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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY
1. Origin of Life forms  Origin of Life forms  Life on earth
2. Basic Concepts of  Types of Ecology  Ecological Succession
Ecology  Ecological Hierarchy o Types and Process of Succession
 Scope of Ecology o Climax Community
 Habitat & Ecological Niche  Range of Tolerance , Maximum
 Deep vs Shallow Ecology Range
 Ecological Principles  Difference between Ecology ,
 Ecological Community Environment and Ecosystem
o Structure and Characteristics of a
Community
o Stratification
o Ecotone
o Ecological Dominance
o Seasonal and Diurnal Fluctuation
o Periodicity
o Turnover
o Interdependence
3. Ecosystem functions  Ecosystem Definitions  Ecosystem Dynamics
 Functions and Properties of Ecosystem o Flow of Energy in Ecosystem
 The Structure/Components of Ecosystem o Trophic Levels
o Abiotic Components o Food Chain
o Biotic Components o Types & Significance of Food
Chain
o Food Web
o Models for Energy Flow
o Ecological Productivity
o Ecological Pyramid
 Biomagnifications
 Biological Control
4. Population Ecology  Types of species  Methodology of Tiger census
 Population Ecology  Methodology of Lion Census
 Population Growth Models
5. Adaptation of Species  Adaptation  Endemic Species
and Interactions o Examples of adaptation in plants  Keystone Species
o Examples of Adaptations in animals  Indicator Species
 Homeostasis  Invasive Species
 Interaction between Species  Allopatric and Sympatric
 Ecotone Speciation
6. Terrestrial ecosystems  Terrestrial ecosystem  Tundra
 Forest Ecosystem in India  Deserts
 Grasslands  Mountains
7. Aquatic ecosystem  Aquatic ecosystem  Phytoplankton
 Factors affecting the productivity  Factors Affecting Phytoplankton
 of aquatic ecosystems Biodiversity
 Fresh water ecosystem o Importance of phytoplankton
 Marine ecosystem o Zooplankton
 Marine Organisms o Sea-grass
 Plankton o Seaweeds
 Human Modified Ecosystems
8. Nutrient Cycling  Concept of Biogeochemical Cycle  Hydrological Cycle
o Parts of a Biogeochemical Cycle o Different Steps of the
o Types of Biogeochemical Cycle Hydrologic Cycle
 Carbon Cycle o Storage
o Steps in the carbon cycle  Nitrogen Cycle
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
o Carbon cycle: Long term and Short term Human Impact on the Nitrogen
o
o Carbon act as Climate Buffer Cycle
o Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle  Oxygen Cycle
o Effects of high concentration of  Sulphur Cycle
Greenhouse Gases o Human Impact on the Sulphur
Cycle
 Phosphorus Cycle
 Human Influence on Phosphorus
Cycle
BIODIVERSITY
9. Basics of Biodiversity  Biodiversity  Functions of biodiversity
 Types of biodiversity  Hotspots of biodiversity
 Patterns of biodiversity  Bio informatics
 Bio-geographical classification of World  Eco Regions
 Bio-geographical classification of India  Role of Traditional Knowledge in
Biodiversity
 Biopiracy
10. Animal and Plant  Plant and Animal Kingdom
Diversity oMarine Mammals
oEgg laying Mammals
oMarsupials
11. Threats to biodiversity  Causes of Biodiversity losses  Mass Extinction
 Effects of Loss of Bio-Diversity  IUCN Red List and Classification
 Extinction of species Scheme
12. Biodiversity  Scheduled Animals in the Wildlife  Species based conservation
Conservation Protection Act programmes
 In-situ methods of Conservation o Project Tiger
o Protected Area Categories o Project Elephant
o Forms of Protected Areas o Project Snow Leopard
o Biosphere reserves o Vulture conservation project
o Sacred forests and sacred lakes o Crocodile conservation project
o World Heritage sites o Ganges dolphin project
o Geo-heritage sites o Indian Rhino Vision
o Advantages of In-situ conservation o Other projects
o Disadvantages of In-situ conservation o India adopts SAWEN
 Ex-situ methods of Conservation  Important Coastal and marine
¯ Advantages of ex-situ Biodiversity Areas
preservation:  Global initiative
¯ Disadvantages of Ex-situ o State of Protected Areas in the
conservation World
o Zoological Parks o MAB – Man and Biosphere
o Botanical Gardens Programme
