LSC-30003: Applied Insect Ecology

School of Life Sciences

LSC-30003

Applied Insect Ecology

Co-ordinator:

Dr William Kirk Room: Hux106, Tel:33517

Teaching Team:

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

Credits:

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)
Environment and Sustainability Single Honours (Level 3)
Environment and Sustainability Single Honours (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Level 5 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 lifestyles. 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, honeybees 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, disease vectors, pollinators, bees and insect pest management.

Aims

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

Intended Learning Outcomes

Recall, describe, illustrate with detailed examples, communicate accurately and effectively, evaluate and apply the main ecological principles in applied entomology. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Recall, describe, illustrate with detailed examples, communicate accurately and effectively and evaluate the methods used to manage insect pests. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Synthesise, explain, communicate accurately and effectively and evaluate information about the biology, ecology and pest status of species of insect. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Identify an adult insect to the level of order and specify appropriate keys for the identification to the level of family and species. will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

18 Hours lectures
03 Hours practical
05 Hours tutorials
01 Hours formative assessment
02 Hours summative assessment
30 Hours report preparation
91 Hours private study

Description of Module Assessment

01: Report weighted 30%

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.

02: Unseen Exam weighted 70%

UNSEEN EXAM - 2 HOURS
This exam will consist of two essays from a choice of five.

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

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