Course Syllabus for Biological Control of Plant Pests (PP 747)
Faculty:
Department:
Office Hours:
Agriculture
Plant Production
Informal -- Students are welcome at any time; but a call ahead of
visiting will help assure that we are not already occupied.
Formal -- Monday 10-11 am
Instructor:
Dr. Hail Shannag
______________________________________________________________________
Course Description:
The ecological principles and applied practices of modern biological control of
insects, weeds and plant pathogens; including the history, scope, strengths and
weaknesses, scientific basis of biological control, the biology of entomophagous
insects, insect pathogens, microbial control, biological control methods,
population ecology as it relates to biological control, biological control in
integrated pest management, techniques and protocols in implementation of
control programs and related topics.
Objectives: this course is designed to;
- Understand theory and application of biological control principles.
- Introduce students to the biological control agents used to control insects, plant
pathogens and weeds.
- Gain a deeper understanding for the history of biological control and entomology
- to acquire a fundamental knowledge of the life history of natural enemies and
their use in biological control
- Provide the student with an overview of the field of biological control
- Study the interactions of these biological control agents with their target, host
plant, and environment.
- Discuses the feasibility of utilization these control agents in a real and practical
way.
- Explore how biological control fits into integrated pest management and
sustainable agriculture systems.
Outcomes: by the end of the course, students should be able to
- Explain the history, theory, practice and science of biological control.
- Evaluate scientific studies and concepts related to biological control.
- Asses the current and future roles of biological control within context of
agricultural and natural ecosystem.
- Apply ecological principles of biological control and methods used in biological
control of plant pests by parasitoids, predators, pathogens and entomopathogenic
nematodes to manage pest problems.
- Design and implement projects involving biological control agents and methods.
-
Communicate their work effectively using the formats commonly employed in
scientific oral presentations and writings.
Show sources of information about biological control and those who practice it.
Teach the relevant aspects of the laws that govern the practice of biological
control.
Grading: grades will be determined by the following criteria and scale;
20% from each of two exams which will cover lecture material (40% total)
10% from a grant writing exercise
50% from final exam
Grant proposal:
An abbreviated grant proposal will be required. This should focus on some current
aspect of biological control related to your research interest or projects.
Course textbooks and references:
Due to the broad nature of the course outline, no textbook will be required. For the
first offering of this course, handouts will be presented throughout the quarter;
- Hajek A. E (2004). Natural Enemies. Cambridge University Press.
- Flint M. L. and. Driestadt S. H. (1998). Natural Enemies Handbook: The illustrated
guide to biological pest control. University of California Division of Agriculture
and Natural Resources.
- Van Driesche R. G. and Bellows T. S Jr. (1996). Biological Control. Chapman
and Hall, New York, New York.
- Van den Bosch R., Messenger P. S. and Gutierrez A. P. (1982). An
Introduction to Biological Control. Plenum, N.Y.
- Bellows T. S. and T. W. Fisher. (1999). Handbook of Biological Control.
Academic Press. San Diego.
- Debach P. and Rosen Y D. (1991). Biological control by natural enemies. 2nd. Ed.
Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, N.Y.
- Mahr D. L. and Ridgway N. M. (1993). Biological Control of Insects and Mites: An
Introduction to beneficial natural enemies and their use in pest management. North
Central Regional Publication.
- Stirlin, G. R. (1991). Biological control of plant parasitic nematodes. C.A.B.
International, Oxon, UK. 282 pp.
- Tananada Y. and Kaya, H. K. (1993). Insect Pathology. Academic Press, Inc. San
Diego, Ca.
- TeBeest, D. O. (1991). Microbial control of weeds. Chapman & Hall, N.Y., N.Y.
The textbooks are not required reading. Many reading from other sources are assigned.