Plant Ecology and Taxonomy

Paper Code: 
CBOT 201
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

 Course Objective(s):  

This course will enable the students to-
1. To make the students understand the interactions between environment and organisms so as to increase the awareness among students about global environmental concerns. 
2. To make the students appreciate the concepts and methods from ecological and physical sciences and their application in environmental problem solving. 
3. To identify thrust areas of modern taxonomy without shifting focus from the traditional ones. With biodiversity and its conservation being areas of prime concern, the identification of plants becomes all the more important.
4.   To make the students understand characterization, identification, classification, and nomenclature of plants.
 
 

Course Outcomes

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

 
 

On completion of this course, the students will be able to:

CO9: Learn the various approaches to the study of Ecology (Autecology, Synecology) and evaluate the role of various factors in developing the ecology of an area.

CO10:  Understand the population & Community dyanamics and functional aspects of ecosystem.

CO11: Study the goals and essence of taxonomy by means of different systems of nomenclature and compare their salient features.

CO12: Understand the techniques of plant Identification and systematic study of plant families prescribed in the syllabus.

CO13: Evaluate different components of taxonomy and understand the structure and function of BSI.

Class Hours

Seminars

Tutorials

Group discussions and Workshops

Question Framing

 

 

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

  
 

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Ecology and Environment

 UNIT I: Ecology and Environment                                                            12 Hrs.

Definition and scope; Soil: Origin, formation, composition, soil profile. Water: States of water in the environment, precipitation types. Light and temperature: Variation Optimal and limiting factors; Shelford law of tolerance; ecological niche; Adaptation of hydrophytes and xerophytes.

12.00
Unit II: 
Plant Communities and Ecosystem

Characters; Ecotone and edge effect; Succession; Processes and types. Structure; energy flow trophic organisation; Food chains and Food webs, Ecological Pyramids production and productivity; Biogeochemical cycling: Cycling of carbon, Nitrogen and phosphorous

12.00
Unit III: 
Introduction and system of classification

 Identification, Classification, Nomenclature. Types of classification-artificial, natural and phylogenetic. Salient features of the system proposed by Linnaeus, Bentham and Hooker (upto series), Engler and Prantl (upto series).

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Botanical nomenclature and Plant families

 

Principles and rules (ICN); ranks and names; binominal system, typification, author citation, valid publication, rejection of names, principle of priority and its limitations. Plant families: Papillionaceae, Ceasalpiniaceae, Mimosaceae, Apiaceae, Apocyanaceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae.

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Angiosperm Taxonomy

Aims and fundamental components (alpha and omega taxonomy) of identification, taxonomic literature, herbaria and botanical gardens. Keys for identification. Elementary knowledge of plant explorations in India; Botanical Survey of India (BSI) - History organization and functions.

 

Essential Readings: 

 

  • Kormondy, E.J. (1996). Concepts of Ecology. Prentice Hall, U.S.A. 4th edition.
  • Simpson, M.G. (2006). Plant Systematics. Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
  • Singh, G. (2012). Plant Systematics: Theory and Practice. Oxford & IBH Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. 3rd edition
  • Sharma, P.D. (2020). Ecology and Environment (13th edition) Rastogi Publication, Meerut
  • Odum, E.P. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology (3rd edition) Saunders, Philadelphia,New York.
  • Chapman and Reiss (1999) Ecology: Principles and Applications. Cambridge University Press
  • Trivedi,P.C., Khan, S. & Rijhwani, S (2016). Ecology and Economic Botany. RBD, Jaipur.
  • Shukla, P., & Misra, S. P. (1994). An introduction to taxonomy of Angiosperms. New Delhi: Vikas Pub.
  • Sharma, O. P. (2009). Plant taxonomy. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.
  • Pandey, B. P. (2007). Taxonomy of Angiosperms. New Delhi: S. Chand and Company Ltd.
  • Pullaiah, T., & Karuppusamy, S. (2018). Taxonomy of angiosperms. New Delhi: Regency Publications
References: 
  • Arora, R.K and Nayar, E.R. (1984). Wild Relatives of Crop Plants in India. NBPGR Science Monograph No. 7.
  • Baker, H.G. (1978). Plants and Civilization (3rd edition) CA Wadsworth, Belmont.
  • 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. (1987). Terrestrial Plant Ecology. Benjamin/ Cummings Publication Co., New York.
  • Begon, M; Harper, J.L and Townsend, C.R. (1996). Ecology. Blackwell Science. Cambridge, USA.
  • Brady, N.C. (1990). The Nature and Properties of Soils. McMillan.
  • Chapman, J.L. and Reiss, M.J. (1988). Ecology: Principles and Applications. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK.
  • Prakash, I. (2019). Desert Ecology. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur.
  • Simpson, B.B and Conner-Ogorzaly, M. (1986). Economic Botany- Plants in Our World. McGraw Hill, New York.
  • PH and Heywood, V.H. (1973). Principles of Angiosperms Taxonomy. Robert E. Krieger Publishing Co., New York.
  • Grant, V. (1971). Plant Speciation. Columbia Davis, University Press, New York.
  • Grant, WF. (1984). Plant Biosystematics. Academic Press, London.
  • Harrison, H.J. (1971). New Concepts in Flowering Plant Taxonomy. Hieman & Co.Educational Book Ltd., London.
  • Jones, S.B Jr. and Luchsinger, A.E. (1986). Plant Systematics (2nd edition). McGraw Hill Book Co., New York.

 

Academic Year: 
2023-2024
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