Written BySonam Rana updated Content Curator updatedon, Sep 18, 2024
GATE Exam Pattern for Ecology and Evolution: The Ecology and Evolution Exam of GATE 2023 will be consisting of six sections including General Aptitude, Ecology, Evolution, Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology, Behavioral Ecology & Applied Ecology & Evolution. Check GATE EY Syllabus
GATE EY will be a computer based exam of 3 hours and will be held in shifts. EY Paper of GATE 2023 will be of 65 questions for total 100 marks with MCQs, MSQs and NATs type questions. There will be two sections General Aptitude (GA) and core subject. General Aptitude section is common for all the papers comprising of 15 marks and the rest 85 marks will cover the respective selected subject. The detailed pattern of the question papers can be found on our website under Exam section. The core GATE Ecology and Evolution Question Paper will consist of 55 questions altogether of 85 marks.
The candidates who opt for Ecology and Evolution (EY) as their first paper in GATE 2023 can apply for Life Sciences (XL) as their second paper. GATE 2023 Ecology and Evolution paper is scheduled to be held in the first week of February 2023 (tentative). The exam will be held in multiple shifts.
GATE 2023 EY Exam Pattern
| Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Sectional Time Limit | None |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Total Number of questions | 65 |
| Number of Subjects (Papers) | 29 |
| Number of Sections | 2 (General Aptitude and Core Subject) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) & Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Marking Scheme | 1 or 2 marks for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer; For 2 mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer; No negative marking is for MSQs and NATs |
GATE 2023 EY Marking Scheme
| Type of questions | Negative marking for wrong answers | Marking for correct answers |
|---|---|---|
| MCQs |
| 1 or 2 marks |
| MSQs & NATs | No negative marking | 1 or 2 marks |
GATE 2023 Negative Marking
Negative marking is only for MCQs.
- 1/3rd marks are deducted for every wrong 1-mark MCQ.
- 2/3rd marks are deducted for every wrong 2-marks MCQ.
GATE 2023 EY Syllabus
Section 1: Ecology Fundamental concepts: Abiotic and biotic components; scales (population, species, community, ecosystems, biomes); niches and habitats. Population ecology: Population growth rates (density dependent/independent); metapopulation ecology (colonization, persistence, extinction, patches, sources, sinks); age-structured populations. Interactions: Types (mutualism, symbiosis, commensalism, competition, parasitism, predation, etc); ecophysiology (physiological adaptations to abiotic environment); prey-predator interactions (LotkaVoltera equation etc) Community ecology: Community assembly, organization and succession; species richness, evenness and diversity indices, species-area relationships; theory of island biogeography Ecosystems structure and function: trophic levels and their interactions; nutrient cycles; primary and secondary productivity.
Section 2: Evolution History of Evolutionary thought: Lamarckism; Darwinism; Modern Synthesis Fundamentals: Variation; heritability; natural selection; fitness and adaptation; types of selection (stabilizing, directional, disruptive) Diversity of life: Origin and history of life on earth; diversity and classification of life; systems of classification (cladistics and phenetics) Life history strategies: Allocation of resources; tradeoffs; r/K selection; semelparity and iteroparity Interactions: Co-evolution (co-adaptations, arms race, Red Queen hypothesis, co-speciation); preypredator interactions (mimicry, crypsis, etc) Population and Quantitative genetics: Origins of genetic variation; Mendelian genetics; HardyWeinberg equilibrium; drift; selection (one-locus two-alleles model); population genetic structure (panmixia, gene flow, FST); polygenic traits; gene-environment interactions (phenotypic plasticity); heritability Molecular evolution and phylogenetics: Neutral theory; molecular clocks; rates of evolution; phylogenetic reconstruction; molecular systematics Macroevolution: Species concepts and speciation; adaptive radiation; convergence; biogeography.
Section 3: Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology Mathematics and statistics in ecology: Simple functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, etc); concept of derivatives and slope of a function; permutations and combinations; basic probability (probability of random events; sequences of events, etc); frequency distributions and their descriptive statistics (mean, variance, coefficient of variation, correlation, etc). Statistical hypothesis testing: Concept of p-value; Type I and Type II error, test statistics like t-test and Chi-square test; basics of linear regression and ANOVA.
