NPLK14015U Biological Control of Pests
MSc Programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture (Agris
Mundus)
MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
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 and report a limited set of experiments
related to biological control. The options may vay from year to
year. Examples are:
* Characterization of biocontrol organisms
* Insect prey and insect predator interactions (behaviour etc)
* Natural occurrence of insect pathogenic fungi and nematodes
* Bio-assays using microorganisms for biological control
Discussion of experiments in relation to relevant literature
will be included in the students' short
reports.
Learning putcome
Knowledge
* Describe and understand the strategies used in biological
control
* Know and characterize the main types of organisms currently
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. A
new edition is expected 2017 or 2018
Pdf copies of scientific articles
Manuals for experimental parts
Further information will be available on Absalon.
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 10
- Exam
- 6
- Guidance
- 10
- Lectures
- 25
- Practical exercises
- 60
- Preparation
- 75
- Theory exercises
- 20
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 20 minThe exam will consist of individual 12 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. No preparation time.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Én intern bedømmer
- Re-exam
Re-exams will be the same way as ordinary exams
Criteria for exam assesment
Grades are given based on overall fullfillment of course curriculum. See learning outcome
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, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Jørgen Eilenberg (3-726d714878746d7636737d366c73)
Lecturers
Lene Sigsgaard