How Plants And Animals Are Adapted To Environment In IIT Campus

How Plants And Animals Are Adapted To Environment In IIT Campus

AIM:

Our main aim is to observe how plants and animals are adapted to the environment of IIT campus.

HYPOTHESIS:

Since, IIT resembles tropic zone it might have a huge variety of animals and plants of same species. since it resembles the environment of forest, the varied species will be found deep in the jungle as per our prediction.

WORK-PLAN:

The very first day after we got to know our project, we were excited to do this project, Fist, we sat around and discussed on how to do this project. We divided our work among our selves in bringing the information.

WE STARTED

We started our research from the OAT where we saw a white buck. Next zone was Stadium where we saw many mushroom and lichen. we took pictures of those. Then we went near SAC building where we saw black buck, snail, butterfly, Indian pond heron and vishnu's flower. we saw many intereting butterfly and small herbs with special featuresSencond day, everyone assembled near stadium where we divied into 2 groups boys and girls group. girls went to see the adapatations of plant and trees where as boys went in searchh of animals and insects. and we also saw many types of mushrooms. the types of species that we found in IIT, some of them are mentioned below:

1. monkey
2. deer
3. black buck
4. white buck
5. ants
6. domino caroach
7. red bug
8. and so on

We took the photo and noted their identities of plants which looked different from the other plants/trees. The other day. We got a book regarding the species found in IIT, with the help of that book we found the names of some trees/plants that we have not heard,

We surfed the net regarding the adaptations of plants and animals.

  We got the information regarding those plants and animals.

after collecting information about our topic we prepared a report about this topic which is the one you are reading now.
as a result, our group acknowledged by the physical and the adapatation features of different species in IIT.

DATA ANALYSIS:

OBSERVATION:

Insects- 

Domino Roach

Scientific name:- therea petiveriana

Description:- round , black and white,wings,small, ground dwelling 

Location:-  KV school ground

Adaptation:- the black and white pattern of adults is believed to hane evoles to mimic the pattern of the aggressive ground beetle anthia sexgutten that has strong defenses, including the ability to spray chemical irradiation. the upper side of the abdomen is orange-yellow.
the spots on the asymmetrical tegmina areplaced so that when closed the spots appear symmetrical,

Red Bug

Scientific name:- lphita limbata 

Description:- red, black, pared , female: large male:small

Location:- near gajendra circle bus stop 

Adaptation:- 

Garden Snail

Scientific name:- achatina fulica

Description:- land snail, shell- spherical, brown

Location:- near SAC

Adaptation:- 
the body is soft and slimy, brownish-grey, and the animal retrats itself entirely into shell when inactive or threatened. when injured or badly irritaed the animal produces a defensive froth of mucus that might repel some enemies or overwhelm aggressive small ants.
The epiphragm helps the snail retain moisture and protects it from small predators such as some ants.

Grey Pansy Butterfly

Scientific name:-  junonia atlites

Description:- 5.5 – 6.5cm size, wings: grey , black spotted, eyespots: margins; 4-6 per wing 

Location:- near SAK (black buck habitat)

Adaptation:- 

Jewel Bug

Scientific name:- chrysocoris stolli

Description:- green-gold color, black spots, small

Location:- school ground

Adaptation:- There beetles are small to medium-sized with a hard carapace. they are rather flat, long, and oval-shaped. the wing-covers are often bumpy , brown or black, with an iridescent sheen. 

