(Botany) Plant Taxonomy And Ecology B.Sc 2nd Semester

Unit

Topic

Hrs.

I

Botanical Nomenclature and major rules of ICBN and ICN; Keys to Identification of Plants.

General Introduction and Importance of Herbaria and Botanical Gardens. Documentation of Floristic Diversity: Brief idea about floras, monographs and journals.

Brief idea of taxonomic evidences.

Types of inflorescence, flower and parts of flower.

11

II

Artificial, natural and phylogenetic classifications. Bentham and Hooker system of classification (upto series), Angiosperm Phylogeny Group- general account.

Diagnostic Features and Economic Importance of the Following Families: Ranunculaceae, Brassicaceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae, Leguminosae, Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Orchidaceae.

12

III

Ecology: Definition; scope and importance; levels of organisation. environmental factors- climatic factors, edaphic factors, topographic; and biotic factors.

Population Ecology: Basic concept; characteristics; biotic potential, growth curves; ecotypes and ecads.

Community Ecology: Concepts; characteristics (qualitative and quantitative-analytical and synthetic); methods of analysis; ecological succession.

11

IV

Ecosystem: Structure and functions (trophic levels, food chains, food webs, ecological pyramids, and energy flow).

Phyto-geography: Phyto-geographical regions of India; vegetation types of India (forests).

Environmental Pollution: Sources, types, and control of air and water pollution.

Global Change: Greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases; impacts of global warming; carbon trading.

Biodiversity: Levels, types, significance, threats, and conservation.

11

V*

·         Study of Instruments Used to Measure Microclimatic Variables: Soil thermometer, maximum and minimum thermometer, anemometer, psychrometer/hygrometer, rain gauge, and lux meter.

·         Determination of pH, and analysis of two soil samples for carbonates, chlorides, and sulphates by rapid field test.

·         Comparison of bulk density, porosity and rate of infiltration of water in soil of three habitats.

·         To determine inorganic carbon content of given soil samples.

·         To determine organic carbon content of given soil samples by acid dilution method.

·         (a) Study of morphological adaptations of hydrophytes and following: Stem parasite (Cuscuta), Root parasite (Orobanche), Epiphytes (Orchid) and Predation (Insectivorous plants) using museum specimens/ live plants.

·         Determination of minimal quadrat size for the study of herbaceous vegetation in the college campus or nearby fields by species area curve method (species to be listed).

·         Quantitative analysis of herbaceous vegetation in the college campus or nearby fields for frequency and comparison with Raunkiaer’s frequency distribution law.

·         Study of vegetative and floral characters of the one or two member of each family/sub-family mentioned in theory syllabus (Description, V.S. flower, section of ovary, floral diagram/s, floral formula/e and systematic position according to Bentham & Hooker’s system of classification).

·         Excursion Report: Report on excursion tours with photographs, collection, preservation and preparation of herbarium sheets and specimens related to Angiosperms.  Mounting of a collected, properly dried and pressed specimen of minimum 20 wild plants with herbarium label.

30