Introduction to Enviromental Science

Paper Code: 
ENV- 121
Credits: 
5
Contact Hours: 
75.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

To acquaint students with the subject and to make them learn the fundamentals of ecology and environmental science

12.00
Unit I: 
Basic concepts of Environmental Science
  •    Gaia hypothesis
  •     Main subdivisions of ecology: Based on taxonomic categories         /habitat/levels of organization                                                                 
  •     Definition, History, Importance and Scope of Environmental science
  •      Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Science 
18.00
Unit II: 
Ecosystem Dynamics
  • Types of ecosystems
  • Concept of ecosystems-structure and function
  • Combined concept of Limiting factors
  • First and Second law of thermodynamics
  • Ecological efficiency
  • Energy flow in ecosystems and energy flow models
  • Food-chains and food webs
  • Homeostasis of the Ecosystem
  • Ecological pyramids
16.00
Unit III: 
Community dynamics
  •   The Biotic Community Concept
  •  Characteristics of a community
  •   Concept of Ecological Dominance
  •   Ecotones and Edge Effect
  •    Productivity: concept and its measurement
  •    Habitat and Ecological Niche
  •    Ecological Succession: Causes, attributes, process, trends,bioenergetics and concept of climax

 

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Population Dynamics
  •   Population characteristics: Density, dispersion, age  structure,            natality, mortality                          
  • Growth Forms:J and S forms
  • Concept of Carrying capacity
  • Population fluctuation
  • Population regulation
  • Factors affecting population explosion
  • Life history strategies (r and K selection)
  • Interactions amongst populations: intra- and interspecific interactions
  • Positive interactions: Commensalism, cooperation and mutualism
  • Negative interactions:Predation, parasitism and antibiosis
17.00
Unit V: 
Nutrient Cycling
  • Biogeochemical cycles: Patterns and basic types of cycles
  • Hydrological
  • Carbon
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Sulphur
  • Role of microbes in biogeochemical cycles  
Essential Readings: 

Dhaliwal, G. S. Sangha, G. S. and Raina,P. K. Fundamentals of Environmental Science.New Delhi: Kalyani Publication 

  1. Agrawal,K. C. (2001).Fundamentals of Environmental Biology. Bikaner (India): Nidhi Publishers.
  2. Odum, E.P. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology. USA: W.B. Saunders Co.
  3. Odum E.P. (1996). Fundamentals of Ecology. Dehradun: Natraj Publisher
  4. Chapman,J. L. and Reiss, M. J. (1995).Ecology: Principles and Applications.  Cambridge: University Press
  5. Cunningham, W.P. Cooper, T.H. Gorhani, E. and Hepworth, M.T. (2001). Environmental Encyclopedia. Mumbai: Jaico Publ. House.
  6. Kemp: The Environment Dictionary  
  7. Sharma, P. D.  (1996).Ecology and Environment. Meerut: Rastogi Publications.
  8. Kormondy, E. J. (1969). Concepts of Ecology. The University of Michigan: Prentice-Hall
  9. Townsend, C. Harper, J. and Begon, M. (2006).Essentials of Ecology. Blackwell Science
  10. Jackson, A. R. W. Jackson, J. M. and Longman (1998).Environmental Science – The natural environment and human impact.
  11. Santra, S. C. (2001). Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd.
  12. Masters,G. M. (2004). Introduction to Environmental Science and Engineering (2ndEd.) Pearson Education Pvt. Ltd.
  13. Miller, T. G.(1997). Environmental Science (6thed), Wadsworth Pub. Co.
Academic Year: 
2018-2019
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