Centipede

Scientific name:- Chilopoda

Description:- long, Browne, many legs

Location:- near IIT hospital

Adaptation:- 

Animals-

Indian Pond Heron

 Scientific name:- ardeola grayii                                                                                              Description:- small, color brown, long beck                                                                         Location:- near SAC                                                                                                                 Adaptation:- 

Blackbuck

Scientific name:- Antilope cervicapra                                                                           Description:- female: brown, lacks horns, males: brown turning black after 3 years of age                                                                                    




Location:-  SAC building

Adaptation:- 

Spotted Deer, Chital

Scientific name:- Axis axis                                                                                                       Description:- Its coat is a bright rufous – fawn profusely spotted with white .Old bucks or more brownish in colour and darker. The graceful antlers have three tines, a long brow tine set nearly at right angles to the beam and two branch tines at the top. A well-built stag from these parts stands 36 in.(90) at the shoulder and weighs about 190 Ib.(85kg).                                                                                                                               Location:- Main IIT out gate

Native:- India, Peninsula and Ceylon,  (Punjab, Assam, Himalayan foothills, Terai and Madhya Pradesh)

Adaptation:- There are seen in herds of ten to thirty, which may contain two or three stags, frequently associate with many forest animals, particularly with monkeys, feed till late in the morning and again in the afternoon, and lie down in the interval in some shaded spot. The new antlers are in velvet till the end of December. Usually the mother gives birth to a single fawn, chital are prolific breeders

Seneca White Deer

Scientific name:- Ficus benghalensis                                                                                         Description:- normal brown-colored eyes, some have pink eyes, white hare, extremely rare, spiral horn, Size; A well-grown buck stands about 32in.[80cm], weighs about 90 Ib [40kg]. Horns seldom exceed 20 in.[50cm] in the south.                                                                                 Location:- IIT Basketball Court                                                                                                      Native:- Seneca

Adaptation:- 

SIZE:  A well-grown buck stands about 32in.[80cm] at the shoulder and on the average weighs about 90 Ib [40kg]. Horns seldom exceed 20 in.[50cm] in the south.

Distinctive characters:  The body is covered with white colour and its beautiful  spiraled horns, which may reach the shoulder height of the animal, give it an elegance hardly equelled by any antelope. The exclusively Indian animal is perhaps the most beautiful of all its kind.

Plants-

Cluster Fig Tree

Scientific name:- ficus racmosa
Description:- 12-20 meter tall , large inside forest , whitish trunk , fruit:- unmistakable figs , dense bunch 
Native:- india , sri lanka and pacific  
Location:- near pilliamman koil

Adaptation:- 

CONCLUSION:

We conclude that IIT is pollution free since there are lots of mushroom seen around. "A place is called pollution free when there are lots of mushroom seen around" since Mushroom grows in pollution less place. Therefore plants and animals are living healthy. There are lot of Rare species like white deer which are extremely rare species which are living happily and IIT helps them to increase the population by giving them best habitats.

PROBLEM FACED:

1. Unfavorable climate conditions
2. Heavy rainfall
3. Co-ordination
4. Dense forests are difficult to access

REMARKABLE EVENTS:

1. Explore many places of IIT which were previously unknown to us 
2. Rare oppurtunity to see albina buck and other exotic species
3. We got to know our team mates better
4. We took time of by chilling in gurunath

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

1. We thank our teacher for giving us the wonderful opportuntith to work as a team and learn more about the wonderful topic of adaptation.
2. We thank ore parents who have immensely supported us throughout the project.
3. We are grateful to the internet, the hub of infiniteknowledge, for providing us useful information.

FEEDBACK:

Paper Presentation:

ABOUT US

Hi, I am Akil Arasan. I am living in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.I love solving puzzle.I got interested in science when I got full marks in the subject once. So, I started reading science a lot and got attracted more towards it. I started playing with the subject by making science projects. Once I got the privilege to have got selected in National meet science congress and also in Indian robotics league. My memorable experience was my construction of hydrogen fueled car which bagged the second position in overall among 50 and it also won the title of the " fastest car award ".

Harmful Effects Caused By Human To The Environment

Harmful effects on environment due to human activities.

1.  Aim:- Harmful effects on environment due to human activities.

1)  To assess soil contamination and plastic pollution in IIT.

2) To asses green cover,waste disposal and vehicle pollution in IIT.      

