1

In The Name Of God

Syllabus of Ph. D. Courses in Environment

Biodiversity

Main Courses 13 units

Minor Courses 13 Units

Thesis 24 Units

Total 50 Units

2

Main Courses

3

Trace elements in environment

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Generalities about trace elements, trace elements in low contamination areas, trace elements in

high contamination areas,trace elements inmetal smelting industry, plants,motor

vehicles,sludge of water treatment plant and urban wastes.The role of trace elements in water,

air and soil pollution, importance of trace element for flora and fauna, impact of trace element

on Flora and fauna, importance of trace element for human, impact of trace element on

human,strategies to reduce the harmful effects of trace elements.

References:

Chemical Equilibria in soils (1997).Written by Lindsay, W. L. John Wiley & Sons Publications, 450P.

Toxicity Text of Marine Sediment (2014).Written by Karbassi, A. R. &Bayati, A. University of Tehran

Publications, 310p.

Environmental Geochemistry (2009).Written by Karbassi, A. R. &Bayati, A. KavoushGhalam

Publications, 245p.

4

Interaction of Human and Ecosystems

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Introduction, various world ecosystems, ecosystems of the pole regions, ecosystems of Tundra

regions, Taiga ecosystem, temperate ecosystems, ecosystems of Savanna and Grasslands,

ecosystems of Kavir and Desert areas, Tropical ecosystems, ecosystems of uplands and

mountains, protected ecosystems and natural landscapes of the world, adaptation of species

with environmental stresses in several ecosystems of the world, principals of human

population relations and ecosystems, human society evolution periods ,evolution and balance

of population in the period of hunting and food gathering ,evolution and balance of population

after Neolithic revolution , revolution and balance population in industrial revolution period

,impacts of human on ecosystems in each period of the population evolution ,needs of human

societies involvement control in natural ecosystems.

5

Sustainable development and natural resources

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Sustainable development history,the concept of sustainable development,economic systems

and their relation to sustainable development,sustainable development and social and economic

development in the developed and developing countries, traditional system in agricultural

sustainable development and natural resource,sustainable development ecological principles,

renewable natural resources allocation pattern:economic impact on the exploitation of natural

resources,resource limitations and population growth,resource degradation and sustainable

development ,sustainable and unsustainable structures in non-developed countries(social,

economic and ecologic),poverty and sustainable development, resource consumption pattern,

The economic crisis and their impact on structures,required information for design sustainable

system: sustainable development measuring indicators: necessary condition andfactors for

sustainable development, combining economic, agricultural, environment and natural resources

development program, feature strategy.

6

Environmental Geography of Iran

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Natural elements,weather factors, climate classification.

Wet weather fronts:north wet weather fronts,west and north west wet weather fronts.

Semi-arid fronts:Southern slopes of the Alborz semi-arid fronts, west slopes of the Zagrous

semi-arid fronts.

Arid areas:interior plateau arid areas,outer plateau arid areas.

morphological and topographical characteristics: morphologic areas.

Young mountain territory,old flat lands,lateral plain, hydrological characteristics, rivers

territory and permanent surface streams, territory of seasonal rivers,territories dependent on

groundwater.

pedogenesis areas:soil of areas affected from climate characteristics of wet fronts, soil of areas

affected from climate characteristics of semi-arid fronts, soil of areas affected from climate

characteristics of arid fronts.

Biological collections: vegetation cover, north and north west forests,Step inside the plateau

and marginal lands,Mountainous pastures.

Wildlife:forests wildlife,pastures and steppe wildlife, arid areas wildlife.Forms of livelihood.

Human and Forms of livelihood:tribal life, west and north west, south and south east.

Rural life: Rural settlements wet fronts, rural settlements.

Arid fronts: Rural settlements wet areas.

Urban life: cities and urban life in related with latitude elements, cities and urban life in related

with location altitude, cities and urban life in related with water resources.

7

Seminar 1

Number of units: 2

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Students with the guidance of supervisors and approved ofdepartment, are doing a research

project and the results have to be presented as a seminar in the department of higher education.

8

Minor Course

9

Environmental assessment methods

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Assessment of natural features of the land, Assessment of built features of the land, effect of

human and technological factors on environmental assessments,effect of economic and

financial factors on environmental assessments, effect of ecological factors on environmental

assessments,Common methods of environmental assessment, apply economic and social

environmental assessment methods, assessments methods,analysis of environmental

assessment methods and environmental planning.

10

Multifunctional Statistics

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Importance of multifunctional statistics for analysis environment date's,linear and nonlinear

models, analysis ofleast squares linear models ,analysis of variance,analysis of

covariance,multivariate regression,linear model or multivariate,canonical analysis, lector

analysis,cluster analysis,distinguishing analysis,nonlinear classification,correspondence

analysis.

