Module: Exercises in Biological Pest Control (3603-500)

This module not offered anymore!

Persons:

• Prof.Dr. Claus Zebitz (verantwortlich)

Degree Program:

• Crop Sciences - Plant Nutrition and Protection (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Organic Agriculture and Food Systems (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective
• Agricultural Sciences - Major: Crop Production Systems (Master, since 01.10.2015)
  2. Semester, elective
• Crop Sciences - Plant Nutrition and Protection (Master, since 01.10.2014)
  2. Semester, elective

Relation to other Modules:

This module is a good combination with "Biological Pest Control" (3603-490).

Prerequisites for Attendance:

"Biological Pest Control" (3603-490) or equivalents of other universities

Sprache:

English

ECTS:

7,5 credits

Frequency:

every summer semester

Length of the Module:

4 weeks (after block 4)

Final examination:

Three written papers (35 %, 25 %, 40 %)

Workload:

70 h presence + 130 h preparation at home + exam = 200 h workload

Professional competences:

After successfully completing the module, students are able to design, carry out and analyse experiments on biological pest control in the laboratory and greenhouse. They know how to rear, handle and work with insect/mite pests and their antagonists and are proficient in conducting behavioural studies and experiments on the biology and performance of antagonists, antagonistic potential of predators and parasitoids. Students are able to set up lifetables of beneficial organisms, conduct a k-factor analysis and use molecular methods to complement morphology-based taxonomy in trichogrammatid egg-parasitoids. They are able to select appropriate species and strains them for practical biocontrol.

Key competences:

In the exercises, students practice teamwork, self-reliance and time management. They are able to compile experimental results to scientific reports/publications, thereby training statistical methods and generally improving their capability of exploring a scientific subject. They practice both critical and analytical thinking and reading of scientific literature, while writing scientific papers enhances their scientific articulateness. The compilation of three written papers in form of a method protocol, a short communication and a scientific paper manuscript is an ideal preparation for future scientific publication work.

Comments:

The three written papers to be handed in as final examination refer to a method protocol (35 %), a short communication (25 %) and a scientific paper manuscript (40 %). The content of these assignments is explained at the beginning of the semester.
The number of participants is restricted to 12 persons until more lab facilities are available

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