Ecology

Paper Code: 
ZOL 611
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
30.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I :

Autecology & Synecology

Concepts of limiting factors

Abiotic Factors of Environment—Temperature, light , Pressure

Substratum-Soil as a substratum

Biogeochemical cycles-Nitrogen, Carbon, Water & Sulphur

Populations- Characteristics, Regulation of densities, growth curves

Unit II: 
UNIT II :

Ecosystem:

  • Composition in an ecosystem
  • Concepts of food chain, food web. trophic structure
  • Ecological pyramids.

Ecosystem:

  • Its homeostasis.
  •  Functional aspects.
  • Productivity concepts and its determination.

Intraspecific & interspecific relationships

Niche concept

Predation & parasitism- Concept, Host- parasite relationship

9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III

Community Ecology:

  • Characteristics of natural Communities, structure,
    composition, stratification.
9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT IV

Ecological succession:

  • Types and Patterns, concept of climax.
  •  Details of xerosere and hydrosere successions

Habitat Ecology:

  • Fresh water
  • Marine,
  • Terrestrial -Desert
  • Estuarine water
9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V

Major biomes of the world:

  • Desert.
  •  Grassland.
  • Tundra.
  • Temperate.
  •  Tropical moist Forest and Seasonal forests.

Ecology and Human Future:

  • Growth rate

Role of human kind in modifying natural communities

Essential Readings: 
  • Fundamentals of ecology; Odum, E.P.; W.B.Saunders, New Delhi.
  • Ecology. Gary Miller, Robert, E. Riclefs. W.H. Freeman, USA.
  • Elements of Ecology, 5 Ed Robert Leo Smith et al. Harper Collins.
  • Environmental Biology (Cambridge Advanced Sciences) Michael Reiss.
  • Ladern,D. Modelling in Behavioural Ecology.
  • Ecology and Field Biology, Robert L Smith, Harper CollinsPub, New York.
  • Textbook of Ecology, G.T. Miller and S. Spoolman, Brookes Cole, England.
  • The Encyclopedia of Animal Ecology, P.D. Moore (Ed), Equinox (Oxford) Ltd., England.
Academic Year: 
2017-2018
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