   2. Hypothesis:- 

1)

 Environment in IIT campus gets polluted due to unsafe way of disposing waste in IIT campus

●   Animals die or get affected by eating the waste materials.

●   Increase of green cover inside the campus from 1960.

  2)There are chances for contamination of soil in IITand IIT faces plastic pollution.

3.Work plan:- This was planned to be a field study cum secondary reference. Data collection was done from the waste collection center (Owzone), the campus maintenance offices of IIT Madras, interviews of users and head of maintenance unit. This was supplemented by referring to books and the internet.

  4. Methodology:- The methods adopted for data collection are:

  1. Interviews

                2. Primary data collection through study of the records of the field units.

                3. Secondary data collection from the documents in the heritage center.

                4. Review of the topic of the subject.

                5. Data analysis was done through basic statistical analysis.

5.Experiments (If carried out):- No experiment was done.

6.  Observation:-  

1)

Chemical waste - Chemical waste is generated by laboratories in the campus. Mixed chemicals, expired chemicals and large quantity of used chemical bottles are being disposed as per the rules of the Central Pollution Control Board. It is disposed at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control landfill which handles chemical and hazardous waste. It is operated by KAMKAY and at the Industrial Waste Management Association of Tamil Nadu approved site. It is disposed separately as alkaline, solvents, toxic and solid waste. Some wastes are incinerated and toxic waste is mixed with cement and other materials before disposing.

E Waste - E-waste is generated in many parts of the campus. The wastes are collected together and disposed through authorized e waste agents.

Green cover- Constructions have not affected the green cover of IIT.

Vehicle pollution- To reduce the pollution caused by the vehicles, parking lots have been allotted; free bus service is provided so that less motor vehicle utilization is there inside IIT. IIT has future plans of allotting more space for parking lots at each gate in IIT; to prevent pollution caused by vehicles.

2)

Waste management at IIT campus

 The following are the types of waste arising in IIT campus:

Plastic waste - Plastic waste is generated mostly from residences, hostels and commercial establishments. They are in the form of plastic covers, bottles and packing material. All are degradable plastics as over a time-span of many years every plastic gets degraded due to the breakdown of the particles into small pieces. The pieces may get so small that they can be digested by microorganisms. But some are quick enough which are known as bioplastics which are made up of renewable biomass sources such asvegetable fats and oils,corn starch, ormicrobiota.

EXAMPLES OF DEGRADABLE (bioplastics) PLASTICS:-

Bioplastics are used for disposable items, such as packaging, crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, and straws. They are also often used for bags, trays, fruit and vegetable containers and blister foils, egg cartons, meat packaging, vegetables, and bottling for soft drinks and dairy products.

General waste - General waste is generated from the residences, hostels, offices and commercial establishments.

Both general and plastic waste are collected by self-help groups under the project Zero Waste Zone (OWZONE). The waste is collected on a daily basis from residences door to door and in bulk from the offices and departments. These waste materials are segregated in different sheds inside the campus.

Recyclable waste is solid, organic waste is used to generate biogas and the waste that can be composed is composed and the manure generated is used for plants.

Bio waste - Bio waste is generated from hospital and biotechnology department. It is collected by G.J. Multiclave Ltd. who is an authorized agency for disposal of bio waste.

➢  We can find plastic bottles and covers thrown in the road sides.

➢  We can find soil contamination only in specific places where the plastic are dumped.

➢  The main places where we can find plastic is near

        restaurants, shopping complex, residential areas etc.

➢  The animals in IIT eat the plastics in the dump yard near Velachery gate and even eat the plastics lying here and there in IITM.This will choke any part of their digestive system and can lead to their death.

Percentage of green cover in the campus

7.Data analysis and Interpretation:- 

1)a)Amount of general waste generated daily in the campus

●   Total number of residents - 12000 (Including hostellers)

●   Waste produced per day - 4000 Kg

●   Average waste by a person per day -

●   Waste produced per day/ Total number of residents

= 4000/12000 = 0.333Kg

●   Therefore, 0.3Kg of waste is produced per person.