o Seed banks o World network of Biosphere
 National Parks Reserves
 Wildlife Sanctuaries o Biodiversity Hotspots
 Biosphere Reserves o CBD – Convention of Biological
Diversity
o Cartegana Protocol
o Nagoya Protocol
 Aichi Biodiversity Diversity
13. Estuaries  What are estuaries?  Monitoring and Prediction of
 Types of Estuaries Health of Estuarine and Coastal
 Importance of estuaries Waters
 Threats to estuaries  Difference between Lagoon and
 Major Estuaries in Indian coastal states Estuary
 Estuary ecosystem: Adaptations
made in organisms
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
 Conservation of Estuaries
14. Mangroves  What are mangroves?  Legal and Regulatory Approaches
 Mangroves in India for Protection
 Importance of Mangroves  Community based mangrove
 Mangroves under threats regeneration
15. Coral Reef  About coral reefs  Uses of coral reefs
 What do corals feed on?  Concept of Bio-rock reefs
 Geographical Conditions  Threats to Coral reefs
 Types Of Coral Reefs  Conservation of coral reef
16. Wetlands  What are wetlands?  Threats to wetland ecosystems
 Types of wetlands  Conservation of Wetlands
 Wetlands in India  About Ramsar Convention
 Importance of wetlands  About Asian Water bird Census
RESOURCE DEGRADATION &
MANAGEMENT
17. Land Resource  Causes of land degradation  Desertification
 Impact of land degradation  Sustainable Land Management
18. Forest resource  Definition of forests by FSI  Causes of Deforestation
 Types of Forest Cover  Consequences of Deforestation on
 Forest Survey of India (FSI report 2017) the Wildlife of India
 Types of Forests In India  Strategies for Reducing
 Deforestation Deforestation
 Government Programmes for
Conservation of Forests
19. Soil Resource  Soil Characteristics and  Soils in World
 Soil formation process  Soil Erosion
 Factors Responsible for Soil Formation  Problems due to excessive
 Soil Forming Processes irrigation
 Soil Profiles and Horizons  Soil Conservation
 Type of Soils  Soil health card scheme
 Soils in India  Organic Farming
20. Water Pollution  Surface Water Resource  Other terms associated with water
 Ground Water Resources pollution
 Sources of Water Pollution o Algal Bloom
 Measurement of Water pollution o Eutrophication
 Causes of Water Pollution o Arsenic contamination of water
 Harmful effects of water pollution o Mercury Pollution
 Oxygen Stratification
21. Energy Resources  Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion  Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
 Tidal Energy Bill
 Wave energy  National Electric Mobility Mission
 Fuel Cell Plan
 Microbial fuel cell  National Policy on Biofuels
 Biofuels  Three Stage Nuclear Power
 Biogas Programme
 Geothermal Energy  Solar Renewable purchase
 Solar Energy Obligation
 New Energy Resources  Petroleum Planning & Analysis
 Renewable Energy and Development Cell
 Petroleum Conservation Research  New Energy Policy
 Association  Energy Organisation
 Atomic Energy Bill
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
22. Basics of Pollution  Sources of pollution  Effect of Tourism on Environment
o Effect of Modern Agriculture on  Classification of pollutants
o Environment  Pollution Indicator species
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
Effect of Housing on Environment
o
Effect of Power Generation on
o
Environment
o Effect of River Valley Projects (Water
Resource Projects) on Environment
o Effect of Mining on Environment
o Effect of Transportation Activities on
Environment
23. Mining and pollution  Mining and Environment  International Laws on Mining
 Sensitivity of Select Ecosystems to  Main Act or Statue to regulate the
Mining impact of Indian Mining Sector
 Impact of Mining  Sustainable Mining
 Indirect Impact of Mining
24. Air pollution  Causes of air pollution  Concepts related to Air pollution
 Harmful Effects of air pollution o Smog and its impact
 Top-ten gases in air pollution o Ozone depletion
 Control of Air Pollution o Acid rain
o Respirable Suspended
o Particulate Matter (RSPM)
o Fly Ash
o Bharat stage Norm
o National Air Quality Index
o Comprehensive Environmental
o Pollution Index
