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M.Sc in Environment/ Habitats & Biodiversity: Curricula
Mandatory courses
1- Vertebrates Management & Protected Areas
2- Land-use Planning
3- Geographical Information System in Environment
4- Industrial Pollution
5- Research Methodology
6-Thesis
7-Seminar
Specialized courses
1-Complementary Ecology of Vertebrates
2- Management of Wetland & Migratory Birds
3- Biodiversity Management
4- Evaluation of Habitats
Optional courses
1-Population Dynamics Analysis
2-Complementary Habitat Evaluation
3- Complementary Genetics
4- Chemistry of Pollutions
5- Surface & Ground Water Pollution
6- Sewage Treatment
7- Energy & Environment
8-Determination of Habitats Capacity
9- Computer based Land-use Planning
10- Plant Cartography
11- Ornithology
12- Urban Ecology
13- Advanced Statistical Methods
14- Computer Programming
2
Course Content :
In The Name Of God
Syllabus of M.Sc. Courses in Environment
Biodiversity
Main Courses 11 units
Minor Courses 9 Units
Elective Courses 5 Unites
Thesis 6 Unites
Seminar 1 Unites
Total 32 Units
3
Main Courses
4
Vertebrate Management and Protected Areas
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Wildlifeconservation (scientific, economic, social and technicalaspects), strategies, treaties
and conventions on the protection strategy should be considered –categoryofnewthreats-
analysis ofbiologicalpopulations- wildlifemanagement- evaluation ofmanagement theorywith
an emphasis onadaptivemanagement- relationship betweenscience andmanagement-
describing thescientific methodsusedforidentificationinthe field ofwildlife –
ecologicalconstraintsandapplied researches, especially ecologically- presentationsbystudents
in science andwildlife management usingcase studies- for example,protected areas,historyand
the philosophy of them, conventions, treaties and conferences onmattersrelatingto protected
areas, theproblems of protected areas, the importance of protected areasfor theconservation of
biodiversity, protected areasclassification, evaluation ofnew areas for inclusion inthe
networkof protected areas.corridorsand their roles in keeping biodiversity- zonationin national
parks- installations andthepreparation ofprotected areasforpeople to use.
5
Land use planning
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No Prerequisites
Syllabus:
Introduction(nature characteristics and definition of land, back ground of land use in
Iran),land use principles,evaluation and classification land suitability , preparing suitability
map and land ability,application of social ,economic information of studied region, methods
of review the reports, soil maps and land capability,application of geological, hydrological
and sedimentaryof maps and reports, application of topography map and aerial
Photos,determination of priorities, decision making and preparation of land use planning
plans, land management in Iran,(relation between planning and social behavior, related
institution in land management master plan).
References:
Fundamental of Land use Planning ,Makhdom,M.F,(2014).Tehran University,289 pages.
Environmental Impact Assessment(2005) by Monavari,SM.Mitra-462page.
A theorical frame work for land evaluation geoderama,(2000) Rossiter ,D.G.190 Pages.
6
Geographical Information Systems for
Environmental System
Number of units: 2
Unit type:1 unit theory and 1 unit practical
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Theory:
Components, setup, functions and applications of GIS
Realworld modelingin GIS
Graphical modeling in GIS
Types of databases in GIS
VectorDTM (digital terrain model)
Data quality
Sources of error in GIS data
Basic functions of GIS
Slopeand aspectmappingand classification
Hypsometric mapping
Land unit mapping
Vertical & Horizontal data modeling.
Thematic data integration
Land unit mapping
Ecological potential mapping
GPS and mapping
Site -selection with GIS
Automatic navigation with GIS
7
The final output map creation
Practical:
Proficiency in a raster-based and vector – based GIS
Physiographical map(raster andvector formats)
Ecological potential maps
Output maps preparation
Performing various functions
Mapping with handheld GPS and making maps in GIS
Performing a small projects on land use planning
Site - selection
Routing
References:
Melczewski J, 2000, GIS and multicriteria, John Wiley & Sons Publisher.
Osullivan D, and Unwin D., 2002, Geographic information Analysis.John Wiley & Son publisher.
Fortheringham S, 1994, Spatial Analysis and GIS, Tylor& Francis Publisher.
