250027 Pests and Beneficials of Arable Fields

Details
Department of Ecology
Earliest Possible YearBSc. 2 year to MSc. 2 year
DurationOne block
 
Credits7.5 (ECTS)
Course LevelJoint BSc and MSc
Åbent for flere studieretninger
 
ExaminationFinal Examination

written examination


Written Exam in Lecturehall

All aids allowed

Description of Examination: Written 3-hours exam and evaluation of reports.

Weight: Evaluation of reports 25% and the written exam 75%



13-point scale, internal examiner

Dates of Exam:
06 April 2006
 
Requirement For Attending ExamSubmission of at least 75% of reports requested and presentation of project
 
Organisation of Teaching2-3 hours lectures per week supplemented with exercises and colloquia the remaining 7-8 hours. If excursions are arranged they will be announced on Campusnet a least 2 weeks before.
 
Block PlacementBlock 3
Week Structure: C
 
Teaching LanguageEnglish
 
Optional PrerequisitesØkologi, Dyrs og planters diversitet
 
Areas of Competence the Course Will Address
Basic Science:
Knowledge of insect morphology of importance for effects on plants and for identification.

Applied Science:
Knowledge of important crop insects and their natural enemies and life strategies.
Knowledge monitoring and forecasting methods and concepts of pest management.
Comprehends crop and production system effects on insects and other pests.
Comprehends the effects of natural enemies on pests as related to their biology.
Comprehends the use of preventive measures against insects and other crop pests.
Can expand from theory and knowledge to new crop-pest situations.
Can make judgements of control requests on the basis of monitoring.
Skills in identification of insect pests and beneficials.

Ethics and Values:
Is aware of ethical aspecs of pest control tactics and can discuss pest control in this light.
 
Course Objectives
To establish knowledge and understanding of fauna conditions of i importance in advisory and administrative positions linked to production, environmental evaluation or combinations.
A) To establish a general knowledge of crop pests and beneficial, their biology and ecology.
B) To build a thorough understanding of pest - crop interactions, yield effects in particular, and of natural and production related routes to judging and reducing pest problems in an array of production systems.

 
Course Contents
Biology and ecology of major crop pests including, reasons for fluctuations and yield reducing attacks.
Different types of attacks, damages and crop loss functions, descriptions and assesments.
The influence on pests of weather, fertilization, irrigation etc. and natural enemies.
Monitoring and forecasting systems, development and function.
Control methods and strategies, legal and advisory implications.
Attack prevention and manipulation of pest insects and their natural enemies through crop choice, crop choice, crop structure, crop rotation and structure of farming system (organic, integrated and conventional).
The influence of plant protection on wild plants and anoimals of arable fields.
 
Teaching And Learning Methods
Key elements will be presented in lectures which are supplemented with practical (eg. identification) and theoretical (eg. forecasting and planning of strategies) exercises. Colloquia will include particular problems treated on the basis of selected literature.
 
Course Litterature
Under revision
 
Course Coordinator
Peter Esbjerg, pe@life.ku.dk, Department of Agriculture and Ecology/Section of Zoology, Phone: 35332686
 
Study Board
Study Committee NSN
 
Course Scope
lectures27
theoretical exercises32
practicals24
Colloquia22
preparation98
examination3

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