ENT-30306 Ecological Aspects of Bio-interactions
Vak
Studiepunten 6.00
| Onderwijstype | Contacturen |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Practical intensively supervised | 80 |
| Self-study |
| Course coordinator(s) | prof. dr. ir. A van Huis |
| Lecturer(s) | dr. ir. W van der Werf |
| prof. dr. JM Raaijmakers | |
| dr. ir. RPJ Potting | |
| Examiner(s) | prof. dr. ir. A van Huis |
Language of instruction:
English
Assumed knowledge on:
Biology and control of pests and diseases I and II
Continuation courses:
MSc thesis Entomology, Plant Pathology, Nematology, Virology and Crop and Weed Ecology
Contents:
Knowledge on the interaction between pests, diseases and host plants and between injurious and beneficial organisms. Understanding of pest and disease development, and the control and management of pests and diseases by using ecological methods.
Aims:
- understanding models of pest and disease development, and the relation between injury, damage and loss;
- knowledge about the possibilities to predict the development of pests, diseases, antagonists and natural enemies;
- knowledge about host selection and host recognition behaviour by herbivores and the possibilities to intervene;
- understanding the relationship between predators and prey, parasitoids and hosts, pathogens and hosts, and antagonists and hosts (ecological and ethological) ;
- knowledge of semiochemicals (kairomones, synomones, and pheromones) and their action in multi-trophic systems;
- knowledge about multi-trophic interactions and insight into the consequences for control measures ;
- understanding the action of push-pull strategies, and trap cropping;
- understanding the action of integrated pest management, and more in particular, biological control and genetic control and the new developments in these areas ;
- understanding the effects of cultural control measures, such as inter-cropping on pest and disease development;
- how generated knowledge is used in the control and management of pests and diseases;
- understanding the management of the pest and disease diversity on farm and regional level, and the use of the ecological infrastructure with other management options to strengthen the inherent quality of agro-ecosystems in preventing pest and disease development;
- knowledge about the implementation of ecological crop protection measures in practice.
Activities:
The lectures will be interactive with specialist teachers. Examples of bio-interactions will be demonstrated with the aid of videos. Model simulations will be carried out. Small laboratory experiments of predator/prey and parasitoid/host systems will be carried out during the practicals. In the lectures the knowledge presented will serve as input for the practicals. Research questions will be dealt with by making deliberate choices between methodologies. bèta-gamma integration will be dealt with by the implementation of ecological crop protection in practical situations.
Examination:
Written exam and practical evaluation.
Literature:
In development.