SE 387. Principles of Ecology and Environmental Science
(3 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 4)
Ecology
- Autecology: theory, life form types, ecological factors.
- Population Ecology: population growth, demography, ecological niche and niche partitioning, intra-specific and inter-specific competition, extinction, conservation, harvesting and control.
- Evolution of population: origin of life, micro-evolution, natural selection, population genetics and genetic systems, speciation.
- Ecosystem: natural ecosystems, climax concept, microcosmic and seral succession, statics and dynamics of ecosystem, case studies.
Natural Resources and Anthropogenic Impact
- Types of Resources: air, water, soil, minerals and biodiversity.
- Impact of Development Activities: impacts of agriculture, mining, traditional sources of energy, population, industrialization, transportation structures, big dams etc.
- Introduction to Sustainable Development: renewable energy sources, sustainable agricultural practices, integrated pollution control in the industries, sustainable irrigation, protection of biodiversity etc.
- Global Environment Problems: global warming, pollution in the ocean, ozone hole, loss of biodiversity, overfishing in international waters, pesticide use and bioconcentration in the food chain etc.
- Proposed Structure:
- 3-1-0-4 where the tutorial classes are not traditional problem solving but case studies and discussion from the latest or key publications on the subject.
- Proposed by:
- Professors Saumyen Guha and Purnendu Bose (CE)