Fergusson College

Unit1
Ecology & Environment: Definition, Scope-Branches of Ecology. Components of the
Environment-Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere and Biosphere, Applications of Ecology, Concept of levels of organization and biosphere. Abiotic factors-Nature of response of organisms to Abiotic factors; Laws of limiting factors and Tolerance. Autecology-Definition-Comparison of autecology and synecology, Concept of species, speciation, characteristics of population. Unit II
Basic components of an ecosystem-structure and functional aspects of an Ecosystem-Tropic structure-Ecological Niche-Ecological Dominance-Stability, Diversity rule. Homeostasis, aquatic
Ecosystem-physico-chemical nature of lentic and lotic ecosystems. Types of aquatic ecosystemstructure and organisation with examples of fresh water Ecosystem. Marine water ecosystem, estuarine water Ecosystem-Mangroves. Terrestrial Ecosystem: Tundra forest, Grassland, Desert ecosystem. Energy flow in ecosystems-Laws of Thermodynamics. Productivity-Biomass production, primary productivity and net productivity. Food Chain Types of food chain with examples, Foodweb, Ecological pyramid of biomes. Number and energy-inverted ecological pyramids. Biogeochemical Cycles Availability and rate of cycling of nutrients-gaseous and Sedimentary cycle. Unit III
Fundamentals, Scope and relevance of Environmental Geology, Interaction of Lithosphere with Atmosphere, Biosphere and Hydrosphere. Earths Materials: Minerals, rocks and soil. Economic importance of Mineral, Soil forming minerals and rocks. Soil conservation and erosion. Study of Earth interior Crust, Mantle and core. Geomorphological studies: Nature and type of land-forms. Natural Hazards-Earthquake, Volcano, Landslides, Floods, Hydrological cycle-Water quality Monitoring methods.