25. Marine Pollution  Sources of marine pollution  Oil spill
 Effects of marine pollution  Trash and Other Debris in ocean
 Concept of dead zone  Microplastics and its impact
 Concept of Ocean acidification  Coastal Regulation Zone
Notification, 2011
26. Noise Pollution  Causes of Noise pollution  Effects of Noise Pollution on
 Noise Levels human health
 Corrective actions
27. Biological Pollution  Sources of biological pollution  Corrective actions
 Harmful effects from biological
contaminants
28. Radioactive Pollution  Sources of Radioactive Pollution  Corrective actions
 Harmful effects of Radioactive Pollution
29. Thermal Pollution  Causes of Thermal Pollution  Control of Thermal Pollution
 Effect of Thermal Pollution
30. Waste Management  Solid waste management  Biomedical Waste Management
o Types of Solid Waste Hazards associated with waste
o
o What is solid waste management? management
o Issues in solid waste management in o Bio-Medical Waste Management
India Rules, 2016
o Waste Management Practices  Hazardous waste and its
o Technologies for the Generation Characteristics
o of Energy from Waste  Hazardous and Other Wastes
o Policy on Promotion of City Compost  (Management & Trans-boundary
o Salient features of SWM Rules, 2016  Movement) Rules, 2016
 E-Waste Management  Treatments Methods in Waste
o Pollutants and their health impacts Management
o E-waste status in India o Methods for sewage treatment
o Importance of the E-waste management o Treatments Methods for waste
o Steps taken for combating mounting E- management
Waste  Hazardous waste treatement
o E-waste (Management & Handling)
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
Rules, 2016
CLIMATE CHANGE
31. Climate Change Basics  What is Climate Change?  Impact of agriculture on climate
 What is Global warming? o Agriculture increases Carbon
 Factors Affecting Climate Change o Dioxide Emissions
 Causes of climate change o Monoculture practice impacts
o Extra-Terrestrial Sources of o biodiversity
o Climate Change o Pollution due to use of chemical
o Terrestrial Sources of Climate Change fertilizers
o Anthropogenic sources of Climate o Soil-related effects
Change o Fertilizer’s Effect on the
 Urbanization and climate change Environment
o Pollution in metros and climate change o Impact of livestock on
o Real estate boom and environment environment
o degradation o Impact of use of Pesticides on
o Urban Heat Island o environment
o Polythene bags and pollution o Impact of GM crop on
o Methane generation from waste environment
o Emission of Methane from
o agricultural practices
o Sustainable Agriculture
Techniques
 What is greenhouse effect?
 Non green House Gases and
Aerosols
 Radioactive forcing and global
warming
 Ecological footprint
 Carbon footprint
 Global Warming Potential (GWP)
32. Climate Change Impact  Impacts of the Climate Change  Climate change mitigation
o Acid Rain o Carbon Sequestration
o El Nino o Carbon Sink
o La Nina o Carbon Credit
o Ozone Depletion o Carbon Tax
o Ocean Acidification
 Global Warming & Health
o Health impacts of global warming
o Mosquito-borne diseases
o Ozone depletion and human health

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
33. Acts and Policies  Constitutional Provisions related to  Dwellers Act 2006
environment  Coastal Regulation Zone
 Wildlife Protection Act 1972  Wetland Rules 2010
 Environmental Protection Act  National Green Tribunal
 National Forest Policy  Ozone Depleting Substance Rules
 Biological Diversity Act 2002
 Schedule Tribes and Other Forest
34. Environment Impact  What is EIA?  Environment Management
Assessment  Brief History of EIA in India  EIA in India – Sectorial Analysis
(EIA)  EIA Process in India  Mining Sector
 The 8 steps of the EIA process  Agricultural Sector
 Environmental Appraisal Process  Industrial Sector
 Drawback in EIA Process
 Recommendations for Improvement
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
35. International  UNEP o Conference on Environment and
Environmental  UNDP o Development (UNCED), Rio de
Governance  Centre for Biological Diversity Janerio, 1992
