MZO-7 EM 2025 SOLVED ASSIGNMENT

Description

M.Sc. (Zoology) Programme (MSCZOO)
Valid from 1st January, 2025 to 31st December, 2025

ASSIGNMENT
Course Code: MZO-007
Course title: Principles of Ecology

Assignment Code: MZO-007/TMA/2025

Note: Attempt all questions. The marks for each question are indicated against it.

1. a) Describe the four fundamental characteristics shared by all ecosystems, including appropriate examples for each.
2. b) Distinguish between Gross Primary Productivity, Net Primary Productivity and Net Community Production.
3. Describe the nitrogen cycle in detail, outlining its main reservoirs, key processes (nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification), and the impact of human activities on its natural balance.
4. Explain how biodiversity, species distribution, ecosystem functioning, and sensitive biomes like coral reefs, rainforests, and tundra are affected by climate change in both terrestrial and marine biomes.

4.a) Explain the ecological significance of mortality, life tables, age structure, sex ratio, and population increase (both exponential and logistic) using appropriate examples.

1. b) Describe how mortality works in population ecology. Using examples, distinguish between realised (ecological) mortality and minimum (potential) mortality.
2. Explain the difference between density-dependent and density independent factors regulating population growth. Discuss their types (biotic and abiotic) with suitable examples, and highlight how these factors can interact to influence population dynamics.
3. Explain the Lotka–Volterra, Functional Response, and Numerical Response models of prey–predator interactions, highlighting their assumptions, equations, and ecological applications.
4. Explain the contribution of biodiversity to medicine and industry. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples of medicinal plants, animal-based medicinal uses, micro-organisms, and industrial raw materials derived from biodiversity.
5. a) Discuss the significance of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) in safeguarding India’s traditional knowledge systems.
6. b) Explain the concepts of population bottleneck and founder effect, highlighting their impact on genetic diversity with suitable examples from plants and animals.
7. Explain the concepts of dose, threshold dose, and LD₅₀ in toxicology. Differentiate between acute and chronic effects of toxicants with appropriate examples.
8. Define biodegradation and bioremediation. Discuss with suitable examples how persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polymers, heavy metals, and pesticides are degraded or transformed through these processes.