NPLK14015U Biological Control of Pests
MSc Programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture
(Agris Mundus)
MSc Programme in Agriculture
General part:
The course will include all four strategies for biological control
of pests: classical, inoculation, inundation, and conservation. The
major groups of organisms used in biological control will be
presented: their ecology, life cycles, mechanisms of action etc.
Organisms considered include predators, parasitoids,
microorganisms, nematodes, vertebrates. Methods for isolation and
selection of biological control organisms as well as application
methods will be discussed. Also included are activity levels of
biological control agents following application to the crop and
release into the environment.
Key words:
Natural regulation of pests
Commercially available biocontrol products and their use
Risk assessment of biological control organisms, legislation and
BCA registration.
Ethical aspects and public acceptance.
Cases on practical application of biological control within
agriculture, horticulture, forestry, husbandry, urban environment
and other managed landscapes.
Experimental part
The students will perform a limited set of experiments related to
biological control. Examples are:
* Characterization of insect pathogenic fungi
* Insect prey and insect predator interactions (behaviour etc)
* Action of insect parasitic nematodes
* Bio-assays using microorganisms for biological control
A limited treatment of data and discussion in relation to relevant
literature will be included in the student report
Knowledge
After completition of the course the students are able to:
* Describe and understand the strategies used in biological
control
* Know and characterize the main types of organisms used for
or of future potential for biological control
* Describe methods used for diagnostics, isolation,
characterization, bio-assays and field experiments of relevance for
biological control
Skills
* Ability to select an organism for biological control in a
specified system
* Ability to select relevant methods to study the interactions
between biocontrol organism, target host and environment
* Ability to analyse and decide about potential risks using
biological control both in a specified system and in a more general
context
* Ability to use scientific literature to discuss own data
Competences
* Ability to transfer the knowledge into other decision processes
about multitrophic interactions of ecological relevance
* Ability to perform and analyse experimental work including two or
three organisms
* Ability to transfer the knowledge into other decision processes
involving cross diciplinary elements, for example: biology, managed
systems, and ethics
Hajek, A., 2004: Natural enemies. Cambridge University Press
Kompendium material/photocopies of scientific articles
Manuals for practicals
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 10
- Exam
- 6
- Guidance
- 10
- Lectures
- 25
- Practical exercises
- 60
- Preparation
- 75
- Theory exercises
- 20
- Total
- 206
As
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Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 15 min under invigilationThe exam will consist of individual 15 min oral presentation of main results and perspectives of parts of experimental work. Each student will thereafter be asked questions directly related to the presentation and questions related to the the overall curriculum of the course
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Én intern bedømmer
Criteria for exam assesment
Grades are given based on overall fullfillment of course curriculum.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NPLK14015U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- No restrictions
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course responsibles
- Jørgen Eilenberg (3-7a757950807c757e3e7b853e747b)
Lecturers
Lene Sigsgaard
Annette Bruun Jensen
PhD students