Course Contents

COURSE CONTENTS THEORY An overview of concepts of ecosystem with emphasis on interaction and homeostasis. Basic global ecosystems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, ecosphere). Biogeochemical cycle: nitrogen, phosphorus, Sulphur, water, carbon, nutrient. Limiting factors: basic concepts, temperature, soil, water and humidity, light, fire. Energy: laws of thermodynamics, primary and secondary productions, trophic levels and energy variation with increasing trophic levels, energy flow, food chains and food webs. Population ecology: basic population characters, growth and growth curves, population dynamics and regulations. Community ecology: basic concepts, community analysis, ecotones, inter-population interactions. Ecological niche: basic concepts and types. An overview of major biomes of the world. Applied Ecology: Resources and their ecological management (mineral, agricultural and forest, range management, desalination and weather modification, landscape and land use); Pollution (definition, types, cost, origin and management); water (sources, domestic and industrial pollution, heavy metals, water purification, waste water treatment); air (Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, smog and PAN, MTBE & CFCs); land pollution (pesticides, bacterial toxins, synthetic hormones); noise pollution. Radiations. Space biology. Contemporary environmental themes: (ozone depletion, acid rain, green house effect and global warming, desertification, deforestation, exotic and invasive species, radioactivity leakage, environmental laws). BOOKS RECOMMENDED 1. Fundamentals of Ecology. Odum, E. P. 1994. W.B. Saunders. 2. Ecology: Concepts and applications .Molles, M.C. McGraw Hill, Boston 3. Ecology. Dondson, S.I., Allen, T.F.N., Carpenter, S.R., Ives, A., Jeanne, R.L., Kitchell, J.F.,Langston, N.E. and Turner, M.G., 1998. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford. 4. Practical Ecology. Singby, D. and Cork, D., 1986. McMillan Education Ltd. UK. 5. Ecology. Principles and Application. Chapman, J.L. and Reiss, M.J.1997. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 6. Ecology and Field Biology.Smith, R.L. 1980. Harper and Row. 7. Ecology and Quality of our Environment. Southwick, C.H., 1976. D. Van Norstrand Co. New York. 8. Water quality in warm water fish ponds. Boyd, C.E. 1981. Craft Master Printers Incorporation, Alabama. PRACTICALS 1. Measurement of environmental factors on land, water and air. 2. Study of different ecosystems: pond, agricultural or grassland, forest. 3. Community analysis through different sampling techniques(quadrat, transect). 4. Population dynamics of grasshoppers. 5. Adaptive features of animals in relation to food and environment. 6. Food chain studies through analysis of gut contents. 7. Analysis of polluted and fresh water for biotic and abiotic variations. 8. Field visits for study of selected terrestrial habitat and writing notes. Development of an ecological management plan of some selected area.