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Q. Is engineering mathematics included in the GATE 2026 Syllabus for Ecology & Evolution?
Ans. No, Engineering mathematics is not included in the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2026.
Q. How many sections are there in the GATE syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026?
Ans. The General Aptitude, Ecology, Evolution, Applied Ecology and Evolution, Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology, and Behavioral Ecology are all sections of the GATE syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026.
Q. What is the sectional weightage of the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2026?
Ans. The core disciplines of the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus will carry 85% of the weightage, while general aptitude will hold 15%.
Q. Where do I find the GATE Syllabus for Ecology and Evolution PDF?
Ans. Aspirants can either download the GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus PDF from this page or from gate.iitg.ac.in.
GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026, Section-Wise Topics
Explore the comprehensive GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026 covering diverse topics in ecology, evolution, & behavioral sciences. Review the topic-wise GATE 2026 EY syllabus to ace your preparation.
Pratibha Bohra14 Apr, 2025
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GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati is going to administer the GATE examination in 2026. The exam will be conducted for 30 different branches including Ecology and Evolution (EY).
Candidates who are planning to take theGATE 2026for Ecology and Evolution discipline are advised to thoroughly review the complete syllabus to prepare systematically.
The GATE Syllabus for EY is classified in different sections to assess the candidate's comprehensive knowledge across various core subjects of undergraduate level.
Reviewing the GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus will provide candidates a detailed insight into the key topics and their weightage.
GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is a highly challenging entrance test which evaluates the knowledge of candidates in specific disciplines. Passing the exam with a good score provides admission to top institutions and job opportunities in PSUs.
Candidates who wish to prepare for the GATE EY Paper effectively for the upcoming exam must understand the in-depth syllabus to enhance their performance.
GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026
In order to prepare the GATE syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026 effectively, candidates must have a thorough knowledge of the topics and key concepts to be asked. Moreover, the GATE 2026 syllabus for ecology and evolution revolves around the following five main sections:
Ecology
Evolution
Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology
Behavioral Ecology
Applied Ecology and Evolution
Let's discuss the important topics included in these five sections of the GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026 in detail.
GATE EY Syllabus for Ecology
The GATE syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026 for its Ecology section, covers topics like ecosystem structure and function, abiotic and biotic components, and community ecology. Check out the table containing important topics in the Ecology section.
GATE Syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026 - Ecology
Topics
Sub-topics
Fundamental Concepts
Scales: species, population, ecosystem, biomes, community
Abiotic and biotic components
Habitats and niches
Population ecology
Metapopulation ecology: colonization, persistence, extinction, patches, sources, and sinks
Population growth rates: density-dependent or independent Age-structured populations
Interactions
Prey-predator interactions
Types: mutualism, symbiosis, commensalism, competition, parasitism, predation, etc.
Ecophysiology: physiological adaptations to the abiotic environment
Ecosystem structure and function
Trophic levels and their interactions
Nutrient cycles
Primary and secondary productivity
Community ecology
Species-area relationships
Community assembly
Theory of island biogeography
Organization and succession
Species richness, evenness, and diversity indices
GATE EY Syllabus for Evolution
The GATE syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026, in its Evolution section, covers areas like the origin and history of life on Earth, diversity, classification of life, and the history of evolution. Refer to the details mentioned below to find more vital topics.
GATE Syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026 - Evolution
Topics
Sub-topics
History of Evolutionary
Lamarckism, Darwinism, and Modern Synthesis
Fundamentals
Variation, heritability, natural selection, fitness and adaptation
Types of selection: stabilizing, directional, and disruptive
Diversity of Life
Origin and history of life on Earth
Diversity and classification of life
Systems of classification: cladistics, phenetics
Life history strategies
Resource allocation, trade-offs, r/K selection, semelparity and iteroparity
Interactions
Coevolution: co-adaptations, arms race, Red Queen hypothesis, co-speciation
Prey-predator interactions: mimicry, crypsis
Population and Quantitative genetics
Origins of genetic variation, Mendelian genetics, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, drift, and selection: one-locus two-alleles model
Species concepts and speciation, adaptive radiation, convergence, and biogeography
GATE EY Syllabus for Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology
The GATE Ecology and Evolution syllabus 2026 for Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology focuses on the mathematical and statistical aspects relevant to ecological research and analysis. All the required topics are listed below.
