School of Life Sciences  
 
 
LSC-30003 Applied Insect Ecology  
Co-ordinator: Dr William Kirk    Room: HUX106, Tel:33517  
Teaching Team: Prof Richard  Ward  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 734414
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Applied Environmental Science Major (Level 3)
Applied Environmental Science Minor (Level 3)
Biology Major (Level 3)
Biology Minor (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Level 2 Biology or Applied Environmental Science. LSC-10033 Ecology and Environment is recommended but not required.

Barred Combinations

May not be taken with LSC-30020 Neurobiological Basis of Brain Disease.

Description

Insects are fascinating because of their enormous diversity of forms and life-styles. There are more species of insect than of all other animals and plants put together. As a result of this combination of diversity and abundance, they affect us in many ways. For example, honey bees pollinate our crops and produce honey, silkworms produce silk, mosquitoes spread malaria and kill millions of people, much of our crop production is destroyed by insects, and outbreaks of locusts destroy entire crops and can cause starvation. A knowledge of insect ecology has applied uses in many fields, e.g. agriculture, horticulture, forensics, veterinary science, medicine, parasitology, environmental management and conservation. The module covers: insect diversity, flight, mate finding, sex pheromones, migration, oviposition, parasitoids, herbivores, fluid feeders, pollinators and insect pest management.

Aims

To provide ecological knowledge, understanding and skills needed by an applied entomologist.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, successful students will be able to:

Describe and evaluate the main ecological principles in applied entomology and illustrate them with detailed examples.
Evaluate the methods used to manage insect pests by applying knowledge and understanding of insect ecology.
Synthesise, explain and evaluate information about the biology, ecology and pest status of species of insect.
Identify an adult insect to the level or order and specify appropriate keys for identification to the level of family and species.


Study hours

18 Hours lectures
03 Hours practical
05 Hours tutorials
01 Hours formative assessment
30 Hours report preparation
93 Hours private study

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 25%
REPORT - 2500 WORDS
The report will provide practical information of applied relevance about one species of insect that is chosen by the student from a list.

2: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 75%
UNSEEN EXAM - 2 HOURS
This exam will consist of two essays from a choice of five.


Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.