Average daily waste produced per person in Chennai is 0.7Kg. *

So we can say that IITM residents produce less waste than the average amount of waste produced by other people in Chennai.

      b) Vehicular pollution in the campus everyday.

Visiting all gates in IIT for the number of vehicles going in and coming out per day

Paper Presentation:

Human Effects On Environment

Human Effects On Environment

Aim: To investigate on the ways of conservation of the environment of IIT campus by the people.

Hypothesis :->

 IIIT Madras is a residential institute that occupies a 2.5 km² campus that was formerly part of the adjoining Guindy National Park. The institute has nearly 550 faculty, 8,000 students and 1,250 administrative and supporting staff. Growing ever since it obtained its charter from the Indian Parliament in 1961, much of the campus is a protected forest, carved out of the Guindy National Park, home to large numbers of chital (spotted deer), black buck, monkeys, and other rare wildlife. A natural lake, deepened in 1988 and 2003, drains most of its rainwater. 

Vegetation   in   iit madras :->

vIt is apparent that the original vegetation of the campus was of the southern thorn forest type. This forest type is dominated by the thorn and cactus like plants that produced milky latex.

vStructurally these forests were patchy with grasses and herbs dominating the land that was adorned with widely spaced thickets. The predominance of ficus trees indicates that campus had a long history of human impact. This forest type is dominated by the thorn and cactus like plants that produced milky latex.

vThe size of other common trees suggests that the transformation from the original to the present vegetation type has taken place in the last 50 and 100 years.

Wildlife in  iit madras :->

• vFifty species within a small area as IIT-M is comparatively much higher than the 64 species known in the entire British Isles ! A number of species of plants that occur on the Campus (including the garden plants) are food plants for the larvae of butterflies.
• vMany like Pavetta indica attract adult butterflies. Notable butterfly species of the campus include the spectacular Common Banded Peacock, Great Orange Tip, Common Jay, Common Bluebottle, Crimson Rose, etc. Frogs, toads, lizards, snakes and tortoises /turtles are also diverse.
• vThere are a number of pools where the frogs are breeding (a very healthy sign indeed). That the Fan-throated Lizard (see photo) continues to survive on the Campus is also remarkable. 
• vFifty-one species of birds on the Campus suggests that the habitats are not quite suitable for the feathered animals. Even if the migratory and stray visitors are included, the list is not likely to go beyond 80 species. Many species of birds like the Redvented Bulbul, Black Drongo, Common Iora, etc., are in alarmingly low numbers.
• vThere are between 130 and 150 Macaques at present that move around the human dominated zones of the Campus in troupes of 10-15 animals. Their ability to adapt to (and exploit) the available habitat and carelessly disposed food will further increase their numbers leading to serious conflicts with people and other species of animals on the Campus.

• Unlike the Macaque, the Chital spends more time within the Wilderness Zone. The critically endangered Blackbuck has a population size of 12 (4 males and 8 females). The biggest hindrance to its continued survival is the rapid loss of habitat - open scrub and grasslands.   

Prakriti   (wildlife  club) :->

      Prakriti, the Wildlife Club of IIT Madras, Was founded in April 2002 by a group of wildlife enthusiasts comprising of students, faculty, staff, residents and alumni of IIT Madras. The formation of the club was spurred by a growing recognition of the need to protect the unique biodiversity of the IIT Madras campus. The IIT Madras Campus was carved out of a natural forest that formed part of the Guindy National Park. The Guindy National Park and IIT Campus come under Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest type - the least common vegetation type seen in India. The campus can be considered as an ideal example for the co-existence various types of mini-ecosystems. The main inhabitants of these ecosystems are the blackbuck, spotted deer, jackals, mongooses, monkeys, squirrels, toddy cats, wild cats, various types of reptiles, a plethora of insects including about 40 different species of butterflies and about 100 species of birds. IITM campus also hosts large groups of migratory birds and butterflies every year. People can approach the club members for any emergencies or issues related to the wild life of the campus.