8
Industrial Pollution
Number of units: 3
Unit type: 2 units theory and 1 unit practical
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Theory:
Introduction to environmental pollution
Pollution from industries: chemical industries, iron and steel industries, metalworking industries,
oil extraction andrefining industry, wood industry and paper manufacturing, leather tanning
andclothingindustry, foodindustry, glass manufacturing and ceramic industry and cement
industry, anhydrate and lime industries
Nuclear power plant pollution
Agricultural institutes
Noise pollution
Toxic effects of pollutants on living and nonliving environment
Economic and social analysis of environmental pollution
Air pollution section:
General nature of air pollution problems - National and international standards- Air quality
monitoring methods- Control devices for particulate contaminants – Control methods for gaseous
contaminants.
Practical:
visits of industries
Introducing sampling and measurement equipment
Detecting and measuring pollutants
9
References:
AbhishekTiwary and Jeremy Colls, 2010, Air pollution, Measurement, Modeling and Mitigation, 3rd
edition, MPG Book Group, UK.
Roy M. Harrison, 2001, Pollution: Causes Effects and control, 4th edition, University of Birmingham,
UK.
Kenneth Wark& Cecil F. Warner, 1976, “Air pollution, its origin & Control”, IEP Dun – Donnelly
Publisher, N.Y.
William Wesley Eckenfelder, 2000, Industrial Water Pollution Control, McGraw-Hill, Technology &
Engineering - 584 P.
10
Research Methodology
Number of units: 2
Unit type: 1 unit theory and 1 unit practical
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Definition and concept of research
Sources of human knowledge
Intellectual history of scientific research: Socrates Plato, Aristole’s, Logic, Francis bacon, Descartes,
Kant.
Research Group: Category of person who are involved in research, organizing research team. Category criteria for research by some factors such as: Type of research, Literacy of researcher,
different Type of result publication. Also, a review of literature about the objective of research and
the use of Scientific and library resources (Review of the research literature)
Definition and concept of research methodology
Type of research methods: Historical, descriptive, correctional, causal and experimental.
Research topic and its characteristics
Defining research objectives,questions,variables andhypotheses
Empirical research methods: Remarkable points in empirical research, executive operation research
for data collection, testing and observation.
Operations plan for data collection
Reductio ad obsurdum
Statistical hypothesis testing
Using statistical in research: Correlation and regression, Statistical tests, Analysis of variance,
Analysis of the factors and etc,
Conclusions of the research data
Data analysis techniques by graphical and statistical tools Citing and referencing (Harvard style– Vancouver style)
Checking the operation of the various stages of research
Principals of writing research papers in English and Persian
References:
Research Method in Environmental Science by LobatTaghavi, HossienYousefi and GholamrezaAghamoradi
(Oct, 2014).
Essentials of Research Design and Methodology by Geoffrey R. Marczyk, David DeMatteo and David Festinger
(Feb 16, 2005).
Introducing Research Methodology: A Beginner's Guide to Doing a Research Project by Uwe Flick (Mar 31,
2011).
Literacy Research Methodologies, Second Edition by Nell K. Duke EdD and Marla H. Mallette PhD (Feb 23,
2011).
11
Thesis
Number of units: 6
Unit type: Practical
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Carryingout a research project in one of the environmental studies subfields, approved by the
university according to the regulations.
12
Seminar
Number of units: 1
Unit type:Theory or practical
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Studying and designing (and undertaking if possible) a project on environment in
collaboration with the related department and local executive institutes.
13
Minor Courses
14
Advanced vertebrate Ecology
Number of units: 3
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Estimation of population vertebrates:
Mark-recapture techniques
Capture, recapture methods
Removal methods and resight methods
Quadrat counts methods
Line transects and distance methods
Spatial pattern in animal and plant populations:
Methods for spatial maps
Nearest –neighbor methods
Distance to second nearest neighbors
More sophisticated techniques for spatial maps
Contiguous quadrats
Testing for spatial pattern
Spatial pattern from distance method of Byth and Riply
T-square sampling procedure
Eberhardt's test
Variable – area transect method
Indices of dispersion for quadrat counts
Variance to mean ratio
K of the negative binomial
Green's coefficient
Morisita's index of dispersion
15
Standardized Morisita index
Distance to regularity indices
Sampling and experimental design:
Sample size determination and statistical power
Sampling designs: random, adaptive and systematic sampling
Sequential sampling
Experimental designs
Estimating community parameters:
Similarity coefficients and cluster analysis
Species diversity measures
Niche measures and resource preferences
Ecological Miscellanea:
Estimation of survival rates
Data transformations
Repeatability
Central trend lines in regression
Measuring temporal variability of populations
Jackknife and bootstrap techniques
16
Wetlands Management and migratory birds
Number of units: 2
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Introduction, General implications about migratory birds in Iran, Habitat,
behavioral mechanisms and characteristicsof migratory birds, Study on migratory
birds life, morphological characteristics, How to study birds and identify them?,
Birds migration in Iran and across different countries, Flyways, Migration
season, Starting point and Destination, Stopover wetlands and its timing,
Migratory birds populations (abundance and density estimation), Wetland’s map
presentation, Geographical coordination of wetlands, Wetlands Conservation and
Protection, Prevention of wetland’s pollution, Improvement of wetland’s
surroundings, providing recreational plans, Research methods on migratory birds,
Negotiating about Iranian DOE management plans on migratory birds and their
migration, Migratory birds marking and ringing to investigate on flyways,
Migratory birds taxonomy, Students filed trip in different habitats.
