Question

Write short notes on the following:

Autotrophic nutrition
Transpiration
Chipko movement

Hint:

- Autotrophic nutrition is the process by which plants make their own food using sunlight and inorganic substances. - Transpiration helps in water movement and cooling of plants. - The Chipko movement emphasized the importance of protecting forests and natural resources for sustainable development.

Answer 1

(i) Autotrophic Nutrition:
Autotrophic nutrition is the process by which organisms make their own food from simple inorganic substances like carbon dioxide and water using the energy from sunlight or chemical reactions. This type of nutrition is found in plants, algae, and some bacteria.

Plants perform autotrophic nutrition through photosynthesis. They use chlorophyll to capture sunlight, which converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
The process can be summarized as: \[ \text{6CO}_2 + \text{6H}_2\text{O} + \text{light energy} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + \text{6O}_2 \]
Autotrophic organisms are primary producers in ecosystems, forming the base of food chains.

(ii) Transpiration:
Transpiration is the process by which water is absorbed by the roots of plants, moves through the plant, and is released as water vapor through small pores called stomata, primarily on the leaves.

Transpiration helps in the cooling of the plant, maintaining turgor pressure, and the uptake of nutrients from the soil.
There are three types of transpiration:

Stomatal Transpiration: Water vapor loss through stomata.
Cuticular Transpiration: Water loss through the cuticle.
Lenticular Transpiration: Water loss through lenticels.

Transpiration also plays a role in the water cycle by returning water vapor to the atmosphere.

(iii) Chipko Movement:
The Chipko Movement was an environmental movement that began in the 1970s in India, aimed at protecting forests from deforestation.

The movement was led by people, especially women, in the Himalayan region who physically hugged trees to prevent them from being felled.
The slogan of the movement was “Ecology is permanent economy,” highlighting the importance of forests for environmental health and local communities.
The Chipko Movement led to greater awareness of environmental issues in India and contributed to the establishment of forest protection laws.