1

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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).

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.