References:
IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre (Eds). 1987. Directory of Wetlands of International
Importance. Sites designated under the Ramsar Convention. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.445 pp.
Keddy, P.A. Wetland Ecology Principles and Conservation; Cambridge University Press:
Cambridge, IK, USA, 2010; pp. 1–497.
Koester, V. 1989.The Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands.A Legal
Analysis.Ramsar Convention Bureau IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.xii + 105 pp.
17
Biodiversity management
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Biodiversity definitions and implications, global strategies, acts and agreements on
biodiversity, different issues about biodiversity conservation (such as nature improvement,
exotic species, uncontrolled development, …), sustainable development, policy making,
planning defects, ownership problems, poverty and unfair wealth distribution, Sustainable
management, sustainable management requirements, Case studies about biodiversity
management should be presented by students.
References:
Alverson, William S. et. al. 1994.Wild Forests: Conservation Biology and Public Policy. Island Press,
Washington DC.
Forman, Richard T. 1995. Land Mosaics, The Ecology of Landscapes and Regions. Cambridge
University Press. New York.
Golley, Frank Benjamin. 1993. A History of the Ecosystem Concept in Ecology. Yale University Press.
New Haven, Connecticut.
Groves, Craig R. et al. and The Nature Conservancy. 2003. Drafting a Conservation Blueprint: A
Practitioner’s Guide to Planning for Biodiversity. Island Press. Washington DC.
Gunderson, Lance H. and C.S. Holling. 2002. Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human
and Natural Systems. Island Press, Washington DC.
Hudson, Wendy, ed. 1991. Landscape Linkages and Biodiversity.Island Press.Washington D. C.
Rodiek, Jon E. and Eric G. Bolen. 1991. Wildlife and Habitats in Managed Landscapes. Island Press,
Washington DC.
Rosenzweig, Michael. 2003. Win-win ecology: How the Earth’s Species Can Survive in the Midst of
Human Enterprise. Oxford University Press, New York.
Schwab, Jim. May 1994. Planning for Wildlife Mitigation Corridors.Environment
Development.American Planning Association.
Scott, Michael J. et. al. 2002.Predicting Species Occurrences: Issues of Accuracy and Scale.Island
Press, Washington DC.
18
Habitat Evaluation
Number of units: 2
Unit type: theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
An introduction to protected areas of Iran
The importance of conserving wildlife and habitats
Wildlife conditions in Iranian habitats
Habitat destruction and fragmentation
Habitat size and species diversity
Edge effects and habitat fragmentation
Discussing minimum viable population (MVP) and minimum viable area (MVA)
Habitat destruction in Iran
Habitat evaluation methods
Causes of habitat destruction
Effects of different kinds of development on habitats and wildlife
Methods for identifying and ranking habitat quality
19
Elective Courses
20
Population dynamics
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory 1, practical 1
No Prerequisites
Syllabus:
Introduction to population dynamics:
General terms and definitions
Patterns of population growth
Study of factors influencing growth and population reduction
Food, shelter, behavior, genetic, physiology genetics, predation and climate and etc…
Carrying capacity and its impact on population dynamics
Existing computer models of population dynamics
21
Advanced Habitat Evaluation
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Defining habitat types
The importance of habitat as a foundation for environmental assessment
Habitat evaluation procedures (HEP)
Standards for the development of habitat suitability index models (HSI)
Computer models for habitat evaluation
Evaluating habitat for some selected wildlife species by students and presenting it in the class.