Wild life  help-lines :->

1.                When  hit  by  a  vehicle :

Do not go near and make the animal panic unless you know some first aid. Call the Veterinary Doctor (Dr. Kribakaran is a vet who comes on the spot and examines/treats the animal. He is also an expert on treatment of wild animals). Please do not try to transport the animal unless the doctor says so. Most of the wild animals like deer and black buck can die due to shock while transporting as well as mishandling of the injured animal. If the doctor is not available, call the Blue Cross Try to discourage formation of crowd around the affected animal Injure deer should not be kept on cement/smooth floor since they can break their legs while trying to get up and slipping (It is difficult for animals with hooves to balance on smooth surfaces).

Emergency numbers :

Dr. Kribakaran : 24471743 (you will also have to pay the doctor's bill or call one of the following IIT numbers and inform and has to be around when the doctor arrives to guide him to the injured animal) 

Blue Cross Ambulance : 22354959 

Prakriti members: 4172 or 6172 or 6419 or 4169 or 6169 or mobile: 9884278466

2.             Animal death :

Inform the Wildlife Department. Inform the Security Office, IITM.

Emergency numbers :

22301328 (Range Officer, Guindy National Park) 

24321471 (Wildlife Warden) 

8280 (Security Duty Officer)

3.              Prevention  of  cruelty  towards  animals : 

 Please do not interfere if you notice two animals (of the same species, like two male deer or two male blackbuck or two male monkeys, snakes etc.) fighting. It is natural. They are trying to establish territory by doing this. Similarly, the male Spotted deer sheds its antlers (these are not horns) every year. Do not panic when you see the exposed skin and little bleeding, after the antlers fall off. This will look as if someone has cut it. In comparison with deer, the male blackbuck has permanant horns. They will not fall off. If you see anyone throwing stones or using catapults at animals/birds, or trying to catch them or putting traps/snares etc. in the campus or ill-treating animals, inform the Security office or the wildlife officers. You may also contact Prakriti volunteers if you need help.

Emergency numbers :

8280 (Duty room), CSO (8262 or 9262) or Prakriti members (4172/6172, 6419, 4169/6169).

Work-plan   and   methodology :->

Our plan was to collect as many photos as possible, conduct surveys in the campus, observe the natural beauty inside the campus, conduct an investigation in the heritage centre, enquire about garbage disposal and other queries in the owzone garbage duct. Fortunately, we managed to complete the whole plan. On the first two days we went to the residential zone to conduct surveys. Then we went for a nature walk and collected many pictures. Then we went to the heritage centre and observed the nature through photographs and posters. Atlas we went to the owzone garbage duct and had a conversation among the staffs and also got to know about the garbage disposal and its machinery.  

How  can  we  protect  species  in  our  campus 

                  `         •Maintain their habitat area as open grasslands and avoid planting more trees in this area. Trees will not allow grass and herbs to grow, on which the blackbuck survive. Details of the blackbuck habitat area are shown on the campus map.

•     Avoid construction and concreting, especially in the blackbuck habitat area. This is increasingly reducing the food availability of these animals. This area is heavily built up (about 25% including concreted and paved surfaces) and fragmented due to buildings coming up in key habitat zones dividing them and making them not accessible to animals.

•      Protecting trees alone will not help humans as well as other animals who feed on the ground. A habitat is healthy due to various species that exist there in harmony. Protect bio-diversity by protecting the native wild plants and trees 

•     Refrain from creating fences on campus. Take pro-active steps to remove fences around your buildings. This will increase the habitat area for animals

•     Drive carefully and slowly in the campus. There have been many cases where Blackbuck and Spotted deer were killed by vehicles. Instruct drivers if you are using taxi/auto etc.

