Environmental Science

Paper Code: 
24BOT222
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
  1. To provide an idea of endangered and extinct plant species and emphasize on the role of environment in plant life.
  2. To teach the students the importance of renewable and nonrenewable resources, the importance of biodiversity conservation and how to achieve sustainable development targets.
  3. To impart knowledge about various ecosystem dynamics and their productivity assessment.
  4. To develop a comprehensive understanding of Autecology and Synecology.

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Course Outcomes

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

24BOT222

       

 

Environmental Science

CO39: Develop an understanding of ecology and environment and analyse the role of ecological factors in the distribution of organisms.

CO40: Apply the knowledge of Autecology and Synecology to understand the structure and function of population and community.

CO41: Analyse the dynamics of ecological succession in the establishment of a community. Furthermore, study the efficiency of ecosystem structure in terms of energy flow, trophic architecture and biogeochemical cycling.

CO42: Evaluate the different types of environmental pollution and their impact on biodiversity and also assess other causes of biodiversity loss.

CO43: Critically analyse the threats posed by ecological perturbation and apply the knowledge of EIA and environmental management to sustainable development.

CO44: Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction.

Approach in Teaching:

Interactive

Lectures

Powerpoint presentation, Animations, Tutorials

Learning Activities for the students:

Peer teaching, Model preparation,

Seminars

Think-pair-share, Flipped classroom

 

 

 

 

 

Graded papers Class test, Semester end examinations, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments,.

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Ecology I
                                                                                                           

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.

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Ecology II
                                                                                             
Population Ecology: characteristics of population – natality, mortality, vital index, biotic potential, survivorship curve, exponential and logistic growth, population dynamics: community ecology: structure and development of community, community analysis.     

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Ecosystem Dyanamics
                                                                           
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.                             

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Pollution
                                                                                                         

 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.

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Ecological Management
                                                                                    

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.                                                   

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Odum, E.P., & Barrett, G.W. (2009). Fundamentals of Ecology. Australia: Cengage Learning.
  • Kormondy, E.J. (1996). Concepts of ecology. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall.
  • Chapman, J.L. and Reiss M.J. (1998). Ecology: Principles and Applications. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.
  • Frankel, O.H.; Brown, A.H.D and Burdon, J.J. 1995. The Conservation of Plant Biodiversity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
  • Hill, M.K. 2010. Understanding Environmental Pollution. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.
  • Kothari, A. 2018. Understanding Biodiversity: Life Sustainability and Equity. Orient Longman.
  • Bhargava, R.N., Rajaram, V., Olson, K., & Tiede, L. (2019). Ecology and Environment. The Energy and Resources Institute,New Delhi
  • Sharma, P.D. (2014). Ecology and environment: A text book for University students. Meerut: Rastogi Publications.

 

References: 

Suggested Readings:

  • Baker, H.G. (1978). Plants and Civilization (3rd edition) Belmont, C A.
  • Bole, P.V. and Vaghani Y. (1986). Field Guide to Common Indian Trees. Oxford University Press, Mumbai.
  • Barbour, M.G., Burk, J.H. and Pitts, W.D. (1998). Terrestrial Plant Ecology. Benjamin/ Cummings Publication Co., New York.
  • Begon, M., Harper, J.L. and Townsend, C.R. (2005). Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems, 4th Edition Blackwell Science. Cambridge, USA.
  • Brady, N.C. (2016). The Nature and Properties of Soils. Pearson
  •  Chandel, K.P.S, Shukla, G. and Sharma, N. (1996). Biodiversity in Medical and Aromatic Plants in India: Conservation and Utilization. NBPGR, New Delhi.
  • Gadgil, M. and Guha, R. (2000). Ecology and Equity: Use and Abuse of Nature in contemporary India. Penguin, New Delhi.
  • Heywood, V.H and Watson, R.T. (1995). Global Biodiversity Assessment. Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK

 

e-Resources:

 

Journals:

 

Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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