22
Advanced Genetics
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Genetics and biodiversity principles and implications, biodiversity, evolutionary genetics
theories, molecular phylogenetic, protein markers (such as mtDNA, nDNA, RAPDs-nDNA,
Satellites, AFLPs and RFLPs), Genetic distances, Hardy-Weinberg principle, Allelic
frequency estimation and genotyping, estimation of genetic diversity (Heterozygosity),
genetic structure of populations, genetic reservoir (pool), gene flow, migration effect,
mutation and selection in genetic structure, inbreeding and its effect on the geetic structure,
estimation of the inbreeding rate, Genetic drift, founder effects, bottleneck, effective
population size, effects of environmental disturbances (such as pollutions, erosion, habitat
fragmentation and destruction, desertification, hunting, and so on) on genetic structure of the
population, quantitative characters and evolution (their nature, QTL, genetic variation
estimation, heredity, selection in natural populations).
References:
A. Purvis, J. L. Gittleman and T. Brooks, 2005. Phylogeny and Conservation, Cambridge University, 431 pages,
Avise, J. 2000. Phylogeography: The theory and information of species. Harvard University Press, Cambridge,
Mass.
Frankham, R., J.D. Ballou, & D.A. Briscoe.2002, Introduction to conservation genetics, Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, UK.
Hanski, I.A., & M.E. Gilpin.1997.Metapopulationbiology.Ecology, genetics, and evolution. Academic Press, New
York.
Hillis D.M., C. Moritz, and B.K.Mable 1996.Molecular Systematics. 2end ed. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland,
Mass.
Margules C. R., Sarkar S. 2007 Systematic conservation planning. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Smith, T.B. and R. K. Wayne. 1996.Molecular genetic approach in conservation, Oxford UnivrsityPress,New
York.
Thornhill, N.W. 1003. The natural history of invreeding and outbreeding. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
23
Chemistry of pollutants
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Air Pollution (introducing compounds, chlorine, fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons (POM), lead,
mercury, nitrogen oxides, carbon, sulfur, PCB, vinyl chloride)
pollution from point and non point sources, the effects of various reactions (Oxidation, optical
reactions, catalysis), emission of smog and odor, chemistry of smog, chemistry of odor,
existing pollutants and their sources, and chemical control methods.
water Pollution (oil spill, ship wastewater), chemistry of petroleum products, their chemical
effects on aquatic life water pollution caused by industrial waste (chemicals resulting from
wood and paper industries, petroleum and coal, plastics and rubber, metal working industries,
and transportation and …),prevention and treatment methods for industrial wastewater
methods, agricultural pollutants (chemicals in plant and animal waste, agricultural chemicals,
chemical processes of soil erosion and its impact on the environment) pesticides and
herbicides (history of pesticide use and its main types, effects of pesticides and herbicides,
control procedures, chemistry of pesticides and herbicides), drugs , food additives and
cosmetics (history, main types, toxic side effects of drugs and food additives, chemistry of
drugs, food additives and cosmetics).
References:
Analysis and fate of pollutants. , Tarradellas, J.; Albaigés, J.; Frei, R. W.; Gordon and Breach Science
Publishers, Montreux, Switzerland, Analysis and fate of pollutants., 1988, 564P.
Environmental modeling: fate and transport of pollutants in water, air, and soil.Schnoor, J. L.; John
Wiley and Sons, New York, USA,., 1996, 682 P .
Chemical Equilibria in soils ,Written by Lindsay, W. L. John Wiley & Sons Publications, 1997, 450P.
Toxicity Text of Marine Sediment , Written by Karbassi, A. R. &Bayati, A. University of Tehran
Publications, 2014, 310 p.
24
Surface and Groundwater Pollution
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Mass balance equations to investigate time and volume of distribution of pollutants in surface
waters, role of biochemical processes and mass transfer of oxygen in surface waters, different
examples of polluted surface waters,wastewater and the effects of their discharge in surface and
groundwater.
Role of industries, mines and agriculture in the pollution of groundwater, pollution of surface
and groundwater in Iran.
25
Wastewater Treatment
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Introduction, municipal wastewater characteristics and its comparison with industrial
wastewater, the importance of wastewater treatment
predicting, collecting and measuring data and required information for waste water production
sources, treatment objectives.
conventional methods of wastewater treatment physicaltreatment: screening, equalization,
filtration, flotation, sedimentation (theory, types, factors affecting sedimentation).
