Ecology and Environmental Pollution

By Dr. Irfan Rashid | Department of Botany, University of Kashmir

Learners enrolled: 368

The course “Ecology and Environmental Pollution” is a core course in B.Sc. Botany under the Choice Based Credit System (CBSE). The course has been drawn up to provide the students theoretical understanding of the principles of ecology and also sensitive the students about the global problems of environmental pollution, particularly climate change, acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion as well the local environmental issues of air, water and soil pollution.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Environmental Sciences
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	07 Jul 2025
End Date :	31 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	31 Aug 2025
Exam Date :
NCrF Level	5.5

Page Visits

Course layout

WEEK - I

1-Ecological niche

2-Atmosphere—composition and stratification

3-Light—Quality vs quantity (Global radiation budget, PAR)

4-Soil development (weathering and factors influencing soil development)

WEEK - II

5-Soil profile

6-Physical properties of soil (texture and soil structure)

7-Chemical properties of soil (pH and soil nutrient status)

8-Ion exchange and uptake of nutrients by plants

WEEK - III

9-Morphological and anatomical responses of plants to water

10-Physiological responses of plants to water stress

11-Morphological, anatomical and physiological adaptations of plants to light

12-Morphological, anatomical and physiological responses of plants to salinity

WEEK - IV

13-Population characteristics

14-Presentation of demographic data (life tables, survivorship curves etc.)

15-Population Regulation

16-Population Interactions

WEEK - V

17-Community concept

18-Community characteristics (Analytic and Synthetic)

19-Ecological Succession: Types and concept of climax community

20-Ecosystem Structure: biotic (food chains, food webs) and abiotic components; ecological pyramids

21-Primary productivity and factors influencing primary productivity

WEEK - VI

22-Energy flow in an autotroph and detritus based ecosystems.

23-Biogeochemical carbon cycle: Forms of carbon; pools and fluxes

24-Biogeochemical nitrogen cycle: Forms of nitrogen; pools and fluxes; processes that bring about cycling of nitrogen through/across various reservoirs.

25-Biogeochemical phosphorus cycle: Forms of phosphorus; pools and fluxes; processes that bring about cycling of phosphorus through/across various reservoirs.

26-Biogeographic regions of India

WEEK - VII

27-Vegetation types of India

28-Global Warming

29-Concept of exotic species

30-Concept of sustainable development

31-Nuclear Pollution

WEEK - VIII

32-Acid Rain

33-Ozone depletion

34-Noise Pollution - I

35-Noise Pollution – II

36-Thermal Pollution

WEEK - IX

37-Climate Change

38-Problems in enforcement of environmental legislation

39-Photochemical Smog

40-Pollution case studies – I: Air Pollution and Industrial Disaster

41-Pollution case studies – II: Water and Soil Pollution

WEEK - X

42-Air Pollution

43-Water Pollution

44-Soil Pollution

45-Marine Pollution

46-Prevention of pollution

WEEK - XI

47-Defiition Genetic species & ecosystem diversity

48. Values of biodiversity

49. Threat to Biodiversity

50. Biodiversity at global, national and local level

51. In situ Conservation of Biodiversity

WEEK - XII

52. Ex situ Conservation of Biodiversity

53. Hotspots of Biodiversity - I

54. Hotspots of Biodiversity - II

55. India as a megadiversity nation

56. Endangered and endemic species of India

Books and references

•Jonathan M. Chase, Mathew A. Leibold, 2003. Ecological Niches: Linking Classical and Contemporary Approaches

•Connell, J. H. 1975. Some mechanisms producing structure in natural communities.

•Diamond, J.M. 1975. Assembly of Species Communities, in Ecology and Evolution of

•Communities (eds. M.L. Cody and J.M. Diamond), Belknap, Harvard, pp. 460-90.

•G. E. Hutchinson , "Homage to Santa Rosalia or Why Are There So Many Kinds of

Animals?," The American Naturalist 93, no. 870 (May - Jun., 1959): 145-159.

•Schoener T.W. (1986) Resource partitioning. In Community Ecology. Patterns and

Process (ed. by I. Kikkawa 8c D.]. Anderson), pp. 91-126.

•Ayoade, J. O. 2004. Introduction to Climatology for the Tropics. Ibadan:

Spectrum Books Limited.

• Critchfield, H.J. 1987. General Climatology. Prentice Hall of India Pvt.

Ltd., New Delhi.

• De Blij, H.J. and Muller, P.O. Physical geography of the global

environment, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.

• De, A.K. 1994. Environmental Chemistry. New Age International Ltd,

Publishers, New Delhi.

• Ernest, S. Gates 1972. Meteorology and Climatology for Sixth Forms.

Harrap: London.

• Kendeigh, S.C. 1974. Ecology. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.; Prentice- Hall.

• Lide, D.R. 2010. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 90th Edition. The Chemical Rubber Publishing Company, Cleveland. Ohio

U.S.A.

• Miller, Jr., G.T. 2004. Environmental Science. Thomson Brroks/Cole,

CA, U

Instructor bio

Dr. Irfan Rashid

Department of Botany, University of Kashmir

Dr. Irfan Rashid presently working as Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, J&K, India. Raman Fellowship for Post-Doctoral Research for Indian Scholars in USA by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. Jan 2017 to Jan 2018 ,Visiting Scientist Fellowship by Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi to visit Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), Trebon, Czech Republic from November 11 - 25, 2016. J&K Council for Science & Technology Young Scientist award during 10th JK Science Congress, held in Jammu University from March 14-16, 2015 ,Young and Deserving Scientist award during 23rd Asian Pacific Weed Science Society Conference, held in Cairns, Queensland, Australia from September 26-29, 2011. AusAID funding during 23rd Asian Pacific Weed Science Society Conference, held in Cairns, Queensland, Australia from September 26-29, 2011. Travel grant by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, together with the Mountain Partnership (FAO) to participate in GMBA Conference at Chandolin, Switzerland July 27 - 30, 2010, Graduate Student Award during 5th International Weed Science Congress held at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 23 to 27 June 2008.

Course certificate

Internal Assessment - Weekly assessments released in the course shall be considered for Internal Marks and will carry 30 percent for the Overall Result. Out of all weekly assignments, the best/top five scores will be considered for the final Internal Assessment marks.

End-term Assessment - The final exam shall be conducted by NTA, and will carry 70 percent for the overall Result.

All students who obtain 40% marks in the internal assessment and 40% marks in the end-term proctored exam separately will be eligible for the SWAYAM Credit Certificate.

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