11

GIS and its applications in environment

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Theory:

GIS history and interaction,explanations, GIS contributors,the GIS sub system,possible

questions from GIS system,advantages and disadvantages of GIS,conceptual and logical

models,GIS creation and establishment (Setting goals and selection system,select a projection

system.…),data structures in GISand convert them, modeling real world in GIS,types

ofdatabases, GIS classification,digital elevation model(DEM) and Preparation methods and its

applications, GIS operational capability, data quality and accuracy, GIS hardware and

software,implement methods of data , GPS and remote sensing relation with GIS,examples of

GIS applications in various fields of environmental.

Practical:

Introduction and proficiency in a raster GIS,introduction and proficiency in a vector

GIS,operations digitization of data and their correction, data preparation operations and

education data's,operation analysis,operations and draw maps,design and implementation of a

small project in the field of environment.

12

Remote sensing and it application in environment

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Theory:

Digital satellite data structure,survey data quality in terms of geometric and radiometric,

geometric registration,survey data quality in terms of geometric and radiometric,radiometric

correction,topographic reflectance specification on the spatial and spectral

data'sfusion,methods to extract useful information, different classification methodsand various

algorithms,size analysis andestimating environmental parameters from satellite data,techniques

to determine the correctness of information obtained from satellite data,methods of detection

include :methods of improving the contrast, filters, rationing,conversion of PCA and

JHS,remote sensing project implementation by imaging spectrometry ,introduction to hyper

spectral data and their analysis,Introduction to radar data,examples of applications in various

fields of environmental.

Practical:

Reading data and converting data formats,geometric compliance By using ground control

points,implementation of different classification,accurately estimate the implementation

enhancement and different conversion, design and implementation of a project in the field of

environmentwith the satellite data by digital method.

13

Seminar 2

Number of units: 1

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Students with the guidance of supervisors and approved of department, are doing a research

project and the results have to be presented as a seminar in the national or international

conference and if it is not possible have to be presented in the department of higher education.

14

Wildlife Conservation

Number of units: 1

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Introduction, wildlife definitions, implications and its conservation, wildlife values and

importance, habitat requirements, evolution, foraging, ethology, wildlife movements,

conservational systems categorization, aims and main points of Global strategy in wildlife

conservation, applications of wildlife conservation.

References:

Alverson, William S. et. al. 1994.Wild Forests: Conservation Biology and Public Policy. Island

Press,

American Planning Association.

Conroy, M.J. & Carroll, J.P. 2009.Quantitative Conservation of Vertebrates. Southern Gate: Wiley-

Blackwell. 342 pp. Washington DC.

Owen-Smith, N. 2007.Introduction to Modeling in Wildlife and Resource Conservation. Malden:

Blackwell Publishing. 332 pp.

Sinclair, A.R.E., Fryxell, J.M. &Caughley, G. 2006.Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and

Management.2nd edition. Malden: Blackwell Publishing. 469 pp.

Schwab, Jim. May 1994. Planning for Wildlife Mitigation Corridors.Environment

Development.

15

Advanced behavior

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

The role of hormones and pheromones in the reproductive behavior of aquatic animals,

seasonal cycles in gonadal steroid production and maintenance associated with

reproductive behaviors in fishes, characteristics of secondary sexual characteristics in

Aquatic animals.

The role of chemical signals (pheromones) in reproductive behavior in aquatic

animals.brain mechanisms in reproductive behavior of aquatic animals. The role of

neurotransmitters in the reproductive behavior of fishes.

environmental influences on gonadal activity in fish. environmental effects on growth

and development of the gonads, environmental effects on spawning behavior,

environmental effects on hormonal cycles, the effect of hormones on fish spawning

behavior, Use in aquaculture.

hormonal control of oocyte maturation and ovulation in fishes: the final maturity, effect

of hormones on ovulation, sex control in fish under natural conditions, Sexual patterns

in fish, internal and external factors in the development of gender and their control;

Relations between genetic and environmental factors on sexual behavior in fish,

benefits of stamens, sexual differentiation in fish, regulation of reproduction, The

brain's role in reproduction, steroid-dependent brain activity, Role of gonadal steroids

on reproductive behaviors, The general principle of binding of receptors, sexual

behavior in fishes with external fertilization, the role of hormones in the male

reproductive behaviors such as territory-seeking behavior, and paternal behavior, the

role of hormones in the female reproductive behaviors like spawning behavior and

maternal behavior, migration and homing behavior, and so on. techniques in the study

of aquatic behavior.

16

Ornithology

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Introduction and objective: bird populations and biology

- Wintering census, timing of nest building,timing of egg lying, egg size, hatching eggs,

chick rearing, fledging date

Determine the range of habitats for birds

- Telemetry method, ringing method, bird watching, etc.

