Environmental Ecology

Paper Code: 
ENV 102
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will enable the students to

  1. To recognize the structure, functioning and integration of the Ecosystem and its inhabitants and its four major spheres: land, water, living things, and air.
  2. To examine the interdisciplinary nature and complexity of environmental problems in our local communities

Course Outcomes (COs):

Course

Course outcome

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

 

ENV 102

 

Environmental Ecology

Upon completion of this course, students will:

CO5: Appraise the basics of the environmental components and related processes

CO6: Recognize the structure and functions of various ecosystems and interpret the changes caused by anthropogenic factors

CO7: Analyze the concept and process of ecosystem development with varying natural conditions

CO8: Investigate the relationship between the various biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Group Discussions, Demonstration, Use of informative videos

Learning activities for the students:

Concept formation, Power point presentations, discussion of latest development in the subject

Power point presentations, Assignments, Class Test, Semester end examinations

 

 

 

 

10.00
Unit I: 
Community Ecology
  • The Biotic community concept
  • Community structure and the concept of Ecological Dominance
  • Ecotone and Edge Effect
  • Habitat and Ecological Niche

 

9.00
Unit II: 
Habitat Ecology

Structure of the following ecosystems:

  • Aquatic ecosystem
    • Freshwater
    • Marine
    • Estuarine
  • Terrestrial ecosystem
    • Desert
    • Forest

 

10.00
Unit III: 
Population Ecology
  • Density
  • Natality
  • Mortality
  • Biotic potential
  • Fluctuations
  • Dispersal and growth rate
  • Growth forms (J and S-shaped) and Carrying Capacity
  • Regulatory factors of population growth-density dependent and independent factors

 

10.00
Unit IV: 
Concept of Productivity
  • Primary productivity
  • Secondary productivity
  • Significance of productivity
  • Methods of measurement of productivity: Harvest method, Oxygen Measurement, Carbon dioxide method, The pH method, Disappearance of raw material, chlorophyll method

 

6.00
Unit V: 
Ecological Succession
  • General process
  • Basic types
  • Patterns of Succession-Xerosere, Mesosere and Hydrosere
  • Causes and trends
  • Concept of Climax (Monoclimax and Polyclimax)

 

Essential Readings: 

ESSENTIAL READINGS

  • Chapman, J. L., & Reiss, M. J. (1995). Ecolgy: Principles and Applications. Cambridge University Press
  • Cunningham, W. P., & Saigo, B. W. (1999). Environmental Science. Mc-Graw Hill Book Company.
  • Kumar, H. D. (1995). General Ecology. Vikas Publishing house Pvt. Ltd.
  • Odum, E. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA.
  • Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and Environment. Rastogi Publications.

SUGGESTED READINGS

  • Kormondy. (1969). Concepts of Ecology. Prentice hall.
  • Miller, T. G. (1997). Environmental Science. Wadsworth Publishing Co. (TB).
  • Odum, E. P. (1983). Basic Ecology. Saunders Co. Publication.
  • Smith, R. L. (!996). Ecology and Feild Biology. Harper Collins.
  • Townsend, C., Harper, J., & Begon, M. (2006). Essentials of Ecology. Blackwell Science.

 

References: 

e-RESOURCES

JOURNALS

  • Journal of community Ecology
  • Journal of Applied Ecology
  • Ecological Monographs

 

Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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