Complex Ecosystem Dynamics

An ecosystem is an overall integration of whole mosaic of interacting organisms and their environment. It is a basic, functional unit with no limits of boundaries, consisting of both biotic and abiotic components interacting with each other, both necessary for maintenance of life upon the earth. The course is aimed to serve undergraduate, post graduate and Integrated Basic Ecosystem and Ecology courses (taught in B.Sc, M.Sc, IG, M.phil./ Ph.D and Diploma Programmes) within the field of Environment, Agriculture and Science subjects. This course shall provide knowledge of the basic concepts of Ecosystems and its dynamics which includes, Species, Populations, Communities, Energy transference, Mode of interactions among all living and non-living components and various kinds of ecosystems and their conservation. The whole MOOC shall be divided into 06 units covering all the aspects of Ecosystem and its dynamics.

Unit I: Fundamental characteristics of EcosystemConcept of an Ecosystem.Types of EcosystemsFood Chain & Food WebConcept of Trophic level

Unit II: Functional attributes of EcosystemStructure and Function of EcosystemEcological PyramidsEnergy Flow in the ecosystemProducers, Consumers and decomposers

Unit III: Diversity and Energy flow in EcosystemDefinition: Genetic, Species & Ecosystem DiversityEcological SuccessionEnergy efficienciesCharacteristic features of Ecosystem

Unit IV: Grassland Ecosystems and their ConservationGrasses and Grasslands-IGrasses and Grasslands-IIGrasses and Grasslands-IIIConservation of Grassland Ecosystems

Unit V: Forest and Aquatic EcosystemsForest EcosystemConservation of Forest EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems (Ponds, Streams, Lakes, Rivers, Oceans, Estuaries)Wetland Ecosystems

Unit VI: Agro Ecosytems and their conservationAgro EcosystemsConservation of Agro Ecosystems