the house", that is, about the environment. The modern idea of ecology includes knowledge about the interaction of living organisms between themselves and with the environment in which they are located. Anticipating the effects of technological progress on the environment, this science can make recommendations on how to avoid negative results, how to make the Earth, the common home of people, only become more beautiful, and descendants would be grateful to this generation.
What ecology studies
The subject of environmental studies are ecosystems consisting of biological communities and the environment in which they are located. Ecosystems, for example, are the following systems: forest, taiga, tundra, desert, ocean. At the same time, both the stump and the puddle are also ecosystems. The sum of all ecosystems creates the Earth’s ecosystem called the biosphere.
The study of ecosystems consists of the following sections:
- The study of the habitat of a biological community, that is, its climate and natural resources.
- Clarification of the existence of equilibrium between individuals in the ecosystem, for example, between herbivores and predators.
- The study of changes in the conditions of existence of all individuals in the ecosystem under the influence of human activity.
Influence factors on the ecosystem arising from human exposure are called anthropogenic factors. A man plows the land, builds dams, deals with deforestation and erects factories. It is clear that with this effect, the conditions of existence in the system change. The study of these changes and engaged in ecology, presenting to the public the results of their research. All of them claim that anthropogenic factors negatively affect all living individuals and pollute their habitat. This also applies to human existence.
Ecology and energy saving
The conservation of natural resources, their rational and economical use is one of the tasks of ecology, which must be solved by all mankind. To attract the younger generation to this task, the All-Russian lesson "Ecology and Energy Saving" was held in Russia. The following issues were considered at it:
- The use of hydrocarbons and their environmental pollution.
- Alternative energy sources. Types of energy of the future.
- Forests are the lungs of the planet.
- Water and life.
- Red Book.
- Human ecology.
The use of hydrocarbons and the types of energy of the future
Hydrocarbons are extracted from oil, gas and coal. After separation into fractions from oil, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel and fuel oil are obtained. From fuel oil in the future get motor oil and tar.
Humanity uses hydrocarbons, most often, subjecting them to combustion, distillation and other chemical reactions. As a result of this, combustion products are released into the atmosphere. These substances are highly toxic to humans, as well as to flora and fauna. The greatest danger to all living things is the cancer-causing substances that cause cancer, which are found in the smoke and exhaust fumes of cars.
With the development of all sectors of the economy, especially transport and energy, the use of hydrocarbons is also growing. Then the amount of combustion products increases, and, consequently, environmental pollution also increases. And this is one of the global environmental issues of the present.
At the All-Russian lesson “Ecology and Energy Saving”, students need to be involved in the discussion of this issue, having previously told them about what proposals exist in the world for energy production in the future. Here it is necessary to mention the energy of the tides, and solar stations, and biofuels, as well as talk about an engine that runs on pure hydrogen and almost does not create waste. After this, you can ask students to dream up on this topic themselves, and try to theoretically create the engine of the future.
Forest - light planets
Forest is a habitat for many animals, plants and mushrooms, most of which cannot exist outside the forest. To preserve this diversity of species, it is necessary that there is no human intervention in this ecosystem.
The forest retains snow in the spring and protects the soil from erosion. It absorbs carbon dioxide, and releases oxygen, being the lungs of the planet. If forests on Earth disappeared, then oxygen would disappear in a few years, which means that life on Earth would become impossible.
Wood is used in light industry for the production of furniture and paper. For example, to produce 15 textbooks, you need the wood of one tree.
Conducting a lesson on the benefits of the forest at school, you can offer students a thematic quiz. Ecology and energy conservation should be the main theme in this case. Questions for the quiz may be:
- How many kilograms of waste paper need to be passed in order to get 10 textbooks from it?
- How many trees do you need to get 10 textbooks?
- How many trees can be saved by handing over 30 kg of waste paper?
- What crafts can be made from the trash?
Water and life
The human body is 70% water. The cleaner the water that a person drinks, the healthier it will be. Pure water is needed by all living organisms on Earth. There are no exceptions.
Water from rivers and lakes is purified and then flows into water supply systems. But if the rivers are very polluted, then you cannot use this water for drinking. The state of water in rivers is influenced by such human actions as:
- sewage discharge;
- deforestation;
- wood rafting;
- drainage of swamps.
Pure water can be visually distinguished from dirty water by plants growing in it. The fact that the water is clean is indicated by white water lilies, water chestnuts, and, of course, fish and crayfish.
For students, you can offer the following event on ecology and energy saving - a trip to the nearest pond, where they will need to determine the degree of pollution or purity of water by the presence of vegetation on it.
Red Book
The existence of the biosphere is associated with the presence of various species of wild animals. This connection has developed over billions of years of their joint existence.
In biology, there is the concept of the food chain, which explains how each organism receives energy. For example, plants can convert solar energy, and some animals eat these plants. But there are animals that feed only on animals.
These connections exist for billions of years. When a species disappears, the food chain is broken, which can lead to the disappearance of its other components, that is, other species.
When studying environmental issues and energy conservation at school, it is necessary to point out these connections, emphasizing the importance of protecting rare animals and plants.
Consideration of the Red Book itself at school is very important. At the classroom hour on ecology and energy conservation, you can study the varieties of rare animal species, as well as the territories protected by the state - national parks and reserves.
Human ecology
Various types of radiation, noise and vibration negatively affect human health. At a classroom hour on ecology and energy conservation, it is necessary to consider these factors, as well as study their norms, the excess of which is life-threatening.
It is also necessary to explain to schoolchildren the importance of a healthy lifestyle. In the process of considering ecology and energy conservation, it is necessary to study human ecology, which includes finding a person in an environmentally friendly environment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Real students in the future will become active creators of society. If they can take care of the environment, natural resources and their own health, they will be able to build a healthy and prosperous society.