ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY

1-General Course Information

Course Details

Course Code	ZOL-506
Course Title	Environmental Biology
Course Coordinator	Dr.Aima Iram Batool
Coordinating Department	Department of Zoology
Term	Semester MSC 2 & BS 6
Level	Graduate
Contact Hour	Up to 4 hours per week

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will be delivered by the following means:

3 X 1-hour lectures per week

1 X 2-hour practical per week

2-Course Description

Environmental Biology encompasses varied themes such as energy flow biosphere & biomes, carbon trading and other biogeochemical cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, water resource management, land degradation and rehabilitation, flora and fauna, habitat destruction, deforestation, energy and mineral depletion, air and water pollution, soil erosion, and groundwater contamination. This course provides insight into of the basic science of environmental biology and ecological theory. Environmental Biology helps in recognition of environmental problems such as climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rains as well,

3-Course Learning Outcomes

Enable students to develop strong expertise in contemporaneous themes in ecological research

Develop critical thinking and to discuss about advanced topics in population, community and ecosystem ecology as well as in biodiversity research

4-Learning Resources

1-Internet Resources

2-Suggested Book Readings

Students may find the following Books helpful:

1.Begon, M., Townsend, C. R., & Harper, J. L. Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems. 2006. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub, 4.

2.Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2011). Essentials of ecology. Cengage Learning.

3.Saikia & Das.(2014). Laboratory Hand Book on Basic Ecology (Soil, Water, Plankton and Feeding Ecology with Special Mention to Periphyton). Science Publishing Group. ISBN: 978-1-940366-08-1.

4.Chapin III, F. S., Matson, P. A., & Vitousek, P. (2011). Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology. Springer Science & Business Media.

5.Smith & Smith.(2015).Elements of Ecology. Pearson

6.Odum, E. P., Odum, H. T., & Andrews, J. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology(Vol. 3). Philadelphia: Saunders.

7.Verhoef, Herman A., and Peter J. Morin. Community ecology: processes, models, and applications. Oxford University Press, 2010.

8.Newman, E. I. (2008). Applied ecology and environmental management. John Wiley & Sons.

9.Molles, M. C., & Cahill, J. F. (1999). Ecology: concepts and applications (p. 482). Boston, MA: WCB/McGraw-Hill.

10.Roy M. Harrison (2006). An Introduction to Pollution Science. RSC Publishing.

11.Sokhi,S.Ranjeet.(2008). World Atlas of Atmospheric Pollution. Anthem Press.

5- Assessment Criteria

Assessment Summary

Written Exam

Mid-term: 25

Final term: 50

Practical: 15

Sessional :10 (Class Participation, timely assignment submission)

Course Grading: Grades in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following criteria:

Marks	Grade
0 - 39	F
40 – 49	D
50 - 64	C
65 - 79	B
80-100	A

6-Weekly Class Schedule

Weekly Schedule	Topics and Readings
Week 1	*Lesson 1* Energy: laws of thermodynamics with respect to ecology, primary and secondary productions of various ecosystems *Suggested Book Readings:* Elements of Ecology, Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology, Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems
Week 2	*Lesson 2 :* Trophic levels and energy variation with increasing trophic levels, energy flow, food chains and food webs. Different Models of energy flow Suggested Book Readings: Elements of Ecology, Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology, Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems,
Week 3	*Lesson 3:* Biogeochemical cycle: nitrogen, phosphorus, Sulphur , water, carbon. *Suggested Book Readings:* Ecology: concepts and applications Elements of Ecology, Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology
Week 4	*Lesson 4:* Limiting factors: basic concepts, temperature, soil, water and humidity, light, fire *Suggested Book Readings:* Elements of Ecology
Week 5	*Lesson 5:* Discussion about Atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, ecosphere. *Suggested Book Readings:* Principles of terrestrial ecosystem ecology Elements of Ecology
Week 6	*Lesson 6:* An overview of ecosystem with special reference to ecological niche: basic concepts and types *Suggested Book Readings:* Community ecology: processes, models, and applications
Week 7	*Lesson 7:* Major ecosystem of world: Marine, Estuarine, Freshwater, Wetlands, Tundra, Forest, Grassland, Desert and Agricultural ecosystems. *Suggested Book Readings:* Elements of Ecology
Week 8	*Lesson 8:* Population ecology: basic population characters, growth and growth curves, population dynamics and regulations. *Suggested Book Readings:* Elements of Ecology Ecology: concepts and applications
Week 9	*Lesson 9:* Community ecology: basic concepts, community analysis, ecotones, *Suggested Book Readings:* Elements of Ecology Ecology: concepts and applications
Week 10	*Lesson 10:* Inter-Population Interactions. Mutualism, Commensalism, Predation, Competition *Suggested Book Readings:* Elements of Ecology Ecology: concepts and applications
Week 11	*Lesson 11 :* Applied Ecology: resources and their ecological management (mineral, agricultural desalination and weather modification, forest and range management, landscape and land use) *Suggested Book Readings:* Applied ecology and environmental management Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems
Week 12	*Lesson 12 :* Pollution: (definition, types, cost, origin and management); water pollution (sources, domestic and industrial pollution, heavy metals) *Suggested Book Readings:* An Introduction to Pollution Science
Week 13	*Lesson 13 :* Air pollution (Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, smog and PAN, MTBE & CFCs) *Suggested Book Readings:* An Introduction to Pollution Science World Atlas of Atmospheric Pollution
Week 14	*Lesson 14:* Land pollution (pesticides, bacterial toxins, synthetic hormones); Noise pollution *Suggested Book Readings:* Environmental Noise Pollution An Introduction to Pollution Science
Week 15	*Lesson 15:* Radiation Ecology, Global Environmental Changes , Ozone Depletion *Suggested Book Readings:* Ecology: concepts and applications
Week 16	*Lesson 16:* Acid Rain, Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming, Koyota Protocol *Suggested Book Readings:* World Atlas of Atmospheric Pollution

RESEARCH PROJECT /PRACTICALS /LABS /ASSIGNMENTS

1. Measurement of environmental factors on land, water and air.

2. Study of different ecosystems: pond, agricultural or grassland, forest.

3. Community analysis through different sampling techniques (quadrat, Transect),

4. Population studies mark and recapture method, statistical analysis of field data.

5. Adaptive features of animals in relation to food and environment.

6. Food chain studies through analysis of gut contents.

7. Analysis of polluted and fresh water for biotic and abiotic variations.

8. Field visits for study of selected terrestrial habitat and writing notes.

9. Experimental design and approaches in ecological research; writing a research project

10. Development of an ecological management plan of some selected area.

7- Course Timetable:

Time Table Dr.Aima Iram Batool
Day	Timing	Class	Semester	Program	Subject
Monday	12:00:00 PM	BS	6th	Regular	Environmental Biology
Monday	2:00:00 PM	MSC	2nd	Regular	Environmental Biology
Tuesday	9:00:00 AM	MSC	2nd	Regular	Environmental Biology
Tuesday	10:00:00 AM	MSC	2nd	Self Support	Environmental Biology
Tuesday	1:00:00 PM	BS	6th	Regular	Environmental Biology
Tuesday	2:00:00 PM	MSC	2nd	Self Support	Environmental Biology
Wednesday	10:00:00 AM	BS	6th	Regular	Environmental Biology
Thursday	8:00:00 AM	MSC	2nd	Regular	Environmental Biology
Thursday	10:00:00 AM	BS	6th	Regular	Environmental Biology
Thursday	11:00:00 AM	MSC	2nd	Self Support	Environmental Biology
Friday	10:00:00 AM	MSC	2nd	Regular	Environmental Biology
Friday	12:00:00 PM	MSC	2nd	Self Support	Environmental Biology