Habitat assessment

- Population of different species of birds, population control,determination of sustainable

yieldof birds in different habitats, territoriality of birds

Determining the diet of birds

Carnivorous birds

Orders Ciconiiformes

Orders Pelecaniformes

Orders Podicipediformes

Seed-eating and insectivorous birds

Orders Columbiformes

Orders Cuculiformes

Orders Galliformes

Orders Passeriformes

Omnivorous birds

Identify birds in different habitats

- Endemic birds, migratory birds, passing migratory birds, breeding migratory birds, rare

birds

Classification of birds based on the type of habitat

- Dry-living birds, waders and seabirds

List of birds in different areas

List of ringed birds in the region

17

Bird population trend graphs based on species

Determine the fertilization of waterbirds in wetlands

Investigating the causes of death of birds in the wetlands of Iran

References:

Cramp, S., Simmons, K., Brooks, D., Collar, N., Dunn, E., Gillmor, R., & Ogilvie, M. (1985).

Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.The birds of the Western

Palearctic.

Schreiber, E. & Burger, J. (2002). Biology of marine birds: Boca Raton, USA: Boca Raton, Florida,

USA: CRC Press.

Sutherland, W. J. (2006). Ecological census techniques: a handbook: Cambridge, UK: Cambridge

University Press.

Sutherland, W. J., Newton, I. & Green, R. (2004). Bird ecology and conservation: a handbook of

techniques: Oxford, USA: Oxford University Press.

18

Conservation Biology

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Introduction: what is conservation biology? Biology of small populations: Population and

habitat viability Analysis (PHVA);threat categories (IUCN, American System, etc.); priorities

in selecting species for conservation ;world Conservation Strategy.

Genetics and conservation: loss of genetic diversity in small population; inbreeding;

evolutionary change in small populations;genetics and population dynamics in conservation

biology, effective population size, taxonomy and conservation; genetic fingerprinting;

methods; measure biodiversity.

Species translocations (introductions, reintroduction, etc.) in conservation programs.

Captive breeding and gene banks: major existing international, etc.) in conservation programs.

Captive breeding and gene banks: major existing international policies; how to breed animals

in captivity; zoos and species conservation efforts.

19

Wetland habitats evaluation

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Terms and definitions

International wetlands

Important wetlands of Iran

Wetlands classification criteria: geographic location, salt, brackish or fresh water, Importance

Wetland flora: species composition and structure, dominant species, rare species

Wetland fauna: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and indicative invertebrates

Estimate of wetland production

Value and importance of wetlands: economic, social, recreational, conservational and

environmental values. with examples of wetlands of Iran.

International wetlands criteria: RAMSAR Convention and IUCN criteria for wetlands

Wetland degradation factors: agriculture, recreation, pollution

Wetlands conservation

Wetland ecosystems evaluation methods

Evaluation of ecological capability of wetlands

Wetland stock evaluation methods

Sustainable harvest from aquatic ecosystems (wetlands)

20

Evaluating terrestrial habitat

Number of units: 3

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

Introduction and objectives

Studyof Irannationalparks ecosystems - introduced important under the protection national

parks.

Study(Survey) wildlife biology and populationof protected areas.

marking – observation- hunting and dissection- biometry

Determine the range of different habitats for birds and mammals in area by radiotelemetry.

habitat evaluation and population of endangered mammal's species.

Family Felidae

Family Cervidae

Family Bovidae

Family Ursidae

Habitat evaluation and population of near extinction birds ( of Endangered Bird species).

Family Phasianidae– Family Gruidae

Study mammalssex ratiosin protected areas.

Impacts of limiting factorsonanimal populations.

Determine thedistributionoftheofbirds andmammals sub speciesindifferent regionsof Iran

Determine the captive quantity mammals in terrestrialhabitats by determination of carrying

capacity and population density.

Determine theCycletransmitteddiseasesinbirds andmammals.

Habits and behavior of large mammals.

Determine territory in birds and mammals polygamy.

Determine nutrition diet of terrestrial mammals and birds.

Role of carnivorous birds in control of Rodentia population

Role of birds feeding on pests and agricultural products.

21

Advanced researching methods

Number of units: 2

Unit type: Theory

No prerequisites

Syllabus:

1) An introduction to the principles of scientific experiments.

2) Topics to follow the principles of scientific experiments

3) Changes to the statistical community, Inference, Ideal test, a variety different studies.

4) Effects of attendances and interaction effects

5) The validity of scientific research: Experimental units, pilot error, control, repeat, randomize, the

hypothesis, type І, П, Ш errors.

6) The remaining variance reduction: Couples off, block out, stratify,

7) Reduce bias: randomize,Balancing, cloud-based protocols, Nested, Fractional factorial, regression

8) Environmental studies (time as a factor): tests before and after attendance, Observational studies

and monitoring.

9) Environmental analysis: Quasi Experiments, PIA subsample making, Repeated false,

Measurement error, Variance components, The role of models for planning and analyzing studies,

Accuracy and throughput in relation to aspects of planning, sources of knowledge: Inference

problem, scientific proof, scientific method, strong inference, intensive and extensive educational

efforts .