 WWF for Nature o Global Environment Facility
 IUCN - Red List (GEF)
 Birdlife International o Rio Declaration: 1992
 International Conventions / Protocols & o Agenda 21:1992
their o Commission on Sustainable
 Objectives Development (CSD)
 Sustainable Development Goals o United Nations Convention to
 Various Indices relate to Environment Combat
 Climate Change Governance o Desertification (UNCCD)
o United Nations Conference on the o United Nations Framework
Human Convention on
o Environment (Stockholm Conference) o Climate Change (UNFCCC):
o United Nations Environment 1992
Programme (UNEP) o Global Climate Finance
o Montreal Protocol and Kigali Architecture
Agreement
o The Earth Summit: United Nations
36. India and Climate  India’s Position with regards to policy on  NAPCC
Change Climate Change  Indian Climate Change
 Observed Climate and Weather Assessement
 Changes in India  Indian Policy Structure Relevant to
GHG Emissions
37. Environment related  Pollution Control Boards  Animal Welfare Board
Institutions in  National Green Tribunal  Central Zoo Authority
India  National Board for Wildlife  National Biodiversity Authority
38. Environmental schemes  National Wildlife Action Plan  National Afforestation Program
in India  CAMPA  National River Conservation Plan
 Joint Forest Management  National Mission for Clean Ganga
 Social Forestry  National Air Quality Index (AQI)
 National Bamboo Mission  National Action Programme to
 National Action Plan on Climate Change Combat
 National Solar Mission  Desertification
 Ganga Rejuvenation Plan  Pradhan Mantri Sauchalay Yojana
 Benefits of River Ganga  UJALA Scheme
 Facts about Ganga River Pollution and its  Bharat Stage Norms
impacts  Corporate Social Responsibility
 Ecomark Scheme and Environment Protection
 Swachch Bharat Mission
 Swachch Bharat Kosh
 Grants in Aid Scheme
39. APPENDIX  National Parks  Natural World Heritage Sites
 Tiger Reserves of India  List of Sacred Groves
 Elephant Reserves in India  Mangrove Sites in India
 Mike Sites in India  Pollution
 Biosphere Reserves  Key activities and Likely
 Biosphere Reserves in UNESCO’s Map Associate Air Pollutants
List  Respiratory Irritants and Toxic
 Ramsar Wetland Sites Chemicals
40. Recent developments  Mobile Tower Radiation  Melting of Antarctic Iceberg
 Shrinking of Cauvery Delta  Melting of Gangotri Glacier
 Use of Garbage to Construct Road  Carbon Capture
 Moss as Pollution Monitor  Black Carbon
 Graded Plan for Air Pollution  30th Montreal Protocol and World
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ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
 Air Quality Index Ozone Day
 Polluter Pay Principle  El-Nino Caused Record CO
 Pesticide Poisoning  2 Spike
 Aerosols  Glaciers in Asia to sink
 Anti-Smog guns  Tropics emit more Carbon
 Particulate matter  Climate change impact on Natural
 Nalanda Model of Water Conservation  Heritage Sites - Impact on
 Wetland Rules, 2017 Sunderbans
 Permaculture and Monoculture  Marine Diversity in Antarctica
 Sand Mining Guidelines under threat
 Coastal Erosion (Parali Island)  Carbon Credit
 Bottom Trawling to Deep Sea Fishing  2nd Kyoto Protocol
 ‘Wadi’ Model  Green Metro System
 Re-greening of Village Commons Project  Negative Emissions
 Warsaw International Mechanism  Geo-engineering Climate Change
 for Loss and Damage  Sequestering CO
 Namami Ganga Programme  2
 River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection  Bonn Challenge
and  COP-23
 Management) Authorities Order, 2016  Air Quality Index likely to be
 Smart Ganga City Scheme added
 Ganga Task Force  to ‘playing condition”
 Ganga, Yamuna termed ‘living persons’  HFCs - India to eliminate use by
 National Capacity Building Project 2030
 for Waste Management  Kigali agreement
 NGT Bans Plastic  Carbon Neutrality Concept
 Mission Innovation  Marrakesh Climate Change
 Tribunal – Dumping Waste in Ganga Conference
 Ease in Norms for Sewage Plants  International Solar Alliance (ISA)
 Organic Waste to Make Green Fuel  Kyoto Protocol (2nd Commitment
 New Technologies for Waste 2013-20)
Management  Climate Change Performance
Index