B.Sc.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Scheme of Examinations

Ist Semester

Paper-I Elements of Ecology

Paper-II Ecosystem Dynamics

Paper-V Practicals

IInd Semester

Paper-III Biodiversity Components

Paper-IV Biodiversity Conservation

and Ecosystem Services

Paper-V Practicals

Outline of Examinations

Paper Nomenclature Internal External M. Marks

Assessment
Ist Semester

I Elements of Ecology 5 45 50
II Ecosystem Dynamics 5 45 50
IInd Semester

III Biodiversity 5 45 50
Components
IV Biodiversity 5 45 50
Conservation and
Ecosystem Services
V Practicals* 0 100 100
* At the end of Second Semester
 Syllabus and Courses of Reading
B.Sc. Environmental Science (First Semester)
(w.e.f. 2009-2010)

Paper-I: Elements of Ecology

Max. Marks : 45+5

Time : 3 Hours

Note:- Total Nine questions will be set. The candidates will attempt 5 questions
in all, one from each unit. Question number one will be compulsory,
consisting of short answer question, covering the entire syllabus. All the
questions carry equal marks.

Unit-I

Definition, Scope and basic principles of ecology and environment.

Biological levels of organization, population, community, ecosystem and biosphere.
Climatic factors - Solar radiations, temperature, water and precipitation.

Unit-II

Soil formation, soil types, soil profiles.

Physical and chemical characters of soil, Soil biological characters.
Topographic factors.

Unit-III

Population: Basic concepts, population characteristics – density, natality, mortality,

age-structure, population growth.
Ecological niche and habitat.
Positive and negative interactions of populations – competition, predation, parasitism,
mutualism.
Unit-IV
Community: Basic concepts, community structure, growth forms, life form.
Analytical and synthetic characters of plant community.
Methods of plant community analysis.
Concept of keystone species and ecotone.
 Paper-II: Ecosystem Dynamics

Max. Marks : 45+5

Time : 3 Hours

Note:- Total Nine questions will be set. The candidates will attempt 5 questions
in all, one from each unit. Question number one will be compulsory,
consisting of short answer question, covering the entire syllabus. All the
questions carry equal marks.

Unit-I

Ecosystem : Basic concepts, components of ecosystem.

Trophic levels, food chains and food webs.
Ecological pyramids, ecosystem functions.
Energy flow in ecological systems, energy efficiencies.

Unit-II

Biogeochemical Cycles : Importance, gaseous and sedimentary cycles.

Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur Cycles.
Global Oxygen Cycles.
Hydrological cycles.
Unit-III
Succession : Concepts of succession, Types of Succession.
Trends in succession.
Climax and stability.
Co-evolution and group selection.

Unit-IV
Major biomes of the world.
Characteristics of terrestrial fresh water and marine ecosystems.
Forests, grasslands, lake, river and marine ecosystems of India.
Suggesting Reading:

ELEMENTS OF ECOLOGY & ECOSYSTEM DYANAMICS

1. Muller-Dombols, D. and Ellenberg, H. (1974). Aims and Methods of

Vegetation Ecology, Wiley, New York.
2. Odum, E.P. (1983), Basic Ecology, Sanders, Philadelphia.
3. Robert Ricklefs (2001). The Ecology of Nature. Fifth Edition. W.H. Freeman
and Company.
4. Singh K.P. and J.S. Singh (1992). Tropical Ecosystems: Ecology and
Management. Wiley Eastern Limited, Lucknow, India.
5. Singh, J.S. (ed.) 1993. Restoration of Degraded Land: Concepts and
Strategies. Rastogi Publications, Meerut.
6. Smith, R.L. (1996). Ecology and Field Biology, Harper Collins, New York.
7. Botkin, D.B. and Keller, E.A. 2000. Environment Science: Earth as a living
planet. Third Edition. John Wiley and Sons Inc.
 Syllabus and Courses of Reading
B.Sc. Environmental Science (First Semester)
(w.e.f. 2009-2010)

Paper-III: Biodiversity Components

Max. Marks : 45+5

Time : 3 Hours

Note:- Total Nine questions will be set. The candidates will attempt 5 questions
in all, one from each unit. Question number one will be compulsory,
consisting of short answer question, covering the entire syllabus. All the
questions carry equal marks.

Unit-I

Biodiversity: Basic concepts, importance and conservation needs.

Species diversity, Biological and phylogenetic species concept.
Basic concepts of speciation, species extinction.

Unit-II
Biological classification, taxonomic nomenclature.
Principles of classification and nomenclature of plants.
Micro-organism: main taxonomic groups of micro-organism.
Organization and function of a bacterial and fungal cell.

Unit-III
General characteristics, habitat and economic importance of photosynthetic bacteria.
Chemoautotrophs, bacteria, blue-green algae, yeasts, fungi and algae.
Microbial toxins in environment, microbial diseases of man.
Unit-IV
Bryophytes and lichen, land habit in Bryophytes, role of bryophytes in soil building.
Lichens as ecological indicators.
Pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, general characteristics, habitat, role in
environment and economic uses.
 Paper-IV : Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services

Max. Marks : 45+5

Time : 3 Hours

Note:- Total Nine questions will be set. The candidates will attempt 5 questions
in all, one from each unit. Question number one will be compulsory,
consisting of short answer question, covering the entire syllabus. All the
questions carry equal marks.