Biological treatment: principles of biological treatment, biological reactors, biological
processes, conventional biological treatment systems including distance stabilization pond,
anaerobic lagoons, activated sludge, filter stalactite, rotating biological substrates and
anaerobic reactors for wastewater treatment.
Final purification: disinfection, nitrogen and phosphorus removal, suspended
solidsandparasite ovaremoval, removal of non-biodegradable materials.
Excess sludge treatment: calculating the amount of excess sludge, thickening, digestion,
dewatering and disposal.
26
Energy and Environment
Number of units: 3
Unit type: Theory
No Prerequisites
Syllabus:
Definitions,energy demand in domestic part, energy demand in industrial part, energy
demand in transfer part, energy demand in the other parts, logical use of energy, energy
consumption in Iran and world, energy supply in the world. energy types: fossil fuels, nuclear
fuel, clean fuel, pollution from energy production and consumption.
References:
Energy & Environment (1998).Written by Karbassi, A. R., Rahimi, N. &Samadi, R. Ministry of
Energy, 346p.
Environmental Management of power plant (2008). Written by Saeedi, M., Karbassi, A. R. &Sohrab,
T. Ministry of Energy, 234p.
Energy Saving in Building (2009). Written by Karbassi, A. R., Amani, M. &Shafizadeh, A.
Organization for Energy Saving, 198p.
27
Estimating Habitat Carrying Capacity
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Introduction )statement of objective)
Defining carrying capacity
Economic carrying capacity
Carrying capacity of tolerance
Human carrying capacity
Factors affecting carrying capacity
Ecological carrying capacity
28
GIS-based Land Use Planning
Number of units:2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
History of GIS and its application in land use planning
Differences between manual land use planningand GIS-based land use planning
Ecological, economic, social data input and mapping layer in GIS
Datastorage, layer organization and database creation in GIS (involving ecological, economic,
social and…. Aspects)
Data classification, creating new layers in database according to classes and parameters
required for the models
Mergingmultipledata layers according to data classification in order to determine
homogenousenvironmentalunits.
Evaluating ecological or economic and social capability of units based on models using
coding or getting information from the database and finally determining ecological or
economic and social capability for extracting suitable application
Identifying priority among suitable applications using coding or getting information from the
database in GIS and presenting the optimum applications.
Comparing the optimum applications of lands with their current application using GIS and
doing statistical analysis.
References:
Edward Inskeep, 1991, Tourism planning, John Wiley & Sons publication.
MendelstohnGohn M., 1996, Education Planning and management and the use of geographical
information system, UNESCO publishing
Marin David, 1990, Geographic information system and their socioeconomic applications, Rutledge
publisher.
29
Vegetation Maps (Vegetation Cartography)
Number of units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Natural Vegetation maps
Plant classification
Plant habitat characteristics
Vegetation mapping scale
Using aerial maps
Map coloring
Vegetation map boundary
Vegetation mapping tools
Small-scale vegetation maps
Analyzing vegetation maps
Vegetationmap based on current vegetation
Braun-Blanquette method
Using vegetation maps
Geographical studies
Climate-based vegetation maps
Soil-based vegetation maps
Using maps in forestry
Vegetationmapsbased on regionaldevelopment
Maps for industrial and commercial use
30
Advanced Statistical Methods
Number of Units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Theory:
Effects of factors andalgorithmicmodels
Calculating confidence interval
Correlation and two-variable linear regression
Matrix and calculating matrix inverse
Multivariate linear regression
Curvilinear regressions (logarithmic, polynomial, regular and orthogonal)
Harmonic analysis
Probity analysis
Practical:
Solving problems and doing the homework assigned by the course instructor
31
Computer Programming
Number of Units: 2
Unit type: Theory
No prerequisites
Syllabus:
Introduction to computer fundamental
Computer application in science and engineering works
Programming languages
Principles of programming infortran 4 language (stop and start statement, do andcontinue
statements, if statements, repetition statements, inputand output statements, flowchart options,
etc.)
Variables indexed
Dimension statement
Subprograms
Computer training programs
Comparing basic language statements with Fortran 4
Introducing minicomputers and PCS
Using PCS in computing
Extension PC calculation
Extension PC for recording information and plotting curves and printing calculationresults.
Recommended