Section 4: Behavioural Ecology Classical Ethology: Instinct; fixed action patters; imprinting; learnt behavior; proximate and ultimate questions Sensory ecology: Neuroethology; communication (chemical, acoustic and visual signaling); recognition systems Foraging ecology: Foraging behaviour; optimal foraging theory Reproduction: Cost of sex; sexual dimorphism; mate choice; sexual selection (runaway selection, good-genes, handicap principle, etc); sexual conflict; mating systems; parental care. Social living: Costs and benefits of group-living (including responses to predators); effect of competition (scramble and contest) on group formation; dominance relationships; eusociality; kin selection; altruism; reciprocity; human behaviour.
Section 5: Applied Ecology & Evolution Biodiversity and conservation: Importance of conserving biodiversity; ecosystem services; threats to biodiversity; invasive species; in-situ conservation (endemism, biodiversity hotspots, protected areas); ex-situ conservation; conservation genetics (genetic diversity, inbreeding depression); DNA fingerprinting and DNA barcoding Disease ecology and evolution: Epidemiology; zoonotic diseases; antibiotic resistance; vector Control Plant and animal breeding: Marker assisted breeding; genetic basis of economically important traits Global climate change: Causes; consequences; mitigation.
GATE 2023 EY- Expected Weightage of Topics
GATE question papers are divided into two sections. 85 marks cover the core subject of the GATE Exam. Here the Core Subject is Ecology and Evolution. Given below is the estimated sectional Weightage of GATE EY 2023.
| Parts | Number of Questions | Scope per Question |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 5 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 | |
| Core Subject | 25 | 1 |
| 30 | 2 | |
| Total | 65 |
GATE 2023 EY Preparation
Candidates preparing For GATE exam can check the paper pattern to know the nature of questions. It will help the candidates to strategize, prepare accordingly and crack GATE examination.
- Know the Syllabus: The most essential step that one need to follow is to check the syllabus of the respective disciplines. It will help in making a strong preparation plan. Simultaneously, it will also help in figuring out the topics on which one needs to focus more.
- Know the Exam Pattern: It is suggested that before proceeding further for studies, go through the GATE exam pattern first.
- Make Study Plan: After analyzing the exam pattern and the syllabus of the core subject, one can proceed with designing the study plan. The study plan will help in organizing the schedule and topics and it will become easier to complete the study materials.
- Start Early: GATE requires consistency and long-term preparation. It is recommended to begin the study as early as possible because it will provide enough time to understand the topics and also the revision. It is suggested to start preparing for the GATE exam from the second year of engineering.
- Reference: Referring the right books will strengthen the knowledge. GATE aspirants should consult with their mentors and do proper research before purchasing the books for preparation.
- Practice: is the key to success. Practicing previous year GATE paper and mock tests is the required way of getting acquainted with the GATE exam pattern.
- Time Management: For the competitive exam, time is an important factor. One need to learn how to manage the time in the examination
- Revision: Revise what you learn. After completion of all the topics, start building a strategy for your revision.
Best Books for Preparation
Ecology and Evolution is one of the important subjects that conduct scientific research in all areas. It mostly describes the study of ecology by considering the evolution of species and the association between them. One must know the GATE Syllabus 2023 before actually commencing the exam preparation. Ecology is the study of organisms and their interactions while evolution gives a detailed understanding of its origin and life sciences. To get the best score in the entrance test, the candidates need to go through the best Reference Books. Some of them are mentioned below:
| GATE Ecology And Evolution Reference Books | Author | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Evolution & Ecology | Verma P.S., Agarwal V.K. | 849 |
| Test & Evaluation: Life Sciences / Biotechnology | Kumar Pranav & Mina Usha | 274 |
| Fundamentals and Techniques of Biophysics and Molecular Biology | Pranav Kumar | 280 |
| Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Keith Wilson and John Walker | 675 |
| Microbiology | Michael Pelczar, Jr. | 2070.90 |
| Games of Life: Explorations in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior | Karl Sigmund, Dover Publications | 6929 |
GATE EY: Previous Year Question Papers
Solving previous years' GATE Ecology and Evolution (EY) question paper gives an insight into the important topics from the syllabus and helps with the exam preparation in accordance with the time. Check the link below to get all the previous years’ question papers.
Ecology and Evolution Engineering and its Scope
Ecology is the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment, and evolutionary biology studies the evolutionary process that produces and modifies the diversity of life on earth.
Ecology and evolution is good subject to do research. After GATE one has many opportunities like they can become an ecologist, environmental consultant, natural resource manager, geneticist etc.
Some of the best colleges in India for Ecology and Evolution are:
- Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi
- Assam University
- Nalanda University, Bihar
- Pragyan International University –PIU, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
GATE 2023 Ecology and Evolution (EY) Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques: What is the pattern of Ecology and Evolution (EY) GATE 2023 exam?
Ans:
| GATE EY Examination Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| GATE EY Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| GATE EY Sectional Time Limit | None |
| GATE EY Total Marks | 100 |
| GATE EY Total Number of questions | 65 |
| GATE EY Type of Questions | MCQs, MSQs and NATs |
| GATE EY Number of Sections | Two- General Aptitude and Core Discipline |
| GATE EY Marking Scheme | 1 or 2 marks for each correct answer |
| GATE EY Negative Marking | For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer; For 2-mark MCQ, 2/3 mark will be deducted for a wrong answer; No negative marking for MSQs and NATs |
Ques: What is the marking scheme in GATE 2023 Ecology and Evolution (EY) paper?
Ans: As per the marking scheme for GATE 2023 Ecology and Evolution (EY), there is 1 and 2 mark questions asked in the exam. There is no negative marking for MSQs and NATs. However, each incorrect MCQ leads to deduction in marks.
- 1/3 mark is deducted for each incorrect 1 mark question
- 2/3 mark is deducted for each incorrect 2 marks question
Ques: What are the sections included in the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2023?
Ans: The important sections included in the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2023 are- General Aptitude, Ecology, Evolution, Applied ecology and evolution, Mathematics and quantitative ecology and Behavioural ecology.
Ques: What is the section- wise number of questions asked according to the GATE syllabus for EY?
Ans: Based on the GATE EY Syllabus 2023, the section-wise number of questions asked is as under-
- General Aptitude- 10 questions
- Ecology and Evolution- 55 questions.
Ques: What are the best books to prepare for the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2023?
Ans: The best-recommended books which are helpful in preparing for the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2023 are mentioned below.
- Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Evolution & Ecology.
- Test & Evaluation: Life Sciences / Biotechnology
- Fundamentals and Techniques of Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Microbiology
- Games of Life: Explorations in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
- Fundamentals of Ecology- Eugene Odum
- Organic Evolution- Veer Bala Rastogi
- Global Philosophical and Ecological concepts- Rudi Jansma
- Ecology: Theories and Applications- Peter Stiling
Ques: What are the topics included in the General Aptitude section of the GATE EY syllabus?
Ans: As per the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus, the topics included in the General Aptitude section are- Verbal Aptitude, Analytical Aptitude, Numerical Aptitude and Spatial Aptitude.
Ques: What resources can be referred for GATE syllabus for Ecology and Evolution?
Ans: The candidates can refer to the graduation level books for preparing the GATE EY syllabus 2023. They can even refer to GATE website for preparation.
Ques: How should I prepare for the GATE EY syllabus 2023?
Ans: Candidates can follow the below-mentioned tips to prepare for the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus:
- Make a preparation timetable.
- Understand the exam pattern and syllabus.
- Study the topics carefully.
- Give mock tests before the exam.
Ques: What will be the difficulty level of the questions in GATE 2023 Ecology and Evolution (EY) paper?
Ans: Based on the previous year paper analysis, the difficulty level of GATE 2023 Ecology and Evolution paper will be moderate to tough.
- GATE 2023 EY paper might be inclined majorly towards numerical-type questions. Candidates might require an analytical approach and an in-depth knowledge of concepts to solve the paper.
- With more number of numerical type questions, the exam may be time-consuming requiring candidates to work on their calculations and speed.
Candidates are advised to prepare for all the topics and sub-topics from GATE EY and take as many practice papers as possible, managing the time.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
Comments