Unit-I

Introduction to classification of animal kingdom.

Diversity of insects, nematodes, fishes, birds, reptile and other mammals.
Animal food and fisheries.
Role of animal and insects in pollination and seed dispersal.
Economic importance of wild life.

Unit-II

Factors for decline of biological diversity.

Approaches for conservation of biological diversity.
Protection of wild flora, fauna and natural habitats.
Concept of threatened species.
Threatened and endangered animals of India.
 Unit-III
Food, timber and medicinal plants non-timber forest produce.
Importance of tropical rain forests and wetlands.
Wild life sanctuaries, National Parks and Biosphere Reserve.
Concept of genetic diversity, gene and germ-plasm banks.

Unit-IV
Biodiversity convention.
International and national efforts to conserve biodiversity.
Socio-cultural aspects of biodiversity.
Biotechnological needs for biodiversity conservation.
Traditional knowledge and biodiversity conservation.

Suggesting Reading:

BIODIVERSITY COMPONENTS & BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

1. Chandel, K.P.S., Shukla, G. And Sharma, N. (1996). Biodiversity in

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India Conservation and Utilization,
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi.
2. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (1986). The Useful Plants of
India Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi.
3. Nair, M.N.B. et. al. (Eds.) (1998). Sustainable Management of Non-wood
Forest Products. Faculty of Forestry, University Putra. Malaysia. 434 004 PM
Serdong, Selangor, Malaysia.
4. Soule, M.E. (ed.) (1986). Conservation Biology. The Science of Scarcity and
Diversity. Sinaur Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.
5. Singh, J.S., Singh, S.P. and Gupta, S.R. 2006. Ecology, Environment and
Resource Conservation, Anamaya Publishers, New Delhi.
 Paper-V : Practical

Max. Marks : 100

Time : 6 Hours (in two sessions)

Section-A
1. Determination of requisite size of the quadrant for vegetation analysis.
2. Analysis of frequency distribution of plants in a piece of vegetation by quardrat
method.
3. To determine chlorophyll content of the given plant material.
4. To determine basal cover of trees in a forest ecosystem/forest plantation.
5. Quantitative analysis of soil organic carbon.
6. Quantitative analysis of soil pH.
7. To study pore space, water holding capacity and bulk density of soil.
8. Identification of rocks and minerals on the basis of physical characters.

Section-B
1. Temporary wet amount technique for the observation of living organism.
2. Ecological comments on charts/material/fresh plant material (as per syllabus).
3. Comments on economic uses of plant material (as per syllabus).
4. Preparation of field report based on the survey of local flora.
5. Study of centre of diversity of plants from maps.

Section-C
1. Comments on life cycle of some economically important insects.
2. Identification of museum specimens of some economically important fishes.
3. Study of flora and fauna through charts and maps.
4. Preparation of field report based on the visit to a Wild Life Sanctuary/National
Park/Zoo/Biosphere Reserve.
Distribution of Marks:

1. One experiment from Section-A 20 marks

2. One experiment from Section-B 20 marks
3. One experiment from Section-C 20 marks
4. Viva-voce (based on theoretical aspects of
Experiments prescribed) 10 marks
5. Lab Record 10 marks
6. Field Report 20 marks
_________
Total 100 marks
 B.Sc. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Scheme of Examinations

IIIrd Semester

Paper-VI Renewable and Non Renewable 3 periods/per week

Energy Resources

Paper-VII Natural Resources and 3 periods/per week

Forest Management

Paper-X Practicals 6 periods/per week

IVth Semester

Paper-VIII Physico Chemical Environment 3 periods/per week

Paper-IX Environmental Pollution 3 periods/per week

Paper-X Practicals 6 periods/per week

Outline of Examinations

Paper Nomenclature Internal External M. Marks Time

Assessment
IIIrd Semester
VI Renewable and Non 5 45 50 3-Hours
Renewable Energy
Resources
VII Natural Resources and 5 45 50 3-Hours
Forest Management
IVth Semester
VIII Physico Chemical 5 45 50 3-Hours
Environment
IX Environmental 5 45 50 3-Hours
Pollution
X Practicals* 0 100 100 6-Hours
of 2
session
* At the end of Fourth Semester
 B.Sc. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Scheme of Examinations

Vth Semester

Paper-XI Environmental Monitoring 3 periods/per week

Paper-XII Environmental Techniques & Impact 3 periods/per week

Assessment

Paper-XV Practicals 6 periods/per week

VIth Semester

Paper-XIII Environmental Management 3 periods/per week

Paper-XIV Eco Restoration and Development 3 periods/per week

Paper-XV Practicals 6 periods/per week

Outline of Examinations

Paper Nomenclature Internal External M. Marks Time

Assessment
Vth Semester
XI Environmental 5 45 50 3-Hours
Monitoring
XII Environmental 5 45 50 3-Hours
Techniques & Impact
Assessment
VIth Semester
XIII Environmental 5 45 50 3-Hours
Management
XIV Eco Restoration and 5 45 50 3-Hours
Development
XV Practicals* 0 100 100 6-Hours
of 2
session
* At the end of Sixth Semester