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Updated By Falak Khan on 11 Aug, 2025 18:14
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Predict RankIIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 ecology evolution syllabus in online mode at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The GATE 2926 ecology evolution syllabus holds topics like ecology, evolution, mathematics & quantitative ecology, behavioural ecology, and applied ecology & evolution. While some of the subtopics included in the syllabus are biodiversity and conservation, plant and animal breeding, reproduction, classical ecology, population ecology, diversity of life, etc. The 5 major topics under the ecology evolution syllabus comprise several subtopics. You need to prepare the syllabus and complete it on time before the exam to score better marks. Syllabus preparation is one of the most important aspects of the exam. Check out the syllabus PDF for the ecology and evolution syllabus and start preparing for the exam.
The questions will be of the graduation level, with 85% of the syllabus focused on core subjects. The remaining 15% will consist of questions from the General Aptitude section, which is mandatory for all papers. As per the GATE 2026 exam pattern, the paper will include 55 questions from Ecology and Evolution subjects and 10 questions from General Aptitude. Read the full post to check the GATE 2026 syllabus for Ecology and Evolution syllabus, important topics and weightage, etc.
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Attempt nowThe GATE 2026 syllabus for the Ecology and Evolution (EY) paper is a guide for you to prepare well for the exam. It includes a wide range of topics and sub-topics of ecology and evolution. Mastering the topics in the GATE EY 2026 syllabus is important for students who want to crack the exam with a high score.
Section | Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|---|
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 (Lotka-Voltera 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. | |
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; trade offs; r/K selection; semelparity and iteroparity. | |
Interactions | Coevolution (co-adaptations, arms race, Red Queen hypothesis, co-speciation); prey-predator interactions (mimicry, crypsis, etc.). | |
Population and Quantitative Genetics | Origins of genetic variation; Mendelian genetics; Hardy-Weinberg 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. | |
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. | |
Behavioural Ecology | Classical Ethology | Instinct; fixed action patterns; 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. | |
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. |
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The Ecology and Evolution GATE 2026 syllabus comprises a section on General Aptitude covering 15% of the total weightage. This section tests the student's analytical, verbal ability and is an important part of the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2026. Here is a look at the section-wise GATE 2026 EY syllabus for General Aptitude:-
Sections | Topics |
|---|---|
Verbal Aptitude | Basic English Grammar: Tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, other parts of speech |
Basic Vocabulary: Words, idioms, phrases in context, reading and comprehension, narrative sequencing | |
Quantitative Aptitude | Data Interpretation: Data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, other data representations), 2D and 3D plots, maps, tables |
Numerical Computation and Estimation: Ratios, percentages, powers, exponents, logarithms, permutations, combinations, series | |
Mensuration and Geometry | |
Elementary Statistics and Probability | |
Analytical Aptitude | Logic: Deduction and induction |
Analogy | |
Numerical Relations and Reasoning | |
Spatial Aptitude | Transformation of Shapes: Translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, grouping |
Paper Folding, Cutting, and Patterns: 2D and 3D patterns |
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If you are preparing for the GATE Ecology and Evolution paper, downloading the syllabus PDF is the first step. The GATE 2026 EY syllabus PDF provides a detailed outline of all the topics and subtopics they need to study for the exam. Click on the link shared below to download the complete GATE 2026 Ecology and Evolution syllabus pdf:-
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For the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2026, focusing on the following key topics from the syllabus can be particularly beneficial, as they are frequently asked. Though you must read all the topics properly, here we have provided a few of the important ones. These topics will help cover the essential areas likely to be covered in the GATE exam 2026 for Ecology and Evolution.
Population Ecology - Population growth models (exponential and logistic), Density-dependent and density-independent factors, Metapopulation dynamics (colonization, extinction, source-sink dynamics), Age-structured populations
Interactions - Types of interactions (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, predation), Prey-predator models (Lotka-Volterra equations)
Community Ecology - Species diversity (richness, evenness, diversity indices), Community succession and dynamics, Theory of island biogeography
Ecosystem Structure and Function - Trophic levels and energy flow, Nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus), Primary and secondary productivity
Fundamentals of Evolution - Natural selection and types of selection (stabilizing, directional, disruptive), Variation and adaptation, Fitness and adaptation
Population and Quantitative Genetics - Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, Genetic drift and gene flow, Selection and its effects on allele frequencies, Quantitative traits and polygenic inheritance
Molecular Evolution and Phylogenetics - Molecular clocks and rates of evolution, Phylogenetic reconstruction methods, Neutral theory of molecular evolution
Macroevolution - Speciation concepts and mechanisms, Adaptive radiation and convergence
Statistical Hypothesis Testing - Basics of p-values, Type I and Type II errors-tests, Chi-square tests, Linear regression and ANOVA
Mathematical Models in Ecology - Simple functions (exponential and logistic growth models), Basic probability and frequency distributions
Foraging Ecology - Optimal foraging theory
Reproductive Strategies - Sexual selection and mating systems, Parental care strategies
Biodiversity and Conservation - Importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, Conservation strategies (in-situ and ex-situ), Threats to biodiversity and invasive species.
Global Climate Change - Causes and impacts of climate change, Mitigation strategies
Understanding the GATE 2026 Ecology and Evolution syllabus weightage can help you plan your study time better, focusing on the topics that are most likely to be asked in the exam. By preparing based on the weightage, you can improve your chances of scoring well in the GATE EY 2026 exam.
Topics | Expected Weightage of Questions |
|---|---|
Population Ecology | 15-20% |
Community Ecology | 10-15% |
Ecosystem Structure and Function | 15-20% |
Statistical Hypothesis Testing | 10-15% |
Mathematical Models in Ecology | 10-15% |
Foraging Ecology | 5-10% |
Reproductive Strategies | 5-10% |
Biodiversity and Conservation | 10-15% |
Global Climate Change | 5-10% |
Having a comprehensive preparation strategy is the key to scoring well in any entrance examination, and GATE Ecology and Evolution is no exception. You must refer to the following tips and tricks to ace their GATE 2026 EY syllabus preparation:-
Familiarize yourself with the entire syllabus to know what topics to cover.
Choose recommended textbooks and reference materials for better understanding.
Organize your study schedule to cover all topics systematically.
Solve GATE previous year question papers with solutions and answer keys PDF to get an idea of the question format and frequently tested topics.
Regularly take mock tests to enhance your preparation level and improve time management.
Regularly revise formulas and important points to memorize. Identify your weak areas through practice tests and try to improve them.
Keep up with any updates or changes in the exam pattern or syllabus from the official GATE website.
Referring to the right books and study materials can enhance one's exam preparation. Here is a list of the best books for GATE 2026 exam preparation for Ecology and Evolution syllabus coverage that are highly recommended by toppers and subject matter experts:-
Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
Ecology: Concepts and Applications | Manuel C. Molles |
Fundamentals of Ecology | Eugene Odum, Gary W. Barrett |
Ecology: Theories and Applications | Peter R. Grant |
Molecular Evolution: A Phylogenetic Approach | R. Andrew, M. J. Donoghue |
Quantitative Ecology: A New Primer | David L. M. Smith, James A. MacKenzie |
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