•      Do not throw cooked food remains in open bins as this encourages stray dogs.

•     Avoid creating lawns and return the existing lawns back to nature to recover native species.

In  order  to  improve  the  quality  of  habitats (with  the  Blackbuck  in  view  as  the  Flagship) and  restore  at  least  some  areas  into  the original  vegetation  type,  the  following  steps have  to  be  adopted :

•      Systematically weed the open spaces in the Campus of invasive plants such as Prosopis juliflora (saplings), Cassia siamea (saplings), Cassia javanica (saplings), Cereus peruvianus, Antigonon leptopus and Croton bonplandianus.

•      Remove all Prosopis juliflora trees and the cactus (Cereus peruvianus) from grids A16-G16, H17, K12 and K13 and restore the habitat using native grasses, bamboo and shrubs.

•      Protect the Lake and swamps by planting bamboo along the periphery.

This will particularly help in minimizing the pressure  on the Lake  from  

people living in areas adjoining the Campus.

•      The space between the newly constructed Boy's Hostel and the Student's Activity Centre (Hostel Zone; grid no L15-M15) that has been cleared and reclaimed should not be planted with trees or lawn grass. Instead the empty space should be restored using a combination of native grasses and bamboo.

•      Over-shading by excessive tree growth has been the bane of IIT-M. Curtail the planting of trees on the Campus. Native grasses should be allowed to take-over all open spaces. There are at least 29 species of native grasses on the Campus that can be used for the purpose.

Waste  disposal (ozwone  grean  plant):->

COLLECTION OF GARBAGE FROM THIS SOURCE ITS DISPOSAL METHOD :

1. Two plastic buckets were given to each flats. One green bucket used for bio-degradable waste. The segregation of the garbage starts from the individual house.

2. Garbages were collected in two separate big plastic dust bin used for bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste by the zero waste zone workers (on contract basis) daily in the morning from the residences using tricycle.

3. The collected garbages are taken to the segregation yard.

SEGREGATION OF COLLECTED GARBAGES :

1. The IIT Madras campus has been divided into three zones named residential zone, academic zone and Hostel Zone.

2. The solid waste management deals with the efficient disposal of sewage, drainage water and the garbages.

3. The collected garbages from all the zones were taken to the segregation yard for further segregation.

4. The garbages were segregated a usable and non-usable item

5. The usable items like glass bottles, papers, bags, card board, plastic bottles, polythene covers, pet bottles etc. were separated and given for resale.

Observation :->

1.            By visiting the heritage centre we observed many species of plants, birds, animals, butterflies, toads etc. we could also observe the natural beauty of the campus and its ecology.

2.             By taking surveys, we got to know the opinions of the residents of iit campus and their disposal methods.

3.            By visiting the ozwone garbage duct, we learnt about garage disposal, recycling and other queries. We could also obtain that the food remains of the campus is converted into organic manure.

4.            The residents segregate their household garbage into 3 bins – recyclable, non- recyclable and other materials like sanitary napkins.

5.            A wild life organization called prakriti is incharge of the wildlife and its security. It’s also an adjoining part of guindy national park.

Conclusion :->

We successfully, completed our investigatory on time with our satisfaction. We learnt and discovered new things. We also understood that we should always know about our environment, its components and its conservation. So we salute the people who care for our environment and take its responsibility.

Acknowledgement :->

We sincerely thank our science teacher, Mrs. Nandhini mam, for giving us the opportunity to carry out the study, observation and learning of new knowledge inside the campus and for the overall encouragement. We also wish to place on record our appreciation of the cooperation and services extended by the owzone staff members, heritage centre staffs and the residents who have helped us a lot. Our sincere thanks are indeed due to the principal and baghyalakshmi mam, who helped us to visit the heritage centre. We also wish to thank our parents, for cooperating and letting us do the project even during holidays.

FEEDBACK:

Paper Presentation: