ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY & EVOLUTION - I BIOT-5106

Credit Hours: 3(3+0)

Instructor:  Ms. Fareeha Nosheen

Email: [email protected]

DESCRIPTION

This course aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of ecology, biological diversity and evolution -   Key areas that are pertinent to modern day biology.

CONTENTS

1. An Introduction to ecology and biosphere,

2. What Determines the distribution of life on earth, Factors that influence earth's climate.

3. Principal terrestrial and aquatic biomes, Energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.

4. Population ecology , Population growth and regulation community ecology, Community interactions, Ecosystem and restoration ecology.

5. Conservation biology and global change, Conserving earth's biodiversity.

6. Importance of biodiversity , Major threats to biodiversity, Factors effecting biodiversity.

7. Sustainability essential for a healthy future, Causes and consequances of extinction.

8. Impact of environment on loss of genetic diversity and speciation; in-situ and ex-situ conservation.

READINGS

1. Audesirk, T., Audesirk, G., Byers, B.E. 2017. Biology: Life on earth 11th Ed. : Pearson Hoboken, New Jersey USA.

2. Campbell, N.A. 2016. Biology, 11th Edition. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., California

3. Davet, P. 2004. Microbial Ecology of Soil and Plant Growth Science publishers.

 COURSE SCHEDULE

Week

Topics and Readings
1 Introduction of Ecology and Biosphere
2 Introduction of Biodiversity
3 Introduction of Evolution
4 What Determines the distribution of life on earth, Factors that influence earth's climate.
5 Principal terrestrial and aquatic biomes
6 Energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
7 Population ecology , Population growth and regulation community ecology
8 Community interactions, Ecosystem and restoration ecology.
9 Conservation biology and global change
10 Conserving earth's biodiversity.
11 Importance of biodiversity, Factors effecting biodiversity.
12 Major threats to biodiversity
13 Sustainability essential for a healthy future,
14 Causes and consequances of extinction.
15 Impact of environment on loss of genetic diversity and speciation;
16 In-situ and ex-situ conservation.
17 Final Term

 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

  1. Attendance                                     5
  2. Behavior                                         5
  3. Assignment & presentation            10
  4. Midterm exam                                30
  5. Final exams                                    50

Course Material

Other Courses by Ms. Fareeha Nosheen