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Insects in Agroecosystems
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:32:49
Abstract
This course explores insect-plant interactions within agroecosystems, focusing on how agricultural practices influence insect populations and pest outbreaks. Key concepts in sustainable pest management will be covered, with an emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
Objective
By the end of the course students will be able to identify the major insect orders and understand their basic physiological traits. They will gain the ability to distinguish the various constituents of an agroecosystem and explain how these elements are interconnected. Additionally, this course will introduce concepts of chemical communication within agroecosystems, and students will learn to identify these interactions both within and between insect and plant species. Students will also learn about the biochemical principles underlying plant defense mechanisms against insect pests and how insects can circumvent these defenses, providing a deeper understanding of plant-insect interactions. Furthermore, students will assess the roles of abiotic and biotic factors in contributing to pest outbreaks and how they can be used to predict and manage these occurrences effectively. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a central focus of the course. Students will compare various traditional and state-of-the-art pest management strategies and evaluate their impacts on ecosystems. This knowledge will allow them to predict the responses of insects and insect populations to these strategies and understand how such prediction can inform the formulation of effective IPM strategies. Through this comprehensive course students will be provided with a conceptual foundation sustainable pest management solutions in agroecosystems.
Content
The focus of this course will be on understanding how agricultural systems differ ecologically from natural ecosystems and how these differences affect the population dynamics of insect pests and their natural enemies. The course will begin by exploring the key concepts of agroecosystems, insect biology, and the critical roles of chemical communication and other ecological factors for insects in such systems. We will then address plant-insect interactions, focusing on mechanisms of plant recognition, defenses against herbivores, and insect adaptations to plant responses. The course will also explore essential ecosystem services provided by insects in agroecosystems and their ecological and applied implications, including for pollination, decomposition, and biological control of pests. Finally, building on concepts from prior lectures, the course will give significant attention to the fundamentals and current challenges of integrated pest management in diverse agroecosystems. These topics will be covered through lectures and discussion of selected readings chosen by the instructors. Evaluation will be based on two in-class exams and participation in two guided classroom discussion sessions.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Provided to students through Moodle.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Insects in Agroecosystems |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Crop- and Grassland Science (Dieser Minor ist neu und gilt ab dem Studienjahr 22/23. Das Gesamtangebot des Minors wird im Sommer 2022 auf der Website des Studienganges veröffentlicht.)
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