The objective of the course is to provide an idea of endangered and extinct plant species and emphasize on the role of environment in plant life.
Introduction to ecology and environment, factors affecting ecology (climatic, topographic, edaphic and biotic factors), ecological niche, life zones, major biomes and vegetation types of the world.
Population Ecology: characteristics of population, population dynamics: community ecology: structure and development of community, community analysis, Clementsian’s categories, concept of continuum and ordination, mechanism of ecological succession- relay floristics and initial floristic composition, facilitation, tolerance and inhibition models.
Structure and function of ecosystem, primary and secondary productivity, energy dynamics (trophic organization, energy flow pathways, ecological efficiencies), litter fall and decomposition, global biogeochemical cycles of C, N, P and S.
Environmental pollution and its management (air, water and soil), greenhouse gases, ozone depletion and global warming, environmental policies and regulations, impact of pollution on biodiversity, other causes of biodiversity loss, IUCN categories of threat, biodiversity hotspots.
Concept of resistance and resilience, ecological perturbances (natural and anthropogenic), and their impact on plants and ecosystems, ecology of plant invasions, environmental impact assessments and ecosystem restoration. Ecological management: concept, sustainable development and sustainability indicators.