GATE Syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026 - Mathematics and Quantitative Ecology
Topics
Sub-topics
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: random events, sequences of events
Frequency distributions and descriptive statistics: mean, variance, coefficient of variation, correlation, etc.
Statistical hypothesis testing
Concept of p-value, Type I and Type II errors
Test statistics: t-test and Chi-square test
Basics of linear regression
GATE EY Syllabus for Behavioral Ecology
The GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026 for Behavioral Ecology explores the fascinating field of animal behavior and its ecological implications. It covers topics such as fixed action patterns, imprinting, learned behavior, and proximate, among others, as explained in the table below.
GATE Syllabus for Ecology and Evolution 2026 - Behavioral Ecology
Neuroethology, communication (chemical, acoustic, and visual signaling), and recognition systems
Foraging ecology
Foraging behavior, optimal foraging theory
Reproduction
Cost of sex, sexual dimorphism, mate choice, sexual selection (runaway selection, good genes, handicap principle), 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 behavior
GATE EY Syllabus for Applied Ecology and Evolution
The GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026 for Applied Ecology and Evolution is designed to help aspirants gain the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to the practical applications of ecology and evolution. Moreover, topics like biodiversity and conservation, animal and plant breeding, and global climate change causes are covered in this section.
GATE EY Syllabus for Applied Ecology and Evolution
Topics
Sub-topics
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 and the genetic basis of economically important traits
Global climate change
Causes, consequences, and mitigation
GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026 PDF
The GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus 2026 PDF is a useful resource aspirants must add to their studies in addition to reference books. Not only does it allow them to read at their convenience, but it also provides a roadmap to developing a solid study plan, incorporating all important ecology and evolution topics. Refer to the link below to download the GATE 2026 syllabus for ecology and evolution paper.
Important Topics from GATE Ecology and Evolution Syllabus
It is important to note that all the aforementioned topics from the GATE 2026 syllabus for Ecology and Evolution are important from an exam point of view. However, following are the topics collected after past evaluations of GATE exams, which thus need the special attention of aspirants.
GATE EY Syllabus 2026 - Important Topics
Topics
Sub-topics
Macroevolution
Evolutionary processes at a larger scale, including speciation, extinction, and adaptive radiation
Fundamental Concepts
Basic principles and concepts in ecology and evolution
Molecular evolution and phylogenetics
Evolution at the molecular level, molecular clocks, phylogenetic reconstruction, and molecular systematics
Sensory ecology
Sensory systems in organisms and their ecological implications
Foraging ecology
Foraging behavior, optimal foraging theory, and resource exploitation strategies
Population ecology
Dynamics and interactions of populations, including population growth, density-dependent processes, and community dynamics
GATE Ecology and Evolution Exam Pattern 2026
According to the GATE 2026 Ecology and Evolution Exam Pattern, around 85% of questions will focus on only the main subjects of the GATE syllabus for ecology and evolution. However, the remaining 15% of questions are expected to arise from the common section, which is general aptitude.
Check out the highlights of the GATE 2026 Ecology and Evolution exam pattern tabulated below:
GATE Ecology and Evolution Exam Pattern 2026
Total Number of Questions
10 General Aptitude + 55 Core Subject Based
Total Questions: 65 Questions
Types of Questions
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
Total Marks
100
Duration of Exam
3 hours
Sections
General Aptitude (GA)
Core Subject i.e., Ecology and Evolution
Weightage
General Aptitude: 15 Marks
Core Subject Based Questions: 85 Marks
Total: 100 Marks
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